ABSTRACT
Principals in urban schools should not be narrowly focused on closing achievement gaps. We need leadership that addresses the needs of urban, low-income students of color who are marginalized and devalued in their schools and in society. We need leadership to repair damaged or broken relationships with families and communities. How can principals work within schools and communities to help remove or eliminate these barriers? To begin this work, principals need a clear conception of social justice. They need to understand that they can lead in non-traditional ways that make a significant difference in the lives of teachers, students, and families. They need to remove their blinders, summon the courage, and follow a long tradition of principals who have fought for civil and human rights within their urban schools and communities.
