Reflections and Confessions of an Educational Leader - Paperback

by Mark Cohan Ph. D. (Author)

In this highly politicized era in education, there is a consensus that significant changes are needed to improve our schools. What do school leaders think? Since our leaders are self-protective and guarded in their public statements, few people have access to their innermost thoughts and concerns. This book is a personal account of a year in the life and work of a superintendent. Woven through this reflective journal are recollections and analyses of the first thirty-five years of Mark Cohan's career in Connecticut's schools, from his decision to become a teacher, through leadership experiences in each of the districts where he worked. Anyone who is curious about the inner life of an educational leader will find this candid book to be a unique resource. This includes parents, teachers, board of education members, legislators, students preparing to become educational leaders (and those who teach them), as well as other citizens who are curious about exactly what needs to be improved in our schools, and why the reform process has been agonizingly slow. The book ends with an extended description of the nature of transformative leadership, including practical suggestions for moving forward on behalf of our students.

Author Biography

Mark Cohan earned a B.S. in History at Yale University, an M.A. in American Studies at Indiana University and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Connecticut. He worked in Connecticut's public schools for 37 years, serving as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and superintendent, as well as a member of state level committees and commisions on educational reform. After retiring, he began his second career as an instructor in Central Connecticut State University's School of Education and Professional Studies. Dr. Cohan plays trumpet in the CCSU Symphonic Band, where he is the oldest band member by over 40 years.