Full Description
Transform your school into a place where every student thrives.
Urban schools face unique challenges, but they also hold extraordinary potential. In Transforming Urban Schools for Educational Excellence, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mit L. Foley draws from nearly 30 years of educational leadership to reveal how you can lead authentic, sustainable change grounded in equity, urgency, high expectations, and collaborative community partnerships.
Foley takes you through the essential steps of transformation, including defining a compelling vision, creating powerful coalitions, establishing high expectations, and building equitable systems. He shows you how to ensure sustainability through intentional use of data, restorative practices, and leadership development that outlast any individual.
Discover how to:
Build a vision that inspires action, not just compliance
Raise expectations while dismantling gatekeeping practices
Create restorative systems that heal rather than punish
Use data to drive change without losing humanity
Scale small wins into sustainable cultural transformation
Each chapter weaves together real stories, case studies, and research-based strategies that create a roadmap to school transformation. With this practical guide, you'll be able to develop the tools, language, and vision to lead change that endures.
Contents
1. Vision That Persuades: Telling a Story for Change 2. The Power of Origin Stories in Educational Leadership 3. Raising Expectations: A Pathway to Success and Opportunity 4. Creating Urgency: When Every Moment Counts 5. Forming Coalitions for Change: Mobilizing Communities in Difficult Times 6. Small Wins, Big Impact: Maintaining Momentum Through Meaningful Success 7. The Equity Dilemma: Addressing Systemic Inequalities in Urban Education 8. Data-Driven Change: Using Information to Transform Lives 9. Restorative Practices in Action: From Punishment to Healing 10. Less is More: The Power of Strategic Focus 11. Creating the Future: Developing Sustainable Leadership for Educational Transformation 12. More Than Quick Fixes: Cultivating Authentic School Improvement