This is an account of how a principal combines the rational and emotional components of leadership to lead the transformation of a school. The book assumes that schools can transform themselves, but only when those involved in schools develop

The inspiring true story of "one of the country's finest educators" (National Review) and the school he changed forever. Under the leadership of highly unorthodox principal Dr. Ben Chavis, Oakland's American Indian Public Charter School was hailed as an "education miracle" by governor Arnold Schwarzenegger after it was transformed from a failing "nuisance" into one of the best public middle schools in the nation. This is the story of that transformation and of a man who dared to be different. With his rigorous, no-nonsense approach, Dr. Chavis debunks the myth that poor, minority, inner-city schools have little chance at academic excellence. Focusing on back-tobasics ideals, he has created a structured educational model that, combined with the enthusiasm of his students and teachers, delivers astounding results. In Crazy Like a Fox, Dr. Chavis recounts how he did it-in his own words and through the stories of the extraordinary young people he's helped.

What really sets the best managers above the rest? It’s their power to build a cadre of employees who have great inner work lives—consistently positive emotions; strong motivation; and favorable perceptions of the organization, their work, and their colleagues. The worst managers undermine inner work life, often unwittingly. As Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer explain in The Progress Principle, seemingly mundane workday events can make or break employees’ inner work lives. But it’s forward momentum in meaningful work—progress—that creates the best inner work lives. Through rigorous analysis of nearly 12,000 diary entries provided by 238 employees in 7 companies, the authors explain how managers can foster progress and enhance inner work life every day. The book shows how to remove obstacles to progress, including meaningless tasks and toxic relationships. It also explains how to activate two forces that enable progress: (1) catalysts—events that directly facilitate project work, such as clear goals and autonomy—and (2) nourishers—interpersonal events that uplift workers, including encouragement and demonstrations of respect and collegiality. Brimming with honest examples from the companies studied, The Progress Principle equips aspiring and seasoned leaders alike with the insights they need to maximize their people’s performance.

Bridge the gap between good intentions and real results Instructional Leadership is one of the most researched and discussed leadership practices, but most school leaders don’t know where to begin or how to balance this role with all of their other responsibilities. Peter DeWitt’s Instructional Leadership provides practical tools for delivering lasting improvement through small, manageable changes over time. This step-by-step, how-to guide presents the six driving forces of instructional leadership—implementation, focus on learning, student engagement, instructional strategies, efficacy, and evaluation of impact—within an easy-to-follow, multi-stage implementation model. It also includes: · Practical strategies grounded in research · "Entry point" sections highlighting the best places to start · Help working with PLCs, faculty meetings, teacher observations, and walkthroughs · Study questions As a leader, you are the guide for your teachers, staff, and students. Let this book guide you to a vision of instructional leadership that really works.

Research has shown that school leadership is second only to classroom teaching in its effect on pupil learning. As the demands on management teams become ever more complex, this volume offers a fresh and expansive view on the challenges to be met in developing a leadership career. With contributions from some of the most accomplished commentators on school leadership and management from around the world, this book moves away from the simple ‘how to’ of becoming a principal, focusing instead on the wider issues of becoming a successful leader. The central aim has been to assemble powerful statements from international authorities that encapsulate leading-edge thinking on a group of interconnected themes based on the notion of developing successful leadership in, and beyond, schools. In so doing the text examines strategies for existing leaders developing their full capacity as well as enhancing the skills of those new to, or aspiring to, a leadership role. The chapters contributed by a carefully selected group of leading educationalists present insights on a number of central themes, including: developing new skill sets in leadership, the ethical and moral dimensions of leading an organisation, Leadership for instructional and pedagogical success, developing leadership capacity and capability through strategic activity. Rather than taking a technical approach of how to undertake the managerial or administrative tasks, the authors seek instead to develop critical leadership perspectives and skills, with chapters on vitally important topics such as strategies for maximizing the potential of the leadership team as a whole. They draw not only upon the literature in the field of educational leadership but also a wider literature in the field of business and management. This diversity of perspective ensures this book’s appeal to a broad international readership.

A road map for teachers who strive to be highly effective leaders in our nation's classrooms Teach For America has fought the daunting battle of educational equity for the last twenty years. Based on evidence from classrooms across the country, they've discovered much about effective teaching practice, and distilled these findings into the six principles presented in this book. The Teaching As Leadership framework inspires teachers to: Set Big Goals; Invest Students and Their Families; Plan Purposefully; Execute Effectively; Continuously Increase Effectiveness; Work Relentlessly. The results are better educational outcomes for our nation's children, particularly those who live in low-income communities. Inspires educators to be leaders in their classrooms and schools Demystifies what it means to be an effective teacher, describes key elements of practice and provides a clear vision of success Addresses the challenges every teacher, in every classroom, faces on a daily basis An accompanying website includes a wealth of tools, videos, sample lessons, discussion boards, and case studies.

This text examines how education is changing and outlines what is desirable and workable. The authors suggest clear guidelines for policy-makers and practitioners.