R O U T L E D G E . 2 0 2 6

Transforming Urban Schools for Educational Excellence

The definitive guide for education leaders who refuse to accept the status quo. Dr. Foley distills decades of research and frontline experience into a strategic playbook for district-wide transformation.

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"Urban schools face unique challenges, but they also hold extraordinary potential. Transformation requires courage and creativity — and an unwavering commitment to ensuring all children access quality education that opens pathways to their highest aspirations."

— Dr. Mit L. Foley, from the Introduction

This is not a theory book. It is what 30 years of leading in America's hardest schools actually looks like — the vision, the coalitions, the data, the equity dilemmas, and the sustainable systems that outlast any one leader. Twelve chapters. Every one of them built from the floor, not the balcony.

PUBLISHER

Routledge / Taylor & Francis Group — Eye on Education Series

AUTHOR

Mit L. Foley, Ed.D.

PUBLISHED

2026

FORMAT

12 chapters + Introduction, References & Index

ISBN (PAPERBACK)

978-1-041-20530-2

ISBN (HARDBACK)

978-1-041-20531-9

ISBN (EBOOK)

978-1-003-71684-6

BEST FOR

Principals, assistant superintendents, district leaders, Ed.D. program syllabi, leadership cohorts

Chapter Overview
Intro A Sense of Urgency for Educational Change
1 Vision That Persuades: Telling a Story for Change
2 The Power of Origin Stories in Educational Leadership
3 Raising Expectations: A Pathway to Success and Opportunity
4 Creating Urgency: When Every Moment Counts
5 Forming Coalitions for Change: Mobilizing Communities in Difficult Times
6 Small Wins, Big Impact: Maintaining Momentum through Meaningful Success
7 The Equity Dilemma: Addressing Systemic Inequalities in Urban Education
8 Data-Driven Change: Using Information to Transform Lives
9 Restorative Practices in Action: From Punishment to Healing
10 Less Is More: The Power of Strategic Focus
11 Creating the Future: Developing Sustainable Leadership for Educational Transformation
12 More Than Quick Fixes: Cultivating Authentic School Improvement

The Book

CHAPTER OVERVIEW

Intro — A Sense of Urgency for Educational Change
1 — Vision That Persuades: Telling a Story for Change
2 — The Power of Origin Stories in Educational Leadership
3 — Raising Expectations: A Pathway to Success and Opportunity
4 — Creating Urgency: When Every Moment Counts
5 — Forming Coalitions for Change: Mobilizing Communities in Difficult Times
6 — Small Wins, Big Impact: Maintaining Momentum through Meaningful Success
7 — The Equity Dilemma: Addressing Systemic Inequalities in Urban Education
8 — Data-Driven Change: Using Information to Transform Lives
9 — Restorative Practices in Action: From Punishment to Healing
10 — Less Is More: The Power of Strategic Focus
11 — Creating the Future: Developing Sustainable Leadership for Educational Transformation
12 — More Than Quick Fixes: Cultivating Authentic School Improvement
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"Excellence in urban education isn't accidental. It's the result of leaders who tell hard truths, build the right coalitions, use data to drive decisions, and refuse to accept that zip code determines destiny. That's what this book is about." 

Dr. Mit Foley