The Thorny, Ambiguous, and Tense Work of Leading in the Public Square

Education in the Public Square: Educational Leaders’ Responses to Today’s External Challenges, Influences, and Politics, a special issue of the Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership , presents 10 cases representing educational leadership dilemmas from across the PreK–20 spectrum where leaders contend with the thorny, ambiguous, and tense work of leading educational institutions in the public square. Although each case represents a unique situation and context, several themes cut across the cases, including explorations of individualism and the new agenda for education, structural attacks on educational organizations, and the personalization of conflict. This special issue invites readers to reflect upon the current state of the public square of education and to consider how educational leaders can be equipped to navigate challenges present within that public square.