Ethics for Visionary School Leaders: Setting Your Ethical Compass

Dr. Gary Hoban is retired as a full-time faculty member at National University, a university initially designed to primarily serve the needs of adult graduate-level students. For twenty-five years he was a professor of educational administration and served as the founding chair of the Educational Administration Department, a position he occupied for many of those years. He has also served as the University’s Dean of Graduate Studies, interim associate provost, and interim dean of the School of Education. Dr. Hoban has numerous publications from over the years, including work dealing with the concept of self-efficacy, online education, and school leadership.

He has also presented at a number of national and international conferences. Prior to his work at National University, Dr. Hoban served for twenty-five years as a public-school teacher and administrator in California, primarily as a curriculum supervisor, assistant superintendent for both instruction and personnel, and as an interim superintendent. He holds a PhD in Educational Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Master of Arts in Teaching (English) from the University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Daniel T. Cunniff is currently professor emeritus after being a full-time and lead faculty member in the National University Department of Educational Administration for eighteen years. He holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Northern Illinois University, and a PhD from Walden University in Educational Administration.

Prior to his work at National University, he has also been a teacher at all grade levels, a principal, and assistant superintendent, in Fairbanks, Alaska, and an acting superintendent of schools in the north county of San Diego. Dr. Cunniff has worked as an international business consultant and was an educational advisor to American Samoa’s Educational Television System. Educational technology and leadership have been a large part of Dr. Cunniff’s research agenda, and he has published and presented internationally. He is the senior editor of the textbook, Innovative Educational Leadership Through the Cycle of Change. His professional activities have included being Treasurer for the California Association of Professors of Educational Administration and active membership on the CAPEA Executive Board for the past nine years. He is also the recipient of National University’s Professoriate Award from the President of the University.

Dr. Dina Pacis is currently a professor and chair for the Department of Organizational Leadership and Educational viii Ethics for Today’s School Leaders Administration in the Sanford College of Education at National University. An educator whose values and philosophies are deeply rooted in equity, diversity, and social justice; Dr. Pacis serves as a research fellow for the National Dropout Prevention Center and was an associate editor for the Center’s Journal of at-risk Issues. Dr. Pacis has also been deeply involved in organizations which support and advocate for women in leadership. She serves as a board member on the Women in Leadership Organization and has served as a delegate at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) presenting in parallel sessions at the annual meeting of the CSW. Dr. Pacis is a former PK-12 educator who spent almost 20 years as a public school administrator, peer coach/staff developer, and teacher in the state of California. Dr. Pacis holds a Doctorate in Education earned in a joint program from the University of San Diego and San Diego State University in Teaching and Learning with an emphasis in literacy.

Clifford Tyler, currently a professor-emeritus, was a fulltime faculty member at National University Sanford College of Education in the Department of Educational Administration for the past seventeen years, including eighteen months as the Department Chair. While serving at National University, Dr. Tyler has made numerous presentations at both national and international conferences in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and South America. He has written numerous professional journals and online articles on higher education/school district partnerships, online education, education leadership, and school district finance issues. He is also the recipient of National University’s President’s Professoriate Award. Dr Tyler is active in the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), having served as President and Board Member of the ACSA Region 8 Retiree Charter, and a Board member of the California Association of Professors in Educational Administration (CAPEA). He continues to coach intern teachers and sitting Foreword vii school administrators, and chairs Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) high school accreditation visits.

Prior to his work at National University, Dr. Tyler served as both a district and county schools superintendent for twenty years in K–12 districts ranging in size from 200 to 12,500 students in Oregon, Washington, California, and New Hampshire. He also served as headmaster of a private independent school for two years, has been both an elementary and high school principal for eight years, and a classroom teacher for six years, including the American School in Japan. Dr. Tyler holds an EdD in Educational Administration from the University of the Pacific, an EdM Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Oregon, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences from Oregon State University.