California State University East Bay

Doctor of Education Program Focus

The Educational Leadership for Social Justice (ELSJ) seeks to develop a new type of executive leadership for PK-12 schools. Students in the ELSJ will be engaged in studies, activities and skill building that will help them become courageous school leaders who will demonstrate bold, socially responsible leadership to address and resolve issues that have impacted the achievement and success of students of color, and other marginalized students and communities of California's PK-12* public schools.

* Initially there were will be only a PK-12 focus, although a Community College leadership strand will be added at a later time.

cohort group

Department of Educational Leadership Mission, Values & Beliefs

The mission of the Department of Educational Leadership at CSUEB is to prepare and influence bold, socially responsible leaders who will transform the world of schooling.

Our central role is to ignite the leadership capacity needed to create vital, democratic and caring places for powerful teaching and learning.

Values Beliefs
Democratic Collaboration
  • Everyone has an inherent right to participate in decisions which affect him/her.
  • Overall success of leaders is measured by the extent to which their actions lead to improved quality of democratic practices and social justice.
  • Leaders seek to engage with all community members to build personal and group accountability.
Diversity and Equity
  • Leaders strive to promote full equity and access to education for everyone, with particular attention to those experiencing the greatest inequalities.
  • Leaders cherish and capitalize on human diversity from the schools’ communities in establishing and achieving goals.
Bold, Socially Responsible Leadership
  • Leaders act in ways that closely match their state beliefs, values and goals.
  • Leaders recognize that education is a political process in which they must be actively engaged.
Critical Inquiry and
Continuous Improvement
  • Leaders engage in ongoing reflective and critical self-examination.
  • Leaders manifest a spirit of critical inquiry, openness to others’ views, and willingness to change when new insights develop.


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