Dr. Phyllis Hensley is an associate professor and director of the doctoral program in educational leadership at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California. Prior to working in higher education she was a K-12 teacher, assistant principal and principal in Pennsylvania. She also served as a school superintendent in New York.

Dr. Hensley has been published in the areas of reflective practice, engendering positive relationships in schools and developing school cultures. Her book, with co-author LaVern Burmeister, focuses on the six keys to developing relationships in schools, i.e. communication, support, safety, trust, competence and continuous renewal. She has written several articles including An Examination of How Effective Leaders Engender Positive Relationships and Develop Healthy School Cultures, School Improvement and Trusting Relationships: Connecting Theory to Practice, It’s All About Relationships, The Artistry of Communication, and Effective Discipline: Finding the ‘Place in the Middle,’ Induction: A Viable Means of Eradicating Isolation and Teacher Stress, and The Politics of Principal Evaluation.

Dr. Hensley has served as an assistant editor, editor and senior editor of Educational Leadership in Administration: Teaching and Program Development and has served on numerous editorial boards. She has presented at a wide variety of conferences throughout the nation, and has also presented at conferences throughout the world. Her presentations focus on developing positive relationships in schools. She resides in San Antonio, Texas with her husband Gordon.

Affiliation

California State Polytechnic University in Pomona