Introduction: critical spirituality and religion in educational leadership

Abstract

This special issue is dedicated to Dr. Michael E. Dantley in recognition of his pioneering scholarship on critical spirituality in the field of educational leadership. Dr. Dantley published Faith-Based Leadership: Ancient Rhythms or New Management in QSE in January 2005. One could say that this special issue comes full circle, as each article is rooted in Dr. Dantley’s vision of spirituality facilitating a visioning process based on critique, possibility, and hope. Dantley’s positioning of critical spirituality at the center of radical school reform remains the mainstay of the field. He challenges us to “grapple with the realities of an esoteric or spiritual existence” and “to take as a priori the existence of the spiritual dimension of humankind and not to flippantly eschew its reality and influence.” The papers in this special issue would not be possible without Dantley’s groundbreaking scholarship.