Achieving Coherence in District Improvement

Achieving Coherence in District Improvement PDF Author: Susan Moore Johnson
Publisher: Harvard Education Press
ISBN: 1612508138
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
Achieving Coherence in District Improvement focuses on a problem of practice faced by educational leaders across the nation: how to effectively manage the relationship between the central office and schools. The book is based on a study of five large urban districts that have demonstrated improvement in student achievement. The authors—all members of Harvard University’s Public Education Leadership Project (PELP)—argue that there is no “one best way” to structure the central office-school relationship. Instead, they say, what matters is whether district leaders effectively select and implement their strategy by achieving coherence among key elements and actors—the district’s environment, resources, systems, structures, stakeholders, and culture. The authors examine the five districts’ approaches in detail and point to a number of important findings. First, they emphasize that a clear, shared understanding of decision rights in key areas—academic programming, budgeting, and staffing—is essential to developing an effective central office-school relationship. Second, they stress the importance of building mutually supportive and trusting relationships between district leaders and principals. Third, they highlight the ways that culture and the external environment influence the relationship between the central office and schools. Each chapter also provides relevant “Lessons for Practice”—actionable takeaways—that educational leaders from any district can use successfully to improve the central office-school relationship.

Achieving Coherence in District Improvement

Achieving Coherence in District Improvement PDF Author: Susan Moore Johnson
Publisher: Harvard Education Press
ISBN: 1612508138
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 256

Get Book

Book Description
Achieving Coherence in District Improvement focuses on a problem of practice faced by educational leaders across the nation: how to effectively manage the relationship between the central office and schools. The book is based on a study of five large urban districts that have demonstrated improvement in student achievement. The authors—all members of Harvard University’s Public Education Leadership Project (PELP)—argue that there is no “one best way” to structure the central office-school relationship. Instead, they say, what matters is whether district leaders effectively select and implement their strategy by achieving coherence among key elements and actors—the district’s environment, resources, systems, structures, stakeholders, and culture. The authors examine the five districts’ approaches in detail and point to a number of important findings. First, they emphasize that a clear, shared understanding of decision rights in key areas—academic programming, budgeting, and staffing—is essential to developing an effective central office-school relationship. Second, they stress the importance of building mutually supportive and trusting relationships between district leaders and principals. Third, they highlight the ways that culture and the external environment influence the relationship between the central office and schools. Each chapter also provides relevant “Lessons for Practice”—actionable takeaways—that educational leaders from any district can use successfully to improve the central office-school relationship.

Achieving Coherence in District Improvement

Achieving Coherence in District Improvement PDF Author: Susan Moore Johnson
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781612508122
Category : School management and organization
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Focuses on a problem of practice faced by educational leaders: how to effectively manage the relationship between the central office and schools. The authors argue that there is no "one best way" to structure the central office-school relationship. Instead, they say, what matters is whether district leaders eff ectively select and implement their strategy.

Coherence

Coherence PDF Author: Michael Fullan
Publisher: Corwin Press
ISBN: 150630172X
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 83

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Book Description
Complex times call for clear solutions—If initiative overload and fragmentation are keeping your best plans from becoming reality, it’s time to start leading differently. The key to bringing about the kind of successful and sustainable change you need is the Coherence Framework, a dynamic, customizable road map made up of four essential components: Focused direction to build collective purpose Cultivating collaborative cultures while clarifying individual and team roles Deepening learning to accelerate improvement and foster innovation Securing accountability from the inside out Coherence provides the insights and tools to drive effective leadership. Now you can gain a deeper understanding of Coherence with The Taking Action Guide to Building Coherence in Schools, Districts, and Systems. Coherence is a book that demands action – it moves from the narrative of fixing one teacher at a time, to asking about the coherence of the system (be it school, national, or world issues). Fullan and Quinn create an important narrative about direction, working together, deepening learning, and securing accountability. The book sparkles with examples of coherence in action, it makes no excuses for employing the wrong levers of change. This is the blueprint for a new vocabulary of education action; it shows where we need to go next, and is another example of Fullan at the top of his game. John Hattie Director, Melbourne Education Research Institute and Author of Visible Learning "School systems that struggle are riddled with incoherence—mismatched strategies, competing cultures, and illogical initiatives. Fullan and Quinn explain clearly how coherence can solve the problem. Based on solid research and lessons drawn from effective practice, Coherence provides a comprehensive model to guide educators as they learn and lead their way to better schools." Susan Moore Johnson Jerome T. Murphy Research Professor Harvard Graduate School of Education

Schools on the Move

Schools on the Move PDF Author: Jay Westover
Publisher: Corwin Press
ISBN: 1071822403
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 233

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Book Description
"The greatest influence on school district improvement is the extent to which school leaders and teachers collectively transform climate, develop culture and build capacity for the purpose of creating coherence. Districts on the Move (DOTM) paved the way for system change by establishing coherent cultures of learning. Now that DOTM has been written and district leaders can establish the context for positive system change, this new book, Schools on the Move (SOTM), will delve into bringing that vision to life and realizing school improvement at the building level. At the heart of this matter is a foundational principle that schools are the unit of change for systemic improvement. It is imperative to reduce the variances in climate, culture, capacity and coherence that exist among and within school sites if school districts are to create a coherent system of continuous improvement. This book will provide practical tools and guidance to help schools create coherent systems (and thereby improve the whole district) in these four domains: 1. Shared Leadership: partnering with teachers and staff to develop a culture of co-learning 2. Clarity of Focus: creating a strategic focus on equitable student growth 3. Collective Expertise: developing instructional coherence through cycles of collaborative inquiry 4. Continuous Improvement: maintaining a focus on evidence and impact Collaborative inquiry is the vehicle through which this change is realized. Collaborative inquiry "shapes a common mindset" (Donohoo) and allows educators to develop collective efficacy through mastery of shared learning experiences"--

Systems for Instructional Improvement

Systems for Instructional Improvement PDF Author: Paul Cobb
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781682531785
Category : Educational change
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This book is based on an eight-year, four-district study aimed at investigating what it takes to improve instruction at scale across schools and districts.--Provided by publisher.

Coherent School Leadership

Coherent School Leadership PDF Author: Michael Fullan
Publisher: ASCD
ISBN: 1416627928
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 128

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Book Description
While leaders may desire or have been told that they must put certain structures into place in order to enhance their leadership capabilities, they may not know exactly what structures are needed, or the skills that are required for implementation. Authors Michael Fullan and Lyle Kirtman go beyond simply telling you what you need to put in place to enhance leadership—they detail the route to successful leadership. Coherent School Leadership will show you how to combine the components of Fullan's Coherence Framework (the Framework) with Kirtman's 7 Competencies for Highly Effective Leaders (the Competencies) to drive coherence—the shared depth of understanding about the nature of the work and how it impacts the results desired for student achievement—to change the culture in schools from reactive to proactive. Fullan and Kirtman, whose work is based in practice, will: - Show you how to use specific competencies to drive coherence - Provide examples that show how other leaders have successfully created coherence - Guide you through the day-to-day distractions/stresses so that you can stay on course - Show you how to use the Competencies in relation to the Framework Taking a world view of the forces that could destabilize education and the work of coherence, Coherent School Leadership will show how proven frameworks such as the Framework and the Competencies can help you cope with even the most complex scenarios.

Developing the Organizational Culture of the Central Office

Developing the Organizational Culture of the Central Office PDF Author: Sally J. Zepeda
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000174204
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 253

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Book Description
Central office resources are one of the largest assets in making meaningful change in schools, and this important book guides aspiring district leaders to take up the challenge to transform their schools, while at the same time balancing their core responsibilities. This book helps readers rethink the impact of central office on system and school initiatives, understand and apply transformational thinking, and change strategies at the central office to develop new instructional designs, create new opportunities to prioritize human and fiscal resources, and establish new leadership approaches founded on systems review and change. Full of exemplars from the field, questions for discussion, and suggested readings, this valuable textbook is for use in educational leadership preparation programs.

Leadership From the Middle

Leadership From the Middle PDF Author: Andy Hargreaves
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1317404629
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 145

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Book Description
In the face of a global pandemic, catastrophic weather events, war, racism, and attacks on democracy, how should educational leaders respond? How can leaders enable their schools and districts to be agile, safe, and effective places of learning that help young people develop the knowledge and character that will empower them to shape their futures? While some schools and districts have taken top-down or bottom-up approaches, renowned education scholar Andy Hargreaves explores a new type of leadership – "leadership from the middle" – which becomes a driver of transformational change. Drawing from research with educational leaders across the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, Hargreaves discusses a type of leadership that regards obstacles as opportunities, embraces leadership paradox, and is collaborative, inspiring, and inclusive. This ground-breaking book unpacks not only what this type of leadership looks like, but also how it is most effective in addressing complex problems and in educating young people to develop diverse global competencies to prepare them for their futures.

The Transformative Power of Collaborative Inquiry

The Transformative Power of Collaborative Inquiry PDF Author: Jenni Donohoo
Publisher: Corwin Press
ISBN: 1506338496
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 137

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Book Description
Foster reflective teacher leadership and make real change happen! Teachers are powerful change agents in the on-going process of school improvement. This insightful, must-read companion guide to Donohoo’s best-selling Collaborative Inquiry for Educators helps school leaders develop a sustainable professional learning culture. Practical suggestions and in-depth research shed light on your path as you explore the benefits and challenges of adopting authentic teacher collaboration across schools and districts. Learn valuable lessons from leaders in the field and discover: A rationale and framework for engaging in inquiry The vital conditions needed to ensure systemwide collaboration Common pitfalls and the four stages of school improvement

The Foundational Handbook on Improvement Research in Education

The Foundational Handbook on Improvement Research in Education PDF Author: Donald J. Peurach
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1538152363
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 619

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Book Description
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.