LISTENING TO STUDENT VOICE: TOWARD A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to illustrate the value of student voice in ethical educational leadership research and practice. While much research has explored what it means to be an ethical leader or what it looks like to lead schools for social justice, it has rarely considered the student perspective as an integral component of leadership decision making. In fact, as this paper argues, listening to the student voice is indispensable to ethical leadership responsibilities. This article provides examples of what we believe is a more ethical approach to researching and leading in schools. It operationalizes ethical and socially just leadership practices that are student-focused and hold promise to sensitize our research efforts, destabilize oppressive school leadership structures, and create positive and innovative environments for students.