Scenario: You are veteran principal assigned to lead one of the most sought-after elementary magnet schools in the district. The school serves a diverse student population in pre-kindergarten through grade 5. The majority of students are from high-income households; however, 25 percent of seats are mandated for low-income neighborhood students. The school has one empty seat available designated for a low-income neighborhood student to reach its seating capacity by October of the current school year. A parent from outside of the district contacted you to enroll their child at your school. The parent is related to a political individual in your locality. You explained to the parent that enrollment is at capacity and that the parent needed to contact the district superintendent regarding any procedures for out-of-district students to enroll in schools, as well as any requirements for getting on the waitlist for future seats at the school. You received a call from the superintendent’s executive assistant that the political leader asked the superintendent to make an exception and enroll the out-of-district student in the third-grade classroom where the vacant seat exits. The vacant seat is held to meet the 25 percent low-income student threshold. The executive assistant asked you to prepare a written response to the parent, including a courtesy copy to the superintendent and the political leader.
Write a 250- to 300-word letter to the parent in response to this ethical dilemma. Incorporate at least 2 of the ethical categories of character from Ch. 3 of Meeting the Ethical Challenges of Leadership: Casting Light or Shadow in your response.
Wisdom and knowledge—cognitive strengths entailing the acquisition and use of knowledgeCourage—an emotional strength involving the exercise of will to accomplish goals in the face of opposition, external or internalHumanity—an interpersonal strength that involve tending to and befriending othersJustice—a civic strength underlying healthy community lifeTemperance—a strength protecting against excessTranscendence—a strength that forges connections to the larger universe and provides meaning
