Blazing New Trails - Connexions

PREFACE
Serving as an assistant editor in 2009, as associate editor in 2010, and as editor in 2011 of the National
Council of Professors of Educational Administration (NCPEA) Yearbook provided wonderful opportunities for
me to read outstanding submissions by colleagues in NCPEA. With each submission, I was provided an
opportunity to reflect on the many changes as well as quality research endeavors taking place in our profession.
Chapters detailed the efforts of professors of educational leadership in their continual quest to provide
improvements in learning and academic achievement. These goals were clearly reflected as authors explored
the transition from instructional to transformational leadership to integrated leadership as constructs guiding
our practice. Topics of collaboration, shared leadership, and moral purpose were also investigated with the
intent to illuminate practices that impact equity and excellence in our schools. As we join together as
educational leaders in “Blazing New Trails” by addressing the needs of today’s schools, the issues and research
provided in this NCPEA Yearbook can serve as a catalyst for actions and continued improvement.
As an editorial team, we thank the chapter authors for their submissions and their explorations of important
topics impacting educational leadership. As editor, I particularly, thank our associate editors, George Perrault
and Luana Zellner, and our assistant editor, Julia W. Ballenger, for their tireless assistance in preparation of this
publication. Their contributions were greatly appreciated throughout the process of chapter selection and editing.
I also offer my sincere appreciation to Daniel Vogt, a graduate assistant in the Department of Secondary Education
and Educational Leadership at Stephen. F. Austin State University. His conscientious work and willingness
“to go the extra mile” not only with the 2010 NCPEA Yearbook, but the 2011 NCPEA Yearbook, provided
immeasurable help in the production of these publications.
A special thanks is also extended to the many NCPEA members who provided their time and expertise in
reviewing the many submissions for this Yearbook. All that was needed was a simple call for reviewers, and
members of NCPEA accepted the role without hesitation. Shortly after Ted’s message had been emailed to
NCPEA members requesting help, I started receiving replies. Although it was late December, and many
professors were already on semester break, the offers to help were phenomenal. This responsiveness
exemplifies the commitment that characterizes members of NCPEA and reminded me again of one of the many
reasons that this organization means so much to me.
Learning should always be a continual process as we seek to strengthen our processes and practices in preparing
educational leaders who will create the conditions to ensure a quality education for all students. As an editorial
team, we hope the concepts, issues, and research identified in the chapters that follow will be beneficial in
your work as together we embark on “Blazing New Trails: Preparing Leaders to Improve Access and Equity in
Today’s Schools”—a goal worthy of our highest efforts.
Betty J. Alford, Stephen F. Austin State University
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