Dr. Robert Wilhite teaches classes focusing on the areas of instructional leadership, supervision, school improvement, school change processes, ethics and legal issues for school districts.

Among his research interests are school improvement processes, leadership models and styles, literacy, curriculum and instruction. Dr. Wilhite is currently the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and the past chair of the Department of Leadership. He has served on several faculty committees in the College of Graduate and Innovative Programs. He serves as a member of Doctoral Dissertation Committees. He has served as a member of the Peer Review Committee, the College of Graduate and Innovative Programs Policy committee, the College of Education Policy Committee, and the CUC Strategic Planning Council.

Degrees

  • EdD, Curriculum and Instruction - Loyola University Chicago; Chicago, IL
  • MEd, Reading and Learning Disabilities - Loyola University Chicago; Chicago, IL
  • BA, Humanities - Southern Illinois University; Edwardsville, IL

Academic and Professional Highlights

Awards

  • Outstanding Young Men of America, 1982, 1984
  • Campaign Excellence Award, United Way, 1983
  • Outstanding Teacher of the Year, University of Chicago, 1979, 1980
  • Medal of Meritorious Service, US Army, 1970

Memberships

  • AASA, The School Superintendents Association
  • Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
  • Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
  • Learning Forward (previously known as the National Staff Development Council)
  • National Council for Professors of Educational Administration
  • National Association of Elementary School Principals
  • National Association of Secondary School Principals
  • National Middle School Association
  • Illinois Principal’s Association
  • Midwest Principal Center
  • Member of the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial Foundation Committee
  • Phi Delta Kappa

Publications:

  • Leading with Resolve and Mastery: Competency-Based Strategies for Superintendent Success, (with Brierton, J., Schilling, C., & Tomal, D.), Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2017.

  • Ethics and Politics in School Leadership, (with Brierton, J., Graham, B., & Tomal, D.), Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2016. 

  • Transforming Professional Practice: A Framework for Effective Leadership, (with Strike, K., Sims, P., & Mann, S.), Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2016.

  • Supervision and Evaluation for Learning and Growth, (with Tomal, D., Phillips, B., Sims, P., & Gibson, N.), Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015. 

  • The Teacher Leader: Core Competencies and Strategies for Effective Leadership, (Tomal, T., & Schilling, C.), Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, with 2013. 

  • Chicago HOPES: Eliminating Educational Roadblocks for Homeless Students, (with Safer, L., Kroeger, T. & Mann, S.), American School Board Journal, May 2011.

  • Applying Adaptive Leadership to Sustain K-12 District Initiatives and Challenges, (with Safer, L. & Mann, S.), International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation, 5.3, 2010. 

  • Principals’ views of their role in secondary reading programs, Journal of Reading, 27.4, 1984. 

  • Readiness Skills for Kindergarteners, Lake County ROE Newsletters, Nov.-Dec., 1982.

     

Presentations:

  • Chicago HOPES: An Educational Intervention Program for Homeless Youth in Chicago's Shelters (with Safer, L., Sims, P. & Mann, S.). National Council for Professors of Educational Administration's (NCPEA), Annual Conference; Portland, Ore., August 2011.

  • Chicago HOPES: Strengthening Educational Success for Chicago's Homeless Students (with Safer, L. & Mann, S.), ASCD Annual Conference, San Francisco, August 2011.

  • Educational Success for Homeless Students (with Safer, L., Sims P. & Mann, S.), National Staff Development Council's (Learning Forward), 2011 Summer Conference; Indianapolis, Ind., July 2011.

  • Chicago HOPES: Strengthening Educational Success for Chicago's Homeless Students (with Safer, L. & Mann, S.), Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Annual Conference; San Francisco, Calif., March 2011.

  • Integrative Learning through a Case Method Approach to Undergraduate Education (with Safer, L. & Sims, P.), ACCA Scholarship of Pedagogy Symposium; Chicago, October 2010.

  • Applying Adaptive Leadership to Sustain K-12 District Initiatives and Challenges (with Safer, L. & Mann, S.), National Council of Professors of Educational Administration (NCPEA) Annual Conference; Washington, D.C., August 2010.

  • Technology and Curriculum Integration (with Meyer, M.), ASCD Annual Conference; San Antonio, April 2005.

  • High Schools for the 21st Century - Career Pathways. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Annual Conference; Baltimore, March 1999.

  • Career Education and High Achievement (with Long, D.). Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Annual Conference; Baltimore, March 1999.

  • A Middle School in Development. National Staff Development Council (NSDC); Atlanta, 1994.