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Learn how successful principals make a difference in their school’s performance! Based on a ground-breaking study and numerous firsthand accounts, this illuminating book captures unique perspectives from 20 outstanding principals, representing a wide range of urban and rural schools. This resource includes: The nine personal characteristics that help principals lead high-performing schools Practical strategies for balancing both administrative responsibilities and instructional leadership Guidance on using a systems-development approach to support excellence at every level Discussion of the use of research and data for school improvement Tips and suggestions from effective principals, along with recommended resources for further learning

Strengthen programs of family and community engagement to promote equity and increase student success! When schools, families, and communities collaborate and share responsibility for students′ education, more students succeed in school. Based on 30 years of research and fieldwork, the fourth edition of the bestseller School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action, presents tools and guidelines to help develop more effective and more equitable programs of family and community engagement. Written by a team of well-known experts, it provides a theory and framework of six types of involvement for action; up-to-date research on school, family, and community collaboration; and new materials for professional development and on-going technical assistance. Readers also will find: Examples of best practices on the six types of involvement from preschools, and elementary, middle, and high schools Checklists, templates, and evaluations to plan goal-linked partnership programs and assess progress CD-ROM with slides and notes for two presentations: A new awareness session to orient colleagues on the major components of a research-based partnership program, and a full One-Day Team Training Workshop to prepare school teams to develop their partnership programs. As a foundational text, this handbook demonstrates a proven approach to implement and sustain inclusive, goal-linked programs of partnership. It shows how a good partnership program is an essential component of good school organization and school improvement for student success. This book will help every district and all schools strengthen and continually improve their programs of family and community engagement.

The Foundational Handbook on Improvement Research in Education is a pathbreaking effort to build a field of research committed to producing the practical knowledge needed to advance educational access, quality, and equity. This is research distinguished by the use of inclusive, iterative approaches to analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation to understand and address educational opportunities, needs, and problems grounded deeply in school and community contexts. Designed for researchers, students, and educators, the handbook elaborates the intellectual foundations, explores the organizational and policy contexts, reviews approaches, and examines methods of improvement research. It features contributions from a plural community of researchers with expertise in the learning sciences, instructional improvement, organizational and policy studies, and research methodologies, many with extensive experience collaborating with teachers, leadership, families, and advocates in local problem solving and design.

Updated Edition of Bestseller! Build a learning community of teachers and students through mastering the art of effective leadership! The first edition of this classic text was based on a landmark study in which the authors surveyed over 800 K-12 teachers to find how the best principals encourage teacher growth and professionalism. The answers provided conclusive evidence that the most successful principals act as instructional leaders who advocate teacher development that enhances students′ learning. The updated and expanded second edition presents new research by the Blases, along with the most recent research and insights to support the text′s groundbreaking theory. Successful instructional leaders inspire their staff to develop "professional learning communities" dedicated to effective teaching practices. New to the second edition is an in-depth analysis that shows principals how to achieve this goal. Also new are additional figures, models, and reading lists that enrich the text′s original findings. Time-tested practices of instructional leadership are still central features. Principals can use these keys to success to: Build teachers′ trust through continual communication Encourage teachers to continue their self-improvement efforts Motivate teachers with constructive feedback Promote and participate in reflective practices Support and encourage teachers′ professional development Encourage your teachers to be their best through supportive collaboration and communication. Practice real instructional leadership and develop a "professional learning community" in which effective teaching promotes continued learning.