Educational Leadership and the 21st Century Dilemma of Difference
What does it take to provide each student with equitable access to daily quality instruction? Our public schools have undergone significant demographic change. At the same time, we have abundant evidence that our schools haven't effectively served children of color, children from low-income families, and other marginalized student groups. This solution-oriented guide for school leaders helps create a high-quality, culturally responsive learning environment for all students. You'll learn deliberate, data-driven actions critical to 21st Century success. Written by instructional leaders, who understand the challenges of equity-driven reform, this guide helps school leaders: Understand the root cause of the racial-achievement gap Take concrete actions to transform the educational process Use daily, real-time data to determine effective teaching and learning practices Provides leaders with an original framework to achieve their instructional vision for equity Eliminate gaps in student outcomes by eliminating instructional gaps between educators and their students. Including practical implementation strategies and tools, reflective-discussion questions, and powerful vignettes, this transformative book helps school leaders take concrete steps to accelerate the achievement of underserved students! "For those who are unsure where to begin the process, or lack a context for why they need to undergo the transformation of changing their instructional practices to align with the need to respond to America's changing public school population, the contents are arranged in a manner to provide the necessary support to guide the audience through the process." -Dr. Kandice W. Taylor, Principal Baltimore County Public Schools, MD "This book provides school leaders with practical tools and a practical model to implement drastic change in any school climate. The PACE Framework perfectly outlines strategies and activities to implement an effective, quality-first instruction program at schools that serve students who are normally underserved. School leaders and district leaders, who serve as change agents in multi-faceted school communities, can use this book. I highly recommend it for any school leader needing a framework to shift the culture, instructional practices, the mindset of staff, and community members alike." -Tara A. Minter, Principal Rosa L. Parks Elementary School, Hyattsville, MD
"The book is unique in that it addresses the socioemotional stages of professional transitions...this was an easy read that had me highlighting passages on almost every page or citing relevant quotes I want to use or share with others. The material is well integrated so you can see the more global picture of administration, yet allows the reader to focus and actively reflect on the very real scenarios used as examples." -Michelle Kocar, Principal Liberty Elementary School, North Ridgeville, OH "I found myself making stars in the margins or writing YES!, Been There, Done That, I can relate!, Interesting, Good Suggestion, True..." -Ann Porter, 2002 NAESP National Distinguished Principal Lewis & Clark Elementary School, Grand Forks, ND When you maintain your perspective, you find fun in the most unlikely places! Are you apprehensive about leaving the realm of teaching for the world of school administration? Do you wonder how your current relationships will evolve with a change in job title? School administrators fill a crucial need in education, but all too often their social and emotional worlds turn upside-down when they make this momentous career move. This second edition provides an insightful look at the unwritten and unspoken rules of school administration, helping new and sitting administrators work through the initial adjustment and discover the satisfaction that comes with success. Who Said School Administration Would Be Fun? is filled with real-life examples, exercises, and strategies meant to guide school leaders through the motley challenges that they will encounter each day. Sigford draws on years of experience as teacher, leader, and administrator to develop tactics for: Maintaining perspective through humor Managing and leading like a successful systems thinker Transforming school culture into a climate of trust and compassion Responding to all levels of accountability faced in today's schools Fun may not be the first word to describe school administration; however, understanding and self-reflection will lead to the fun of success and satisfaction.
"The book is unique in that it addresses the socioemotional stages of professional transitions...this was an easy read that had me highlighting passages on almost every page or citing relevant quotes I want to use or share with others. The material is well integrated so you can see the more global picture of administration, yet allows the reader to focus and actively reflect on the very real scenarios used as examples." -Michelle Kocar, Principal Liberty Elementary School, North Ridgeville, OH "I found myself making stars in the margins or writing YES!, Been There, Done That, I can relate!, Interesting, Good Suggestion, True..." -Ann Porter, 2002 NAESP National Distinguished Principal Lewis & Clark Elementary School, Grand Forks, ND When you maintain your perspective, you find fun in the most unlikely places! Are you apprehensive about leaving the realm of teaching for the world of school administration? Do you wonder how your current relationships will evolve with a change in job title? School administrators fill a crucial need in education, but all too often their social and emotional worlds turn upside-down when they make this momentous career move. This second edition provides an insightful look at the unwritten and unspoken rules of school administration, helping new and sitting administrators work through the initial adjustment and discover the satisfaction that comes with success. Who Said School Administration Would Be Fun? is filled with real-life examples, exercises, and strategies meant to guide school leaders through the motley challenges that they will encounter each day. Sigford draws on years of experience as teacher, leader, and administrator to develop tactics for: Maintaining perspective through humor Managing and leading like a successful systems thinker Transforming school culture into a climate of trust and compassion Responding to all levels of accountability faced in today's schools Fun may not be the first word to describe school administration; however, understanding and self-reflection will lead to the fun of success and satisfaction.
A constructivist leader facilitates professional dialogue and inquiry to enable all teachers to make sense of their work together and to reconstruct the major purposes of schooling. Illustrating their work with vignettes of the activities of such leaders, the authors of this book create a clear picture of constructivist teaching and leadership. They also formulate strategies for altering the school culture to accommodate constructivist leadership.
A constructivist leader facilitates professional dialogue and inquiry to enable all teachers to make sense of their work together and to reconstruct the major purposes of schooling. Illustrating their work with vignettes of the activities of such leaders, the authors of this book create a clear picture of constructivist teaching and leadership. They also formulate strategies for altering the school culture to accommodate constructivist leadership.
10 proven practices to help children thrive In a world that seems to grow more unpredictable and challenging by the day, how can we increase learning and joy for children while offering them much-needed support? Uncertainty and disruption have created a youth mental health crisis that requires all hands on deck. This urgently needed guidebook offers comprehensive and scientifically-grounded methods you can use to support young people's well-being, no matter what obstacles they face. Written by an expert with decades of experience in education, youth development, and social work, this timely and timeless resource includes: 10 practices that can prevent and address mental health challenges and enable young people to thrive Strategies for taking care of kids while also taking care of yourself Information on the most pressing issues youth face, from nurturing healthy relationships to building community and belonging Key takeaways and reflection questions for individual use and group discussion as well as "Try Now" sections with tips and tools that can be used immediately Providing essential information, practical advice, stories, and time-tested strategies to help kids live and learn, Whole Child, Whole Life is required reading for anyone who is working with, caring for, or raising young people.
Educators today must navigate a newer and more dynamic terrain than previous generations. This book provides a practical framework for improving the satisfaction of educators, all through the lens of whole-school health.
Creating Professional Learning Communities That Target Student Learning
"This third edition from Murphy and Lick is a superb resource and a must read for all educators involved in the improvement of education. It should be in the hands of individuals from the state department of education to the classroom teacher, for it speaks to all layers of the system, and to the role that each person must play to assure successful learning for all students." -From the Foreword by Shirley Hord, Scholar Emerita Southwest Educational Development Laboratory "Planning is an important thing. What Whole-Faculty Study Groups has done for us is to ensure that we never forget that implementation is the only thing." Jack Ernst, Superintendent Springfield Public Schools, Springfield, MO One of the most successful and exciting approaches to staff development, school reform, and systemic change in education today! Used by hundreds of schools and school districts across the country, the Whole-Faculty Study Group (WFSG) System is a student-driven, holistic process for facilitating major staff development and schoolwide change. While providing a step-by-step methodology for the development and implementation of successful WFSGs, this newest edition of Murphy and Lick's groundbreaking bestseller incorporates the most current theoretical concepts on change, the latest refinements to change management procedures, and a wealth of new experiences from more than two thousand individual study groups. Other significant revisions to this edition include: Three additional chapters: the research foundation for WFSGs, how to recognize and understand school culture, and fourteen key findings A reorganization of chapters to make the book even more reader-friendly New material on timely topics such as "learning communities" and "learning teams" An increased focus on assessment of student results Updated sets of resources and illustrations in the appendix WFSGs are a proven way to successfully reform, improve, and transition schools to meet tomorrow's needs. Filled with real-world examples and illustrative cases, this book provides both the practical knowledge and the theoretical foundation necessary to negotiate the societal, organizational, and cultural barriers affecting education. This new edition is essential for administrators, teachers, and staff in K-12 schools, as well as district level administrators, teachers of education, and anyone interested in increasing student learning.
Creating Professional Learning Communities That Target Student Learning
"This third edition from Murphy and Lick is a superb resource and a must read for all educators involved in the improvement of education. It should be in the hands of individuals from the state department of education to the classroom teacher, for it speaks to all layers of the system, and to the role that each person must play to assure successful learning for all students." -From the Foreword by Shirley Hord, Scholar Emerita Southwest Educational Development Laboratory "Planning is an important thing. What Whole-Faculty Study Groups has done for us is to ensure that we never forget that implementation is the only thing." Jack Ernst, Superintendent Springfield Public Schools, Springfield, MO One of the most successful and exciting approaches to staff development, school reform, and systemic change in education today! Used by hundreds of schools and school districts across the country, the Whole-Faculty Study Group (WFSG) System is a student-driven, holistic process for facilitating major staff development and schoolwide change. While providing a step-by-step methodology for the development and implementation of successful WFSGs, this newest edition of Murphy and Lick's groundbreaking bestseller incorporates the most current theoretical concepts on change, the latest refinements to change management procedures, and a wealth of new experiences from more than two thousand individual study groups. Other significant revisions to this edition include: Three additional chapters: the research foundation for WFSGs, how to recognize and understand school culture, and fourteen key findings A reorganization of chapters to make the book even more reader-friendly New material on timely topics such as "learning communities" and "learning teams" An increased focus on assessment of student results Updated sets of resources and illustrations in the appendix WFSGs are a proven way to successfully reform, improve, and transition schools to meet tomorrow's needs. Filled with real-world examples and illustrative cases, this book provides both the practical knowledge and the theoretical foundation necessary to negotiate the societal, organizational, and cultural barriers affecting education. This new edition is essential for administrators, teachers, and staff in K-12 schools, as well as district level administrators, teachers of education, and anyone interested in increasing student learning.
