Deliver real change and real results for your school
This book focuses directly on what promotes delivery. It provides the practical tools and implementation guide for re-invigorating your school. Set against a solid blend of international research and international best practice, the narrative is carried by voices from schools that are currently delivering across six countries. They tell it how it is, in lived reality. Every process in the book has been tested and refined under the heat of practice, addressing the current realities in education. The book provides a carefully selected repertoire of skills, models, and processes that:
- deliver results for children, teachers, school leaders, families and their communities
- build trust through ensuring every voice is heard and respected
- develop a strong culture of leadership and alignment, while recognizing and embracing the complexities of school change
- address the frustrations currently felt by teachers in a positive, productive way
Schools That Deliver fills the gap between intention and delivery. The book respects your voice, and your ability to create your own ways of delivering while remaining loyal to the unique personality of your school. When a school community delivers together what really matters for their children, they feel the true joy of education, that splendid feeling of professional satisfaction and achievement that we all deserve.
Cuprins
Foreword by Arthur L. Costa
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Introduction
Voices
Our Learning Journey
Our Wording
Chapter 1. The Hidden Power of Alignment
All of Us Have a Stake in This
The Core of Change
That May Work for Individuals, But How About Teams?
Alignment in Schools and in Life
Explanatory Power: Two Models
Collaboration and Challenge
Alignment Versus Agreement
When Voices Are Heard That Are Usually Stilled
Introduction to Shared Visioning
Shared Vision Creation Process
A Year of “Preparation for Action”
Designing the Long-Term School Development Plan
Identification of Core Values
Our Shared Vision as an Alignment Tool
Summary
Chapter 2. The Real Work
Fresh Eyes
What Is Our “Return on Investment” in Schools?
The Basis for the Curriculum
Our Life Lessons About the Real Work of Schools
So, What Do You Think Is Your Real Work?
Who Knows the Real Work? Social Constructivism
Staying Honest to the Real Work: Evidence-Based Decision Making
Summary
Chapter 3. Leadership
Leadership as Disposition or Position?
Leading Versus Managing
The Eight Leadership Challenges
The Joy of Leadership
Summary
Chapter 4. Authentic Action
Action Is What Matters
The Knowledge Base for Action
Openness to Learning and Confidence to Learn
Credibility and Credibility Killers
The High-Leverage Drivers of Authentic Action
What Does Whole School Accountability Look Like?
Summary
Chapter 5. Core Values and Culture
Does Your School Live by Your Core Values?
A Culture of Ownership
A Culture of Inclusion
A Culture of Caring
A Culture of Trust
A Culture of Questioning
A Culture of Coaching
A Strong Adult Professional Culture
A Culture of Innovation
A Culture of Symbols
A Culture of Story
A Culture of Celebrating
Learning Journeys
Summary
Chapter 6. Schools Are Part of the Community
Balancing Life’s Complexities
Working Together
Family: The Parent/Caregiver as Learner
Parents as Partners in Their Child’s Learning
Thunderbolts Will Challenge Us All
Relationships With the Media
Mutually Productive Activities With the Wider Community
Summary
Appendices
Appendix 1. Consensus Building: Inquiry Probe Tools
Appendix 2. Sample Shared Visions and Research (Preparation for Action) Themes
Appendix 3. The Long-Term School Development Plan
Appendix 4. Sample Personal Visions
References
Index
Despre autor
Bill Martin loves working inside schools to build positive learning environments for children. He has done this for 49 years. He taught in primary and middle schools for 17 years, was a secondary assistant and high school principal for 16 years. On two occasions he led large schools to win State and National Blue Ribbon awards for excellence. Since 2003 he has worked with over 180 schools across six countries to support efforts to create powerful learning cultures. He has earned personal awards for educational leadership: in 1991 he was one of five finalists in the first National Secondary Principal of the Year competition sponsored by the NASSP and Metropolitan Life. In 1993 he was named one of ten Principals of Leadership by the National School Safety Center. In 2000 the Michigan State Legislature proclaimed a Special Tribute to Bill’s leadership as principal of Monroe High School. He has presented invited addresses at International Conferences on Thinking in New Zealand, the U.K., USA, Australia, Sweden, Spain and Malaysia. He has been a keynote presenter at the International Conference on Ignorance. Bill has served on a United Nations team to make recommendations for the reform of secondary education in Kuwait. He has designed and facilitated long-term professional development programs to grow leadership capacity for the Tonsberg Kommune in Norway, and the Varberg and Kungsbacka Kommunes in Sweden. In Lexington Public Schools, Bill served as the Smaller Learning Community Technical Advisor for the district’s five high schools.Bill can be reached at [email protected].