Establishing Inclusion in a New School: The Role of Principal Leadership

Abstract

This article describes a study that documents the attempts of administrators of a new school to introduce and sustain inclusive leadership and program arrangements over the course of the first 3 years of the school’s life. The data illustrate that while they were able to succeed on a number of levels, they also encountered a number of challenges. Principal among these were the departure of the first principal after the second year, a rapid increase in the school population, as well as the challenges that accompany most schools when they attempt to implement inclusive practices.