Understanding, Navigating, and Leading the Process
"Coping with change is perhaps the most fundamental aspect of life and certainly critical for successful teaching. This book provides an essential guide to how teachers might successfully address the ongoing and expected change associated with effective teaching." -Sharon Vaughn, H. E. Hartfelder/Southland Corp Regents Chair University of Texas "Perhaps no other job in our society today experiences as much change as classroom teaching. Stivers and Cramer are two experts with tremendous insight and experience in both the theoretical and practical dimensions of personal, organizational, and systemwide change. Heartwarming, insightful stories explore how dozens of teachers overcome the challenges of living and leading through change every day, blended with rock-solid theory and extensive research on how to live through change successfully." -Chris Edgelow, Founder and President Sundance Consulting Inc. Energize your learning community by transforming change into opportunity! Throughout their careers, teachers will face a myriad of inevitable changes, both inside and outside the classroom. Ideal for use both in professional development settings and as a personal resource, A Teacher's Guide to Change engages K-12 teachers in the process of anticipating and responding to change. Through a step-by-step approach, teachers can learn to prepare for change, which enhances their career satisfaction and effectiveness as professionals. Emphasizing that change is something teachers can understand, manage, become invested in, and even champion, the authors provide practical skills for facing and adjusting to change, whether it is mandated or chosen. Offering a wealth of conceptual, reflective, interpersonal, and strategic tools, this guide also includes: Survey results from more than 100 teachers who share not only their experiences with change but also advice and encouragement, inviting educators to learn from each other Reflective exercises to help teachers understand and approach change A five-step process for initiating and implementing plans for change Systematic strategies for leading change, both in smaller and larger spheres of influence Vivid school-based examples that can be directly applied to personal experience This accessible resource is invaluable for all teachers. Whether or not change is voluntary, opportunities for professional growth are abundant, leading to improved student learning and greater teacher retention.
Understanding, Navigating, and Leading the Process
"Coping with change is perhaps the most fundamental aspect of life and certainly critical for successful teaching. This book provides an essential guide to how teachers might successfully address the ongoing and expected change associated with effective teaching." -Sharon Vaughn, H. E. Hartfelder/Southland Corp Regents Chair University of Texas "Perhaps no other job in our society today experiences as much change as classroom teaching. Stivers and Cramer are two experts with tremendous insight and experience in both the theoretical and practical dimensions of personal, organizational, and systemwide change. Heartwarming, insightful stories explore how dozens of teachers overcome the challenges of living and leading through change every day, blended with rock-solid theory and extensive research on how to live through change successfully." -Chris Edgelow, Founder and President Sundance Consulting Inc. Energize your learning community by transforming change into opportunity! Throughout their careers, teachers will face a myriad of inevitable changes, both inside and outside the classroom. Ideal for use both in professional development settings and as a personal resource, A Teacher's Guide to Change engages K-12 teachers in the process of anticipating and responding to change. Through a step-by-step approach, teachers can learn to prepare for change, which enhances their career satisfaction and effectiveness as professionals. Emphasizing that change is something teachers can understand, manage, become invested in, and even champion, the authors provide practical skills for facing and adjusting to change, whether it is mandated or chosen. Offering a wealth of conceptual, reflective, interpersonal, and strategic tools, this guide also includes: Survey results from more than 100 teachers who share not only their experiences with change but also advice and encouragement, inviting educators to learn from each other Reflective exercises to help teachers understand and approach change A five-step process for initiating and implementing plans for change Systematic strategies for leading change, both in smaller and larger spheres of influence Vivid school-based examples that can be directly applied to personal experience This accessible resource is invaluable for all teachers. Whether or not change is voluntary, opportunities for professional growth are abundant, leading to improved student learning and greater teacher retention.
Real change comes from teachers and administrators working together It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a community of educators to improve a school-a community that includes administrators and teachers in different, but equally important, roles. A district's changes can only show results once their improvements reach the classroom. At the same time, teachers need support from their districts to make their own changes have lasting impact. In this brief companion book to Getting Serious About the System: A Fieldbook for District and School Leaders, you will get the background and see exactly where you as a teacher or other stakeholder fit in the process of implementing solutions system-wide. You'll also learn about The research behind the Working Systematically approach, which focuses on healthy organizational cultures, professional development, innovation, and accountability The goals of the approach, which include addressing components and competencies at all levels A five-phase process for implementing a systemic improvement plan at the district, school, and classroom levels Teachers don't need another "quick fix" that gives a temporary boost to school performance-they need comprehensive guidance for making meaningful change that will last. Getting Serious About the System enables educators at all levels to work together, share leadership, and create a culture that values collaboration, continuous learning, and professional respect and trust.
This volume continues the ongoing discussion on higher education funding in the United States. Critical issues addressed include: sources and levels of funding; performance-based accountability standards; the decentralization of control; diminished resources; retirement and benefits; increased use of business and private sectors in underwriting development; and alternate revenue sources.
Reward your best teachers for the great work they do! Is your school system considering teacher merit pay? Now is the time to understand the potential benefits and pitfalls of performance-based teacher pay, as well as how today's most successful programs were developed. Drawing on substantial research with school districts, Gary Ritter and Joshua Barnett provide a step-by-step approach to setting up a merit pay system in your school district. Readers will find An overview of existing merit pay programs and their strengths and weaknesses A review of the 12 most common myths about merit pay, and how school leaders can respond Six guiding principles for designing a merit pay program, along with how-to's and timelines for every phase Guidance on creating balanced assessments based on multiple measures of teacher effectiveness, and developed in collaboration with teachers Ensure that your district's merit pay program supports teachers' professional growth, schoolwide progress, and student achievement. "Ritter and Barnett bring much-needed researched clarity to this complex issue. For school administrators, education policy makers, legislators, and others interested in school reform, this book is a must-read." -Rod Paige, Former U.S. Secretary of Education "This guide is a useful resource for undertaking merit pay, preventing pitfalls, and most importantly, offering solid recommendations for creating well-designed implementations." -Gary Stark, President and CEO National Institute for Excellence in Teaching
"A remarkable tool for educators and communities. We are fortunate that a very effective former superintendent and successful business person are willing to share their quest for ensuring that all students are well prepared for their futures." -June St. Clair Atkinson, State Superintendent North Carolina Department of Public Instruction "Blends business principles with excellent leadership in one of America's largest school districts to create a model for achieving excellence in school districts everywhere. This is a well-written, practical illustration of how a leader makes things happen." -Larry Price, Superintendent Wilson County Schools, NC Learn how school districts can go from average to outstanding! The challenge of preparing children and youth for success in the 21st century requires improvement in the business of education. This unique resource provides an inside account of how Wake County Public Schools, one of the nation's largest school districts, made significant gains in student achievement and school performance over a ten-year period to become a shining example of success. Award-winning superintendent Bill McNeal and successful businessman/school board member Tom Oxholm show readers how they established a partnership to help students meet grade-level expectations and support schools in closing achievement gaps. Through the authors' experience and tips, readers will discover how to facilitate: Improved educational outcomes, especially among minority populations Progressive instructional leadership Fiscal responsibility and efficient allocation of resources Stronger school-community relationships Rich in examples, case studies, and data, A School District's Journey to Excellence is a much-needed map to excellence in public education.
The go-to resource for school board members' greatest challenges! For districts striving to improve student academic performance, professional learning at all levels can make a crucial difference. This invaluable guide addresses the top challenges experienced by nearly every school board, and shows how professional learning can assist in overcoming these challenges and support positive changes. Two influential education leaders-and experienced board trustees-present an approach that helps school board members form their own professional learning community and become a stronger, more productive team. Aligned with Learning Forward's current Standards for Professional Learning (developed in collaboration with, and supported by, more than 18 national organizations, including the National School Boards Association), this resource enables board members to Learn from case studies focused on 12 critical board-level decisions, including hiring a new superintendent, resource allocation, compensation planning, and more Deepen your understanding of leadership and actions that advance school success and benefit the wider community Know when, where, and how to use professional learning to improve individual and systemic performance Benefit from best practices and tools developed to support effective decisions and successful implementation of major initiatives Turn to this resource to assist with your continuous improvement journey and achieve greater success for all schools! "School boards play a pivotal role in creating a climate of learning in a school system. This book offers practical advice to enable school boards to fulfill this critical aspect of their public leadership role. It is a road map for action and continuous improvement for every school board." -Thomas J. Gentzel, Executive Director National School Boards Association "This book is an excellent tool for the collaborative work of school boards and school personnel. The activities encourage the collaboration and conversation that support continuous improvement in education." -Lisa Casto, Director of Curriculum and Staff Development Allen ISD, TX
With Insights and Tips From Award-Winning Principals
"Jorgenson has designed an amazingly easy-to-use tool that captures the complexity of the principalship in a precise, yet personal manner. This user-friendly resource significantly impacts day-to-day practice." -Christopher Peal, Principal Meadowbrook Elementary School, Novi, MI "An ideal gift for superintendents to give to their principals. It can be used for administrator mentoring, especially for interactive collaboration between colleagues. This book supports the critical survival habit of today's administrators: reflection." -Rick Miller, Superintendent Oxnard School District, CA Find resilience and optimism in your role as a school principal! Today's school principals face increasing pressure and new challenges every day. However, by setting aside time for personal reflection and planning, both novice and seasoned administrators can build on their individual strengths and achieve important professional goals. Written in a concise, practical format, A Reflective Planning Journal for School Leaders is part planning calendar, part reflective journal, and part inspirational guide to help principals become focused, proactive leaders. Olaf Jorgenson has organized this step-by-step resource around the school year and offers numerous suggestions, reflective exercises, and features, including: Month-by-month themes that guide individual professional development and reflective practice Advice from award-winning elementary and secondary school principals Space for weekly and monthly planning and goal setting Guidelines for focusing on priorities Tips for increasing parent involvement, initiating change in schools, and making time for professional development Strengthen your professional practice and leadership effectiveness by making personal reflection and planning a daily priority.
With Insights and Tips From Award-Winning Principals
This concise guide offers monthly themes for reflection and professional development, advice from award-winning principals, space for planning and goal setting, and suggestions for increasing parent involvement.
