William Allan Kritsonis, PhD Professor of Educational Leadership The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

1. NATIONAL FORUM OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION JOURNAL
VOLUME 34, NUMBER 4, 2016
SPECIAL ISSUE
1
FOREWORD
NATIONAL FORUM OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION
AND SUPERVISION JOURNAL
I am honored to have Frank Hernandez and Elizabeth T. Murakami serve as invited
guest editors. Dr. Hernandez serves as Dean for the College of Education at The University of
Texas of the Permian Basin. Dr. Murakami is a Latin-American born Professor and Director of
Programs in Educational Leadership in the College of Education and Human Development at
Texas A&M-San Antonio. This issue of the NATIONAL FORUM OF EDUCATIONAL
ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION JOURNAL focuses on the works of Latinos and
their contributions to educational leadership.
In the first article of this special edition, Deborah S. Peterson and Victor Vergara
presented demographic data regarding educational and economic disparities between White and
Latina/o populations in the Pacific Northwest, followed by the results of a qualitative study
examining the preparation, hiring, and leadership experiences of 10 Pacific Northwest Latina/o
leaders who have successfully reduced educational disparities. In the second article, Israel
Aguilar, Jesse Olivarez, Jose A. Lopez, Liliana Bravo, and Mark Cantu shared the work and
lived experiences of three Latina/os in various levels of leadership so that one’s individual
contribution as a Latina/o leader is acknowledged in school improvement. In the third article,
Maria Avalos and Yolanda Salgado highlighted the experiences of five Latina women who are
successful school leaders. In the fourth and final article, Carlos J. Diaz and William R. Black
presented an analysis of factors that led to five second-generation Latino high school students to
opt out of a traditional high school diploma track and to enroll in an Adult Education
(ABE)/Under-Aged General Education Development (GED) program. Implications for an ethical
and socially just educational leadership stance are discussed. I wish to thank all the writers who
have contributed to this special issue.
William Allan Kritsonis, PhD
Professor of Educational Leadership
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin