Full Description
Create the schools our students deserve with a new model for school leadership.
The challenges facing education leaders, such as underprepared teachers, growing educator burnout, and increasing complexities of school operations, have pushed traditional leadership models to their limits. A New School Leadership Architecture introduces a bold strategy to reimagine school leadership by shifting from lone-hero narratives to collaborative, well-defined roles that empower leaders at every level of the system.
Drawing on more than a decade of educational research, Lindsay Whorton introduces a four-level model—Team Members, Team Leaders, Bridge Leaders, and School Leaders—that offers a coherent approach to transform the way schools are run. Whether you're a classroom teacher, aspiring leader, or school administrator, this book equips educators to:
Redesign how leadership roles are structured to meet evolving school needs
Implement change effectively using practical exercises, planning templates, and real-life examples
Grow into new leadership roles with step-by-step guidance on shifting skills, time applications, and professional identities
Every student deserves access to an exceptional education, and every school requires a dynamic leadership structure to make that possible. A New School Leadership Architecture delivers a revolutionary framework that supports teachers, empowers future leaders, and prioritizes student success.
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
PART I: A NEW ARCHITECTURE
Chapter 1: A NEW SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ARCHITECTURE
THE THEORY OF THE PROBLEM: UNDOABLE JOBS
THE WORK OF SCHOOL LEADERS: BUILD CAPACITY AND DELIVER RESULTS
A SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ARCHITECTURE THAT SETS LEADERS AND SCHOOLS UP FOR SUCCESS
THE CASE FOR THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ARCHITECTURE
CONCLUSION
BIG IDEAS AND KEY TAKEAWAYS
Chapter 2: FINDING THE GAPS IN OUR CURRENT ARCHITECTURE
COMMON SCHOOL LEADERSHIP ARCHITECTURE PROBLEMS
STRENGTHENING AND REPAIRING THE ARCHITECTURE
BIG IDEAS AND KEY TAKEAWAYS
PART II: CHANGING STRUCTURES
Chapter 3: RETHINKING ROLES
BRINGING SHARED LEADERSHIP TO LIFE
BUT WHAT ABOUT . . .
ADDRESSING BARRIERS: NEED TO REPURPOSE AND REMOVE, NOT JUST ADD
BEYOND BARRIERS, OPPORTUNITIES
BIG IDEAS AND KEY TAKEAWAYS
Chapter 4: BIG CHANGE STARTS SMALL
PHASE I: STRONG PILOTS
PHASE II: BUILD SYSTEMS FOR SCALE
TWO SIDES OF THE COIN: STRUCTURES AND PEOPLE
BIG IDEAS AND KEY TAKEAWAYS
PART III: DEVELOPING PEOPLE
Chapter 5: MAKING THE SHIFT
LEADERSHIP PASSAGES REQUIRE THREE KINDS OF SHIFTS
NAVIGATING LEADERSHIP PASSAGES—GETTING UNSTUCK
YOUR LEADERSHIP PASSAGE
BIG IDEAS AND KEY TAKEAWAYS
Chapter 6: TEAM MEMBER TO TEAM LEADER
SHIFTING PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY
SHIFTING TIME ALLOCATIONS
SHIFTING SKILLS
PRIORITIZE AND CHIP AWAY
BIG IDEAS AND KEY TAKEAWAYS
SELF-ASSESSMENT
Chapter 7: TEAM LEADER TO BRIDGE LEADER
SHIFTING SKILLS
SHIFTING TIME ALLOCATIONS
SHIFTING PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY
PRIORITIZE AND CHIP AWAY
BIG IDEAS AND KEY TAKEAWAYS
SELF-ASSESSMENT
Chapter 8: BRIDGE LEADER TO SCHOOL LEADER
SHIFTING SKILLS
SHIFTING TIME APPLICATIONS
SHIFTING PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY
PRIORITIZE AND CHIP AWAY
BIG IDEAS AND KEY TAKEAWAYS
SELF-ASSESSMENT
Chapter 9: RETHINKING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
THE FOUNDATION: CLEARLY DEFINE LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS
BUILDING AND RENOVATING: ALIGNED, PROACTIVE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
PRIORITIZE AND CHIP AWAY
BIG IDEAS AND KEY TAKEAWAYS
CONCLUSION
DISTRICT LEADERS
CURRENT SCHOOL LEADERS
ASPIRING LEADERS AND THOSE WHO MENTOR, COACH, AND SUPPORT THEM
Appendix A: Typical High School Answer Key
Appendix B: Tools and Templates for Testing and Scaling New Structures
Appendix C: Key Shifts Case Study
Appendix D: Tools for Prioritizing and Action Planning
Appendix E: Tools and Resources to Support Leadership Development Systems
References
Index
