The Disquisition

“The Disquisition: An Equity-Driven Capstone for Leadership Preparation Programs is a necessary book for any educational leadership scholar, scholar-practitioner, preK-20 school and system leader serious about the uprooting and interrupting educational inequities. The description of the equity-driven Disquisition process offers a unique, thought-provoking approach which will help practicing educational leaders think deeply and reflexively about systemic change and transformation. EdD programs would benefit greatly from this important scholarship as it masterfully lays out a justice-centered programmatic ethos and process that intentionally tethers research, theory and praxis in ways that can lead to institutional and systemic transformation. I implore all who are committed in redesigning the EdD to intentionally engage this text and allow it to guide the development of future scholar-practitioners.”

Darrius A. Stanley, PhD, Assistant Professor of Organizational Leadership and Policy, Carmen Starkson Campbell Faculty Fellow, Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy and Development, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

“This is a must read for anyone designing or implementing a justice-forward EdD program. This volume adds definition to the general premise of the EdD degree through its disquisition, confronting the challenging climate faced by higher education in general and the EdD in particular. It illuminates a pathway to the development of critical consciousness among scholarly practitioners and explains why this program was our choice for CPED’s program of the year award in 2021.”

Harriette Thurber Rasmussen, EdD, Assistant Clinical Professor and Associate EdD Program Director, Drexel University, Co-Lead, CPED Program of the Year Committee

“Change is not easy. In reality it is a constant struggle. We often associate change at the end of the process, with the practitioners themselves changing their practices while they work in the field. This series is truly revolutionary, changing practice within the institutions that conferee the educational doctorate (Ed. D.) degree. The series goes to the heart of change and will certainly make a significant impact on the training of our future leaders for years to come.”

Dean Spaulding. PhD, President, Z Score Inc.

Acknowledgments

Preface

Chapter 1. Introduction to The Disquisition: An Historical Sketch
by Kofi Lomotey, PhD

Chapter 2. Why A Justice-Centered Leadership Preparation Program?
by Jess Weiler, PhD and Kofi Lomotey, PhD

Chapter 3. The Problem of Practice
by Jess Weiler, PhD

Chapter 4. A Causal Analysis
by Jess Weiler, PhD

Chapter 5. Identifying the Improvement Initiative
by Robert Crow, PhD and Emily E. Virtue, PhD

Chapter 6. Designing the Improvement Initiative
by Emily E. Virtue, PhD and Robert Crow, PhD

Chapter 7. Evaluating the Improvement Initiative
by Emily E. Virtue, PhD and Brandi Hinnant-Crawford, PhD

Chapter 8. Implications, Recommendations, and Leadership Lessons Learned
by Heidi B. Von Dohlen, EdD and Emily E. Virtue, PhD

Chapter 9. Defending the Disquisition
by Heidi B. Von Dohlen, EdD

Appendix

About the Authors

Index

Jess Weiler

Dr. Jess Weiler is a tenured Associate Professor in the Educational Leadership (EdD) Program at Western Carolina University in North Carolina. Dr. Weiler serves in several capacities to fulfill her teaching, research, and service responsibilities there. She earned her PhD in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin—Madison.

Emily Virtue

Emily E. Virtue, Ph.D. is an associate professor of Educational Research and the director of the Educational Leadership doctoral program at Western Carolina University. Her recent research centers on asset-based equity pedagogies in secondary project-based learning settings.