High-Payoff Strategies

Focus on the right things An education leader s job can seem overwhelming, but it doesn t have to be that way. Research shows that by spending time on just a few high-payoff strategies, leaders can bring about the meaningful change their schools and districts need. High-Payoff Strategies helps administrators lead successful change initiatives by focusing on the three top priorities identified by research and practitioners alike: fostering a supportive district and school culture, leading instructional change, and building a learning community among faculty and staff. Drawing on the latest research as well as hundreds of interviews with education leaders, High-Payoff Strategies reveals what it really takes to bring about school turnaround. The book includes rich and varied examples showing how real-world education leaders in urban, suburban, and rural settings have successfully led changes in their schools and districts. It also provides tools that readers can use immediately to put these practices in place, together with videos demonstrating the practices in action. High-Payoff Strategies helps education leaders create schools and districts that support teachers and make a difference in the lives of children.

Auteur

JODY SPIRO, EdD, Director of Education Leadership at The Wallace Foundation, is the author of Leading Change Step-by-Step: Tactics, Tools, and Tales (Jossey-Bass, 2011).

Texte du rabat
PRAISE FOR HIGH-PAYOFF STRATEGIES "There are tens of thousands of books on education leadership. This is the one to read. Drawing on years of extensive experience, Spiro offers clear and compelling guidance for effective school leadership that should be read by all who hold or aspire to hold such positions and those who work with them."
—ARTHUR LEVINE, President, Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation and President Emeritus, Teachers College, Columbia University "This is a must-read for any education leader who seeks effectiveness and excellence in support of student learning."
—WILLIAM R. HITE Jr., Superintendent, School District of Philadelphia "As a leader, I often question if we're focusing on the 'right' things. Spiro's strategies have created clarity for me and a focus for leading change. I'm much more confident that we are focused on the right things so we can achieve the results we are looking for."
—DOREEN KNUTH, Principal, Carter Lake Elementary School, Carter Lake, IA THE PROVEN FORMULA FOR BRINGING MEANINGFUL CHANGE TO SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS High-Payoff Strategies enables administrators to lead change initiatives with consistent success by focusing on the three top priorities identified by research and practitioners alike: fostering a supportive district and school culture, leading instructional change, and building a learning community among faculty and staff. Drawing on the latest research and hundreds of interviews with education leaders, this practical guide reveals:

• What it really takes to bring about school turnaround
• How real-world education leaders have successfully led changes in urban, suburban, and rural settings
• Powerful tools you can use immediately to emulate the change leaders inside An education leader's job can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be that way. High-Payoff Strategies makes it possible to create the schools and districts that support teachers and make a difference in the lives of children.

Résumé
Focus on the right things

An education leader's job can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be that way. Research shows that by spending time on just a few high-payoff strategies, leaders can bring about the meaningful change their schools and districts need.

High-Payoff Strategies helps administrators lead successful change initiatives by focusing on the three top priorities identified by research and practitioners alike: fostering a supportive district and school culture, leading instructional change, and building a learning community among faculty and staff.

Drawing on the latest research as well as hundreds of interviews with education leaders, High-Payoff Strategies reveals what it really takes to bring about school turnaround. The book includes rich and varied examples showing how real-world education leadersin urban, suburban, and rural settingshave successfully led changes in their schools and districts. It also provides tools that readers can use immediately to put these practices in place, together with videos demonstrating the practices in action. High-Payoff Strategies helps education leaders create schools and districts that support teachers and make a difference in the lives of children.

Contenu

Acknowledgments ix

About the Author xi

1 Introduction to the High-Payoff Strategies 1

2 Vision and Focus 13

PART 1 Strategy: Culture 27

3 Creating a Culture Supportive of Teaching and Learning 29

4 Using Data to Plan Culture Strategies 45

PART 2 Strategy: Instructional Improvements 59

5 Leading Instructional Improvements 61

6 Using Data to Plan Instructional Improvement Strategies 73

PART 3 Strategy: Learning Communities 89

7 Facilitating Learning Communities 91

8 Using Data to Plan Learning Community Strategies 105

PART 4 The Payoff 117

9 Using All Strategies Together to Achieve the Vision 119

Annotated Bibliography 127

Ideas for Using These Materials in Courses and Workshops 135

Name Index 139

Index 141