Full Description
In education we are working on behalf of a truly noble cause: the lives of our students. We need a system for working together that is worthy of the work and one that harnesses the idealistic visions and inherent energies that brought us to education in the first place.
Becoming A Great School prepares you to create that system. The authors challenge top-down leadership as a vestige of the past which fails to fully engage today's teaching professionals. They explain why the following structures are essential to school revitalization: an intrinsically-motivated, energized workforce functioning smoothly together as a team; a clear focus which inspires cohesion and a sense of purpose; and a process which gradually renews the school's educational systems piece-by-piece. The outcome is what American education needs: stronger, revitalized, more effective, extraordinary schools — and it is all accomplished from within.
Ken, Nels and Joe reveal the quality management principles and collaborative leadership skills that led to amazing results for them, while detailing the practices necessary for educators to achieve the same outcomes in their schools.
Become the leader you imagined yourself to be while creating the school you always wanted to work in.
Contents
Preface
Introduction
Chapter One: The Need for a Different Kind of Leadership
Chapter Two: The Need for Outstanding Working Relationships
Chapter Three: Becoming a Collaborative Leader
Chapter Four: Developing Outstanding Teamwork
Chapter Five: Uniting Behind a Shared Vision and Focused Goals
Chapter Six: Building Cycles of Success
Conclusion: Renewing Your School's Educational Systems
Appendices:
Appendix A: A Guide to Effective Meetings
Appendix B: A Guide to Consensus
Appendix C: Opening Exercises
Appendix D: The Working Values (one page)
Appendix E: The One-Page Improvement Plan
Appendix F: Vision-Setting Exercises
Appendix G: Goal-Setting Exercises
Appendix H: Planning and Problem-Solving Tools
Appendix I: Sample Survey Questions
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Bibliography
Index
