The Constructivist Leader

by Linda Lambert

Drawing on a wide literature that ranges from Dewey to Duckworth, the authors demonstrate the conceptual basis for constructivist theory, extend that analysis to the literature on educational leadership, and apply that knowledge in case studies of administrative practice. The text redefines leadership, distinguishing it from both historical and current notions, and describes strategies that will enable educators to make fundamental changes in schools.

Genres: Leadership

216 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 1995

About the author

Linda Lambert earned her Ed.D. at the University of San Francisco and is Professor Emeritus from California State University, East Bay, and a full time author. Her new novel, The Italian Letters--the sequel to award-winning, The Cairo Codex--will be released October, 2014. Linda’s career has included the following roles: social worker, teacher, principal, district and county directors of professor development, as well as university professor, state department envoy to Egypt, and international consultant. Her international consultancies in leadership have taken her to Egypt, Lebanon, England, Thailand, Mexico, Canada, and Malaysia. Linda is the author of dozens of articles and lead author of The Constructivist Leader (1995, 2002), Who Will Save Our Schools (1997), and Women’s Ways of Leading (2009); she is the author of Building Leadership Capacity in Schools (1998) and Leadership Capacity for Lasting School Improvement (2003). Linda lives with her husband, Morgan, a retired school superintendent, in Santa Rosa, California, and writes historical novels.

Reviews

[Lawrence Linnen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of thoughts and ideas of various authors and researchers on constructivist leadership. Lambert suggests that "leadership that would change our schools and our communities must be cognizant of the essential actions needed to alter the lives of teachers in schools." She says "the function of leadership must be to engage people in the processes that create the conditions for learning and form common ground about teaching and learning." She defines leadership as "a concept transcending individuals roles, and behaviors." School change is seen by Lambert as a natural result of collaboratively constructing meaning and knowledge, an outgrowth of conversations about what matters.

[Lina Scalfino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book I ever read that introduced me to Linda Lambert’s work with her other colleagues. It made so much sense and worked on developing leadership captivity across the school. Highly recommended for leaders and teachers !

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good points, and about 2-3 good chapters. Most of the book is written as though the author took a thesaurus to choose the most pretentious words they could. Not a fun read, I don't think I would have finished reading it if I didn't have to for class. Too bad, because the ideas need to be learned by more people.