My current research relates to summer learning loss in balanced calendar schools, the motivations of educators for doing social justice workin the face of contemporary political climates that tend to discourage such work, and leadership issues in diverse and/or bilingual schools.
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College of Education
Educational Organization & Leadership
http://education.illinois.edu/frp/eol/cshields
Faculty Research Profiles: Carolyn Shields
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Professor
Educational Organization & Leadership
334 Education Building
1310 S. 6th St. MC 708
Champaign, IL 61820USA
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Research Biography
My research focuses on issues of leadership and social justice in diverse contexts. I have conducted various studies including research into transformative leadership in cross-cultural communities and the role of dialogue and spirituality in creating more holistic and inclusive school communities. One educational structure I have studied in terms of its potentiaI to facilitate more equitable achievement (broadly conceptualized) for all students is commonly known as year-round schooling (more correctly identified as modified or balanced calendars). I have focused on the role of leaders in implementing change and the potential of this calendar to provide more equal and more inclusive learning environments for students who, by virtue of membership in specific social classes, ethnic groups, home language other than English, and so forth, tend to be the least successful in more traditional school settings.
Degrees
- Ph.D., Educational Administration, University of Saskatchewan, 1991
- M.A., French, Queen's University, 1970
- B.A., French & English, Queen's University, 1968
Key Professional Appointments
- Professor, Educational Organization & Leadership, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2005--
- Department Head, Educational Organization & Leadership, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2005-2007
- Director, School Leadership Centre, University of British Columbia, 2003-2005
- Professor, Educational Studies, University of British Columbia, 2001-2005
- Associate Professor, Educational Studies, University of British Columbia, 1997-2001
- Assistant Professor, Educational Studies, University of British Columbia, 1994-1997
- Assistant Professor, University of Utah, 1991-1994
- Lecturer, University of Saskatchewan, 1989-1991
Activities & Honors
- Paper reviewer, New Zealand Association of Research in Education, 2006- present
- External reviewer for promotion of Dr. Fraser, University of Waikato at Hamilton, 2005
- Member review panel, Invited by the government of New Brunswick, Government of New Brunswick, 2005
- Elected Fellow, Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration and Management, highest honor- elected fellow, Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration and Management, 2004
- Member, Advisory Committee on Academic Standards, Government of British Columbia, 1998-2005
Selected Publications
- Shields, C. M. (2009). Democratizing practice: Courageous leadership for transforming schools. Norwood, MA: Christopher-Gordon.
- Shields, C. M. (2007). A failed initiative: Democracy has spoken- or has it? Journal of Cases in Educaitonal Leadership, 10(1), 14-21.
- Shields, C. M., Bishop, R., & Mazawi, A. E. (2005). Pathologizing practices: The impact of deficit thinking on education. New York: Peter Lang.
- Shields, C. M., & Edwards, M. M. (2005). Dialogue is not just talk: A new ground for educational leadership. New York: Peter Lang.
- Shields, C. M., (2005), Liberating discourses: Spirituality and educational leadership, Journal of School Leadership, 15, 608-623.