Leadership Against School Violence: Leading, Teaching and Learning in Violent School Environments

In America, every year hundreds of thousands of students and teachers are victimized by acts of crime and violence that occur on the school grounds (National Center for Education Statistics, 2012). These victimizations vary from thefts, threats and bullying to physical assaults, shootings and killings. This book addresses these criminal challenges and identifies research-based solutions. Specifically, it presents exemplary theories, laws, policies, programs and practices that can be used to develop high performance schools in high-risk environments. This book is based on the author's doctoral dissertation, which explores the struggles and achievements of students and educators attending middle schools that are located in high-risk communities in southern California. This work focuses on middle schools because, during this education time period, students and educators are most vulnerable to become victims of pervasive drugs, gangs, and violence, and related school failure. This book explores these challenges and presents research-based findings, which prove that effective school leadership and a safe school climate are essential to improve student achievement. Educators are encouraged to use these findings to help improve needy schools across America. This book represents a spirit of leadership that values and honors the work of all educators and law enforcement personnel who have committed their lives to serve, protect, and empower our children.