‘Standing on the back of their groundbreaking research on school culture, Kruse and Seashore Louis provide an insightful and very practical guide that should be a must-read for anyone preparing to become a school leader.’
—Kenneth Leithwood, Professor
OISE/University of Toronto
‘A manageable, well-rehearsed plan for discussion, research, and lots of reflective thought for any school leader willing to develop their own leadership and the culture in which they desire to lead.’
—Teresa P. Cunningham, Principal
Laurel Elementary School, TN
Develop an integrated school culture that engages educators with their colleagues and communities!
As a principal, you realize that effecting positive, long-lasting change requires support both within your school and in the wider community. This practical handbook shows school leaders how to build a climate of collaboration with staff, teachers, and parents as well as how to develop connections with foundations, business groups, social service providers, and government agencies.
Sharon D. Kruse and Karen Seashore Louis call on principals to create a viable, sustainable school culture using organizational learning and trust to involve the professional community and to affect teaching and learning. This addition to the Leadership for Learning series presents a leadership approach that integrates teachers, parents, and community members into a coherent team. The authors examine schools that have achieved lasting cultural change and present practical strategies for:
- Diagnosing and shaping a school culture
- Revising leadership functions to broaden decision-making processes
- Rethinking organizational structures
- Supporting continuous improvement while ensuring stability
Building Strong School Cultures draws from business and psychology research on motivating and organizing people to provide school leaders with the skills they need to promote effective change.
Table of Content
Series Foreword by E. Joseph Schneider and Willis D. Hawley
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
1. Changing School Culture: An Introduction and Overview
School Cultures: Stable and Fluid or Stable and Fragile
Introducing PCOLT: Professional Community, Organizational Learning, and Trust
Intensified Leadership: An Introduction
Intensification and Beyond ‘Quick Fixes’
Summary and Overview of the Book
Recommended Readings and Culture Activities
2. Principals as Cultural Change Agents
Cultures and Subcultures in Schools
Management and Leadership
Paths to Cultural Management and Leadership
Conclusion
Additional Readings and Activities for Getting Started
3. Diagnosing Your School Culture: Understanding Where You Are
The Basics of Cultural Diagnosis
Diagnosing Your School Culture
Diagnosis and Intensified Leadership for Cultural Change
Culture Resources and Activities
4. Linking Leadership and School Culture
Leadership and Decision Making
Intensifying Leadership at Your School
Intensifying Leadership by Building PCOLT
Vigilance and Strong School Cultures
Conclusion
Reflections and Activities for Developing School Culture
5. Networks, Networking, and Cultural Change
Webs and Nets
Thinking About Networks
Cautions
Next Steps
Reflections and Goal-Setting Activities
6. Intensifying Leadership Through Partnerships With Districts
Thinking About District-School Relationships
Rethinking Organizational Structures and Cultures
Influencing District-School Relationships
Moving Forward
Conclusion
Reflections and Activities
7. Schools and Communities: Working With the Enduring Dilemmas of Time and Accountability
Student Learning and Development: A Foundation
Schools as Agencies for Democracy
Social Capital and Civic Capacity
Schools as Moral Agencies
Conclusion
Web Resources, Activities, and Reflections
8. Bringing It All Together: Concluding Themes and Thoughts
The Art of Balance
Implications for Action and Growth
A PCOLT Planning Guide
References
Index
About the author
Karen Seashore Louis is the Rodney Wallace Professor of Educational Policy and Administration at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Her area of expertise includes improvement in K–12 leadership and policy over the last 30 years, particularly in urban secondary schools. Louis also conducts research on organizational changes within higher education, with particular attention to faculty roles, and on international comparative policy in educational reform. A past president of Division A of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), she is a widely published author in the field. Recent books include Organizing for School Change, Leadership for Change and School Improvement: International Perspectives, Handbook of Educational Administration, Second Edition, and Organizational Learning in Schools. Louis earned a bachelor′s degree in History from Swarthmore College and a doctorate in sociology from Columbia University.
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