Metropolis schools: A reflection on district transformation

School reform is often touted as a process that requires just the right leader who will go into schools and save the children from the mismanagement or bureaucracy inherent in the systems or even the teachers themselves. However, school reform, if it is to be sustained, is much larger in scope than the Herculean effort of the right charismatic leader. School reform is contextual, which means that sustainable reform is the natural outgrowth of public will, social capital and social mobilization of key stakeholders to collectively solve a problem in the community. As we look at which factors contribute to sustainable reform, we must also examine factors that impede reform. This case study will explore the labyrinth of political, civic and corporate coalition building one district is attempting to implement to sustain reform efforts beyond the tenure of a superintendent