Listening, Engaging, Advocating and Partnering (L.E.A.P): A Model for Responsible Community Engagement for Educational Leaders

Abstract

Given the current, contested political climate, growing school-community inequities, and a renewed commitment to equity and justice in the National Education Leadership Preparation standards, aspiring educational leaders need practical approaches to leading school communities toward equitable outcomes. This conceptual article offers a comprehensive and practical approach for responsible community engagement for educational leaders. The authors outline a model that provides key examples of how contemporary educational leaders might begin: listening, engaging, advocating, and partnering with community-based assets to improve the outcomes of historically disenfranchised students. This scholarship concludes with implications for leadership preparation programs and aspiring educational leaders.