Publications

Refereed Journal Articles

Virella, P. M. (2023). Framing neoliberalism: A content analysis of “Ley de Reforma Educativa de Puerto Rico. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Virella, P.M. (2023). Introducing the pillars of equity-oriented crisis leadership: a conceptual framework.” School Leadership and Management, Vol. ahead-of print No. ahead-of-print.

Virella, P. M., and Cobb, C. D. (2022). Leader developer for school improvement: the critical component of mentorship for effective preparation of aspiring school-level leaders. Journal of Educational Supervision, 5(3), 81.

Virella, P.M. (2022). New principals in the COVID corridor: an exploratory case Study.” Journal of Educational Administration, Vol. ahead-of print No. ahead-of-print.

Virella, P.M. (2022). Framing corruption: Ley de Reforma Educativa and Puerto Rico’s education scandal. Centro: Journal of the Center of Puerto Rican Studies.

Virella, P. & Woulfin, S. (2021). Leading after the storm: New York city principal’s deployment of equity-oriented leadership post-Hurricane Maria. Educational Management Administration & Leadership.

Cobb, C. D., & Virella, P. (2021). Leveraging the Crisis for Equity and Access in the Long Term: A Brief Research Report. Frontiers.

Virella, P. (2020). Leading Through the “Influx:” Leadership Responses and the Influence of a Political Spectacle. Journal of School Leadership.

Virella, P. (2020). We were expecting more: political spectacle and the “influx” of puerto rican students post-hurricane maria. Journal of School Leadership.

Virella, P. M., & Weiner, J. M. (2020). The network runs the schools: from a loose to a tightly coupled school district. Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership.

Cobb, C. D., & Virella, P. (2019). The legitimization of improvement science in academe. The Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics Journal. 17(June), 287–296.

Books

Preparing To Lead

Narratives of Aspiring School Leaders in a "Post"-COVID World

Popular education press and scholarly conversations have focused on the impact of COVID-19 on various aspects of school leadership during the induction process and after. However, voices heard directly from the students are often left out or not heard from in a comprehensive oral historical account. We argue that while the attention is deservingly placed on principals and superintendents in schools leading through the pandemic crisis, there has been less dialogue about the impact of COVID-19 on aspiring leaders who will take the helm amid the lingering crisis. Focusing on this population is explicitly significant as COVID-19 has disrupted and traumatized aspiring leaders who will begin to leave the principalship or superintendency en masse.

Journey to (Ph.)inesheD.:

The Core 4 Strategies to Develop A Successful Academic Writing Routine and (Ph)inish Your Doctorate!

In Journey to (Ph.)inesheD.: The Core 4 Strategies to Develop A Successful Academic Writing Routine and (Ph)inish Your Doctorate! you’re going to learn the skills necessary to establish an effective writing process that will serve you toward the end of your doctoral journey in order to successfully write and complete your dissertation. This way, you’ll be finished.

Leveraging Crisis for Equitable School Improvement

Leadership Strategies from the Field

Leveraging Crisis for Equitable School Improvement: Leadership Strategies from the Field is a must-read for school leaders seeking to navigate crises effectively while prioritizing equity. The book draws on real-world examples and extensive research to explore how school leaders can leverage crises to bring about equitable school improvement. It provides practical guidance on crisis leadership, from assessing the crisis to delivering resources and connecting with the community.

Crisis as Catalyst

Equity-Oriented School Leadership During Difficult Times

In Crisis as Catalyst, Patricia M. Virella uncovers opportunities for school leaders to act as agents of equity and inclusivity during crisis situations. Virella interviewed dozens of school principals across the United States and Puerto Rico, and in this book she shares the key lessons from their experiences with crisis events of all magnitudes, including student mental health emergencies, school elopement, criminal violence, racial harm, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Refereed Book Chapters

Virella, P.M. (2022). Single Mom, ABD, Dissertating During a Pandemic Narratives of Success From Scholars of Color.

Virella, P. M. (2020). Educating for Diversity: designing a course for liberation and critical pedagogy In T. Kress, R. Lake and E. Stein (Eds.), Radically Dreaming.

Virella, P. M. (2020). “I Can’t Hear You”: incorporating adult developmentally appropriate feedback in Balkor Elementary Charter School In K. N. Levinia and J. Jackson (Eds.), Case Studies in Leadership and Adult Development: Applying Theoretical Perspectives to Real-World Challenges.

Virella, P. M. (2020). For Color’d Girls Who Lead. In J. Surface & K. Keiser, (Ed.), Women and Educational Leadership: A Practitioner’s Handbook. Word and Deed Publishing.

Virella, P. M. (2020). ‘Cause You Talk Like Me: Color’d Girl Leading. In J. Alton, L. Scott & S.N. Alexander, (Eds.), Purveyors of Change: School Leaders of Color Share Narratives of Student, School, and Community Success.

Virella, Patricia M., & Weiner, Jennie. (2020). Ley de Reforma Educativa de Puerto Rico: A Freirian Perspective. In J. D. Kirylo, (Ed.), Reinventing Pedagogy of the Oppressed: Contemporary Critical Perspectives (pp. 147-156). Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Jahaly, P.M. (2017). Fighting the Good Fight as an Afr-Rican Leader. In D. Y. Ford, M. Trotman Scoot, & Y. Sealey-Ruiz. (Eds.), Gumbo for the Soul: Liberating Memoirs and Stories to Inspire Females of Color (pp. 175-178). Information Age Publishing.

Dissertating During a Pandemic: Narratives of Success From Scholars of Color

Radically Dreaming

Case Studies in Leadership and Adult Development: Applying Theoretical Perspectives to Real World Challenges

Women and Educational Leadership: A Practitioner’s Handbook

Purveyors of Change: School Leaders of Color Share Narratives of Student, School, and Community Success

Reinventing Pedagogy of the Oppressed: Contemporary Critical Perspectives

Gumbo for the Soul: Liberating Memoirs and Stories to Inspire Females of Color

Scholarly Presentations

Virella, P. (2022, May). On the Importance of Including the Global Context in Critical Methodologies [Paper Session]. International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry Conference, Urbana-Champaign, IL

Adarkar, A., Naiditch, F., Wilson, L., Davis, M. Virella, P. M., Warren. C.& Karamanos, X. (2022, February). The Agenda for Education in a Democracy in the 21st Century: Academics Engaged in Creating a More Just Society. Symposium presented at the annual conference of the National Association for Professional Development Schools, Chicago, IL.

Virella, P.M. (2021, November). Everyone gets a diversity course. Paper presented at the American Educational Studies Association, Portland, OR

Virella, P. M. (2021, November). New principals in the COVID corridor. Paper presented at the annual conference of University Council of Educational Administration, Columbus OH.

Virella, P. M. & Woulfin, S. (2020, May). Tell Me More About Your Trauma: A phenomenological study of researchers’ Interview Techniques for Ethically Understanding Participants Who Have Faced a Crisis [Paper Session]. International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry Conference, Urbana-Champaign, IL (Conference Canceled)

Cobb, C., Gonzalez, R. & Virella, P. M. (2020, April 17 – 21). Developing Teacher Leaders through a District- University Partnership [Paper Session]. AERA Annual Conference, San Francisco, California (Conference Canceled)

Virella, P. M. (2020, April 17 – 21). “We Were Expecting More”: the “influx” of Puerto Rican students post-hurricane Maria, a political spectacle” [Paper Session]. AERA Annual Conference, San Francisco, California (Conference Canceled)

Virella, P.M., & Buras K. (2019, November). Educational Privatization, Subjugation, and Liberation: grassroots lessons from New Orleans for Puerto Rico. Symposium presented at the annual conference of University of Educational Administration, Nw Orleans, Louisiana.

Virella, P.M. (2019, November). The Developers: Mentorship for the Effective Preparation of Aspiring School Leaders. Paper presented at the annual conference of University Ouncil of Educational Administration, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Virella, P. M. (2019, May). My Brother’s Keeper Symposium. Panelist at the annual My Brother’s Keeper Symposium, Albany, New York.

Virella, P. M. (2018, November). Race Talks and Flipped Professional Development. Paper presented at the annual graduate student summit of University Council of Educational Administration, Houston, Texas.

Virella, P. M. (2017, November). Messing About in Science and Art. Paper presented at the Inaugural Progressive Education Conference. Antioch University New England, Keene, New Hampshire

Virella, P. M. (2017, The Effect of Teaching Pre-Service Teachers in Urban Elementary Education on an Urban Elementary School Principal. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Council of Professors of Instructional Supervision, Austin, Texas.

Virella, P. M. (2016, February). Intersection of Science and Math: Interdisciplinary Power in STEM. Panelist at the annual National Coalition of Girls Schools Conference, New York, New York.

Virella, P. M. (2015, September). The Art of Seeing Children: Art of Teaching 25th Anniversary. Panelist at the 25th Anniversary of the Art of Teaching Program Panel. Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York

Virella, P. M. (2010, September). Maintaining the Art of Teaching. Panelist at the Saturday Seminar, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York