Volume 4 - Issue 1 - DBU Journal of K-12 Educational Research - Page 5

Journal of K-12 Educational Research 3 Dallas Baptist University is proud to present the fourth issue of the Journal of K-12 Educational Research. This special issue is directly targeted to charter school leaders and issues related to charter education. The articles in this issue are presented by a selection of recent graduates of the Doctorate in Educational Leadership K-12 program, a practitioner’s degree that highlights skills needed to lead districts in North Texas and beyond. Each article is a summary of the data gathered for their individual research projects, and each provides answers to questions of local, state, and national interest to the charter school community. In some cases, the authors provided national and statewide data from the broader charter community. Other authors gathered data from a particular region in Texas or a single charter district. In the DBU program, student researchers are encouraged to look for immediate and site-based solutions that could be transferable to educational concerns that are wide and far-reaching. In this issue, you will find articles written by superintendents of three different charter districts in Texas. Dr. Brent Wilson of Life School discusses the critical issue of superintendent succession planning, an important topic for districts that are led by founders who may need to look for successors. Dr. Brenton White of A+ Charter District talks about alternative certification for charter superintendents and how that impacts student achievement. Dr. Angela McDonald of Advantage Academy shares details of a character education program that has been implemented successfully in her district. Each article written by these charter school leaders has important information for other leaders of charter districts. Other key leaders in charter school districts were authors in this issue. Dr. Scott Fuller of Life School discusses the issue of mission drift, which is an essential topic for new generation charter schools who are working hard to remain true to their mission and vision. Dr. Cody Yocom of Strothoff International School discusses the principal preparation that is provided by several large charter management companies and what leaders feel is critical to know in order to lead a charter school. Dr. Troy Mooney of Life School discusses their local leadership-training course and provides a model for developing district leaders. Dr. Roy Watts of Arlington Classics Academy discusses the impact of principal retention in charter schools in the North Texas region. All of these articles have something valuable to say about leader development and retention. Another useful topic of discussion for most districts in North Texas is the education of students with special needs. Dr. Deborah Garton of Life School discusses the attitudes and training of classroom teachers for these students. Dr. Arlyn Unating of A+ Academy discusses the preparation of charter students for college and career. Dr. Joylynn Blake of Kingdom Collegiate Academies discusses classical education as a model for charter schools. She gives detailed portraits of four exemplary classical schools around the country and how that learning model prepares students for the world while supporting the common good. Sharon Lee, PhD AWORD FROM THE EDITOR Journal of K-12 Educational Research 2020, VOL. 4, ISSUE 1 www.dbu.edu/doctoral/edd