FELE
For Testing Beginning 1/1/2026

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Annotated Bibliography

The annotated bibliography that follows includes basic references that you may find useful in preparing for the exam. Each resource is linked to the competencies and skills found in Section 3 of this guide.

This bibliography is representative of the most important and most comprehensive texts pertaining to the competencies and skills for Florida Educational Leadership Examination. The Florida Department of Education does not endorse these references as the only appropriate sources for review; many comparable texts currently used in teacher preparation programs also cover the competencies and skills that are tested on the examination.

  1. Bambrick-Santoyo, P. (2019). Driven by data 2.0: A practical guide to improve instruction (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Contains suggestions for principals or other school leaders to incorporate data analysis and data-driven instruction into their school's administrative structure. Useful for review of subtest 1, competency 4.

  2. Bambrick-Santoyo, P. (2018). Leverage leadership: A practical guide to building exceptional schools (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Provides a framework and strategies to help leaders improve instruction and school culture through their actions. Useful for review of subtest 2, competencies 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

  3. Britton, E. D., Paine, L., Pimm, D., & Raizen, S. (2003). Comprehensive teacher induction: Systems for early career learning. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Provides effective practices for the induction, support, and professional development of teachers who are beginning or at the early stages of their professional career. Useful for review of subtest 2, competency 5.

  4. Decker, J. R., Lewis, M. M., Shaver, E. A., Blankenship-Knox, A. E., & Paige, M. A. (2017). The principal's legal handbook (6th ed.). Cleveland, OH: Education Law Association.

    Provides a thorough review of laws and regulations while providing a legal framework of education and the rights of students, parents, school boards, and school employees. Useful for review of subtest 1, competencies 1 and 2.

  5. DeWitt, P. (2020). Instructional leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

    Provides guiding questions and models highlighting six principles of instructional leadership. Useful for review of subtest 2, competencies 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

  6. Drago-Severson, E., & Blum-DeStefano, J. (2021). Tell me so I can hear you: A developmental approach to feedback for educators (5th ed.). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.

    Provides examples and strategies for giving feedback in a manner that supports professional learning and for turning feedback into action. Useful for subtest 2, competencies 4 and 5.

  7. DuFour, R., & Fullan, M. (2013). Cultures built to last: Systemic PLCs at work. Bloomington, IN: Solutions Tree Press.

    Considers educators' professional learning communities as the engines of positive change in schools. Useful for review of subtest 3, competency 1.

  8. Epstein, J., & Associates. (2019). School, family, and community partnerships: Your handbook for action (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

    Presents research-based tools and guidelines to further the involvement of families and communities in schools. Useful for review of subtest 4, competency 1.

  9. Hattie, J., & Smith, R. L. (2021). 10 mindframes for leaders: The visible learning approach to school success. Thousand Oakes, CA: Corwin Press.

    Contains models of various principles that can guide and inform school leadership. Useful for review of subtest 1, competencies 3 and 4.

  10. Heifetz, R., Grashow, A., & Linksy, M. (2009). The practice of adaptive leadership. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review Press.

    Introduces a framework for adapting leadership to manage organizational change and achieve intended goals. Useful for review of subtest 1, competencies 3 and 4.

  11. Heyck-Merlin, M. (2016). The together leader: Get organized for your success and sanity. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Contains practical approaches to organizing time, energy, and priorities in a manner that allows leaders to meet objectives. Useful for review of subtest 1, competency 3.

  12. Kafele, B. K. (2020). The assistant principal: 50 critical questions for meaningful leadership & professional growth. Arlington, VA: ASCD Press.

    A practical guide for assistant principals looking to support the principal's vision, help students achieve, and improve instruction in their school. Useful for review of subtest 1, competencies 1 and 3.

  13. Kegan, R., & Laskow Lahey, L. (2009). Immunity to change: How to overcome it and unlock the potential in yourself and your organization. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review Press.

    Focuses on strategies for overcoming the factors that foster and reinforce reluctance to change in a productive manner. Useful for review of subtest 1, competency 4.

  14. Knight, J. (2013). High-impact instruction: A framework for great teaching. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

    Presents a framework for instructional leadership that emphasizes effective planning, high-impact instructional practices, and creating a community focused on continuous improvement. Useful for review of subtest 2, competencies 2, 3, and 5.

  15. Kotter, J. P. (2012). Leading change (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review Press.

    Focuses on leading transformational change within organizations and seizing available opportunities. Useful for review of subtest 1, competency 4.

  16. Kotter, J. P., Akhtar, V., & Gupta, G. (2021). Change: How organizations achieve hard-to-imagine results in uncertain and volatile times. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons.

    Applies organizational and managerial strategies for leading change in the face of uncertainty. Useful for review of subtest 1, competency 4.

  17. Lunenburg, F. C., & Irby, B. J. (2023). The principalship: A learning-centered approach. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

    Provides a comprehensive overview of dilemmas facing school leaders and the strategies that can help them navigate challenges and achieve goals. Useful for review of subtest 4, competency 1.

  18. Nyhus, J. E., & Culbertson, J. A. (2020). Teacher recruitment & retention: Attract and keep your most effective educators. Encino, CA: Insight Educator Group.

    Provides strategies for creating and implementing plans for the recruitment, hiring, development, and retention of effective educators. Useful for review of subtest 2, competency 5.

  19. Owings, W. A., & Kaplan, L. S. (2012). Leadership & organizational behavior in education. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

    Reviews principles of school leadership and theories of organizational behavior for educators who may be interested in a position of leadership. Useful for review of subtest 3, competency 1.

  20. Reeves, D. B. (2020). The learning leader: How to focus school improvements for better results. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

    Promotes a leadership approach based on the creation of an organizational structure in which school leaders are able to exercise individual leadership in a role while collaborating with other leaders. Useful for review of subtest 2, competencies 3 and 4.

  21. Rodriguez, G. M., & Rolle, R. A. (2007). To what ends and by what means? The social justice implications of contemporary school finance theory and policy. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Focuses on the effects that economic, finance, and budgeting policies have on the U.S. K to 12 education system. Useful for review of subtest 1, competency 2.

  22. Schilling, C. A., & Tomal, D. R. (2019). School finance and business management: Optimizing fiscal, facility, and human resources (2nd ed.). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

    Provides a comprehensive overview of how resource management in a school or district impacts students' education. Useful for review of subtest 1, competency 2.

  23. Shapiro, J. P., & Stefkovich, J. A. (2022). Ethical leadership and decision making in education: Applying theoretical perspectives to complex dilemmas (5th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Provides several case studies and examples of ethical conflicts that administrators and educators may face in the classroom or in the general school environment. Useful for review of subtest 1, competency 1.

  24. Stronge, J. H., & Xu, X. (2021). Qualities of effective principals (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

    Focuses on how principals can balance the needs and priorities of their schools while developing and refining their leadership skills. Useful for review of subtest 2, competencies 4 and 5.

  25. Whitaker, T. (2020). What great principals do differently (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Focuses on how the actions, beliefs, and attitudes of a building principal can shape the culture and learning environment in a school. Useful for review of subtest 2, competencies 2, 4, and 5.

 

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