Superintendent Leadership Practices that Cultivate Principal Capacity to Raise Achievement Across School Districts

Superintendent Leadership Practices that Cultivate Principal Capacity to Raise Achievement Across School Districts PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 400

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Book Description
District educational leaders throughout the nation are answering the call to action to provide both equitable and excellent schools for all learners, particularly for students who have been traditionally marginalized. Yet ironically, we know little about how district leaders are responding to this call as the voices of superintendents are scarcely heard in the literature. This study is intended to deepen understanding of the superintendent's role in providing district-level leadership that builds the capacity of school principals to lead equitable and excellent schools where deliberate steps have been taken to close the achievement gap. More specifically, this study addressed the following question: In a high achieving school district, what leadership practices of the superintendent cultivate building principal capacity --- both individually and collectively --- to significantly contribute to raising the achievement level of typically marginalized students across the school district? Further, this study explored the superintendent's role in creating an integrated, high achieving district that is responsive to the needs of traditionally marginalized students. A qualitative case study of a superintendent was conducted in one school district which has recently had a three-year period in which schools across the district closed the achievement gap. Qualitative methods including interviews, observations, and document reviews were used to collect the research data.

Superintendent Leadership Practices that Cultivate Principal Capacity to Raise Achievement Across School Districts

Superintendent Leadership Practices that Cultivate Principal Capacity to Raise Achievement Across School Districts PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 400

Get Book Here

Book Description
District educational leaders throughout the nation are answering the call to action to provide both equitable and excellent schools for all learners, particularly for students who have been traditionally marginalized. Yet ironically, we know little about how district leaders are responding to this call as the voices of superintendents are scarcely heard in the literature. This study is intended to deepen understanding of the superintendent's role in providing district-level leadership that builds the capacity of school principals to lead equitable and excellent schools where deliberate steps have been taken to close the achievement gap. More specifically, this study addressed the following question: In a high achieving school district, what leadership practices of the superintendent cultivate building principal capacity --- both individually and collectively --- to significantly contribute to raising the achievement level of typically marginalized students across the school district? Further, this study explored the superintendent's role in creating an integrated, high achieving district that is responsive to the needs of traditionally marginalized students. A qualitative case study of a superintendent was conducted in one school district which has recently had a three-year period in which schools across the district closed the achievement gap. Qualitative methods including interviews, observations, and document reviews were used to collect the research data.

A Principal Manager's Guide to Leverage Leadership 2.0

A Principal Manager's Guide to Leverage Leadership 2.0 PDF Author: Paul Bambrick-Santoyo
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119496640
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 277

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Book Description
Build better schools by training better leaders A Principal Manager’s Guide to Leverage Leadership answers the question that district leaders have been asking across the country: if Leverage Leadership is a roadmap for principals on how to lead great schools, what can principal managers and districts do to support them on that path? A Principal Manager’s Guide to Leverage Leadership offers a step-by-step guide to coaching principals to the highest levels of achievement, and it is rooted in studying the most successful principal managers and districts across the country. It can be used by principal managers/supervisors, superintendents, district and state leadership, and principal training organizations to accelerate the growth of principals in your community. Used in conjunction with Leverage Leadership 2.0, this book identifies the key actions principal managers should take to create exceptional school leaders, integrating the seven levers of leadership into district culture from the principal manager on up. With a particular emphasis on the two “super-levers” of data-driven instruction and student culture, this book is packed with advice, professional development materials, and real-world videos of principal managers in action, offering principal managers a valuable resource for bringing about change. A Principal Manager’s Guide to Leverage Leadership introduces a new unifying approach that is also highlighted in Leverage Leadership 2.0: See It, Name It, Do It. It gives you the tools to See it (see models of effective practice and identify gaps), Name it (name concrete actions for improvement) and Do it (provide means to practice these action steps until a principal masters them) With A Principal Manager’s Guide to Leverage Leadership in hand, principal managers, superintendents and principal training organizations can facilitate district-wide and state-wide transformations and hasten the benefit to the students and community as a whole.

The Money Myth

The Money Myth PDF Author: W. Norton Grubb
Publisher: Russell Sage Foundation
ISBN: 1610446372
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 417

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Book Description
Can money buy high-quality education? Studies find only a weak relationship between public school funding and educational outcomes. In The Money Myth, W. Norton Grubb proposes a powerful paradigm shift in the way we think about why some schools thrive and others fail. The greatest inequalities in America's schools lie in factors other than fiscal support. Fundamental differences in resources other than money—for example, in leadership, instruction, and tracking policies—explain the deepening divide in the success of our nation's schoolchildren. The Money Myth establishes several principles for a bold new approach to education reform. Drawing on a national longitudinal dataset collected over twelve years, Grubb makes a crucial distinction between "simple" resources and those "compound," "complex," and "abstract" resources that cannot be readily bought. Money can buy simple resources—such as higher teacher salaries and smaller class sizes—but these resources are actually some of the weakest predictors of educational outcomes. On the other hand, complex resources pertaining to school practices are astonishingly strong predictors of success. Grubb finds that tracking policies have the most profound and consistent impact on student outcomes over time. Schools often relegate low-performing students—particularly minorities—to vocational, remedial, and special education tracks. So even in well-funded schools, resources may never reach the students who need them most. Grubb also finds that innovation in the classroom has a critical impact on student success. Here, too, America's schools are stratified. Teachers in underperforming schools tend to devote significant amounts of time to administration and discipline, while instructors in highly ranked schools dedicate the bulk of their time to "engaged learning," using varied pedagogical approaches. Effective schools distribute leadership among many instructors and administrators, and they foster a sense of both trust and accountability. These schools have a clear mission and coherent agenda for reaching goals. Underperforming schools, by contrast, implement a variety of fragmented reforms and practices without developing a unified plan. This phenomenon is perhaps most powerfully visible in the negative repercussions of No Child Left Behind. In a frantic attempt to meet federal standards and raise test scores quickly, more and more schools are turning to scripted "off the shelf" curricula. These practices discourage student engagement, suppress teacher creativity, and hold little promise of improving learning beyond the most basic skills. Grubb shows that infusions of money alone won't eradicate inequality in America's schools. We need to address the vast differences in the way school communities operate. By looking beyond school finance, The Money Myth gets to the core reasons why education in America is so unequal and provides clear recommendations for addressing this chronic national problem.

Superintendent Practices and Initiatives for Building Principal Instructional and Collaborative Leadership Capacity in a High-performing High-poverty School

Superintendent Practices and Initiatives for Building Principal Instructional and Collaborative Leadership Capacity in a High-performing High-poverty School PDF Author: Fatemah Ali Ramel
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Academic achievement
Languages : en
Pages : 311

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Book Description
This study explores how superintendents build school principal leadership capacity by developing (a) principal capacity to function as instructional leaders and (b) a culture of shared and collaborative leadership. A particular focus for this study is the ways in which superintendents work with principals to build instructional and shared leadership capacity in order to turn low-performing schools that educate high-poverty student populations into schools that outperform their demographic peers. This study describes the activities and strategies that characterize the ways in which superintendents build a strong collaborative leadership team with their school principals, then use that collaborative team to develop individual principal's instructional leadership capacity. The research design for this study is an instrumental case study. The study participants include a superintendent and principals to learn how the superintendent works with principals and other district leaders to shape and implement initiatives to develop strong instructional and collaborative leadership at the school level while modeling the same behaviors at the district level. Data was collected through interviews with the superintendent, interviews with two principals, and observation notes. Inductive analysis and qualitative open coding techniques were used to analyze the data for themes and subthemes. The four major themes that emerged from all data sources are communication, trust and autonomy, collaborative teamwork and a learning community, and visibility and engagement. Through the superintendent's leadership, principals and school staff were empowered to raise achievement scores of a low socio-economic population of students.

The Contemporary Superintendent

The Contemporary Superintendent PDF Author: Meredith Mountford
Publisher: IAP
ISBN: 1641135263
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 271

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Book Description
What is (R)Evolutionary Leadership? Why Does it Matter? How can contemporary school district administrators, specifically superintendents, contend with so many difficult, and almost impossible competing commitments? Building on the definitions of revolution, revolutionary, evolution, and evolutionary, the notion of (R)Evolutionary Leadership emerged while discussing the need for school district leaders to push back against the status quo while improving teacher and leadership practices, improving student learning outcomes, engaging with the community, and ensuring decision making processes that include check and balance systems that are just, fair, and equitable for all. The chapters in this book introduce superintendents or research on superintendents in which these tenants were practiced; both in their ability to enact radical change by “overthrowing” the status quo – as well as evolutionary in their deliberate approach to viewing change as a process they can control over time. These leaders were willing to confront and defy practices and policies that were counter to student well-being and achievement while concurrently knowing how to reach their desired results. The chapters chosen for inclusion in this volume are those that offered a glimpse of these revolutionary tenants in practice. We ask that you consider this emerging concept as you explore the chapters of our book. You will find the (R)evolutionary Leaders you meet in the chapters know how to evolve, not just to stay alive, but to ensure the organization (school) remains relevant and vital to society. These leaders use their positional power, social capital, and expertise to advocate for policies and practices that are in the best interest of the school community and they innovate in ways that challenge the status quo. You will also find practices that are (R)Evolutionary and provide ways for leaders to innovate, collaborate, and simply take care of themselves and those around them. Our description does not seek to support or define or delineate the characteristics of a (R)Evolutionary Leader or how one might enact (R)Evolutionary Leadership–but serves as a way to (re)think the way we view the vastly complex work of school district administrators, specifically the superintendent. (R)Evolutionary leadership may change our ways of thinking about the significant advocacy role a superintendent can play in influencing both practice and policy to enact the change necessary to move forward issues of justice, equity, and quality in PK-12 schools and further to improve educational and social outcomes for those served.

From Good Schools to Great Schools

From Good Schools to Great Schools PDF Author: Susan P. Gray
Publisher: Corwin Press
ISBN: 145228072X
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 185

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Book Description
"These successful principals move beyond platitudes and optimistic denial and learn to face the facts of what is necessary to improve schools—then they do it. These star principals learn to work with teachers and their union rather than around them." —Charles Taylor Kerchner, Hollis P. Allen Professor Claremont Graduate University "Links Collins′s work to success in the school setting. The examples of school leaders who were able to lead effective, systemic change are powerful." —Brenda Dean, Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction Hamblen County Department of Education, TN Make the leap from ordinary to stellar school leadership! "What can I do to make a difference and lift my school to excellence?" From Good Schools to Great Schools answers this question for principals and considers other critical issues in a detailed examination of school leadership. Based on the concepts from the national bestseller Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don′t, this guidebook identifies nine characteristics of high-performing "Level 5" school leaders through: In-depth discussions and detailed case studies of six "star" school principals A comparison of principals and corporate leaders, including qualities exclusive to school leadership Reflection questions for more effective application of leadership principles Templates, implementation tips, and additional resources Correlated with ISLLC standards, this comprehensive resource is a valuable resource for aspiring and practicing school administrators, site leaders, and supervisors.

Leading Good Schools to Greatness

Leading Good Schools to Greatness PDF Author: Susan P. Gray
Publisher: Corwin Press
ISBN: 1452237492
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 209

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Book Description
"This book is right on target with its thought-provoking ideas and concepts on the characteristics of successful educational leaders." —Thomas F. Leahy, Consultant, Executive Search Department, Illinois Association of School Boards "Our best teachers obtain great results by building positive relationships with their students. Gray and Streshly show how our best principals do the same thing and how these behaviors can be learned and practiced." —Kevin Singer, Superintendent, Topeka Public Schools, KS Build your capacity to lead your school to greatness! Great leaders are made, not born. Written by the authors of From Good Schools to Great Schools, this sequel shows how great school leaders can be developed and how leaders can acquire the powerful personal leadership characteristics that the best administrators use to lead their schools to greatness. Based on sound strategies and the work of Jim Collins, Susan Penny Gray and William A. Streshly tackle how to build relationships, communicate effectively, exercise your personal will with humility, face brutal facts, get faculty on board, and build a school culture of self-discipline. Chapters include: Case studies that provide an ongoing context for professional learning Self-assessments that reveal your inherent leadership dispositions Interviews and tips from exceptional principals in the field Strategies for developing specific leadership qualities Application exercises that reinforce how to put the strategies into action Reflection activities that encourage professional growth Appropriate for both individual and group professional development, Leading Good Schools to Greatness reveals how leadership skills can be learned and used to take your school to the next level.

Breakthrough Principals

Breakthrough Principals PDF Author: Jean Desravines
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118801008
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 412

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Book Description
Bridge the achievement gap with proven strategies for student success Breakthrough Principals debunks the myth of the 'superhero' principal by detailing the common actions and practices of leaders at our nation's fastest-gaining public schools. Based on the authors' Transformational Leadership Framework, which they developed through in-depth study of more than 100 high-gaining, high-poverty schools, the book distills findings into a practical, action-focused plan for diagnosing school needs and implementing structures, systems and practices that accelerate student achievement. Brought to life by case studies of principals who have led dramatic gains in student achievement, the book is a how-to guide for increasing the quality of teaching and learning; improving school culture; attracting and supporting high-performing teachers; and involving parents and community to help students achieve. You'll learn how breakthrough principals make the school's mission a real part of both strategy and practice, and set up sustainable systems that support consistent, ongoing improvement. High-impact practices are organized into five broad categories: learning and teaching, school-wide culture, aligned staff, operations and systems, and personal leadership. The primary job of school leadership is to help students succeed. It begins with first recognizing and prioritizing areas of need, then finding and implementing the most effective solutions. Whether you work in a turn around environment, or want to make a good school better, this book will give you a set of concrete practices—illustrated through examples of real principals in real schools—that have been proven to work. Discover the primary drivers of student achievement Work toward the school's vision in staffing, operations, and systems Set the tone for all relationships and practices with good leadership Closing the achievement gap is a major goal of educational leadership, and principals are forever searching for viable methods that help them better serve their students. Breakthrough Principals unveils the details behind the success stories from across the nation to provide a roadmap to transformative gains.

Preparing Principals for a Changing World

Preparing Principals for a Changing World PDF Author: Linda Darling-Hammond
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470579951
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 426

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Book Description
Preparing Principals for a Changing World provides a hands-on resource for creating and implementing effective policies and programs for developing expert school leaders. Written by acclaimed author and educator Linda Darling-Hammond and experts Debra Meyerson, Michelle LaPointe, and Margaret Terry Orr, this important book examines the characteristics of successful educational leadership programs and offers concrete recommendations to improve programs nationwide. In a study funded by the Wallace Foundation, Darling-Hammond and the team examined eight exemplary principal development programs, as well as state policies and principals' experiences across the country. Using the data from the study, they reveal how successful programs are structured, the skills and knowledge participants gain, and what they are able to do in practice as school leaders as a result. What do these exemplary programs have in common? Aggressive recruitment; close ties with schools in the community; on-the-ground training under the wing of expert principals, and a strong emphasis on the cutting-edge theories of instructional and transformational leadership. In addition to highlighting the programs' similarities, the study also explains the differences among the programs and sheds light on the effectiveness of approaches and models from different states and contexts?East, West, North, and South; urban and rural; pre-service and in-service. The authors analyze program outcomes for principals and their schools, including illustrative case studies and educators' voices on the influence of programs' strategies for recruitment, internships, mentoring, and coursework. The ideas and suggestions outlined in Preparing Principals for a Changing World are presented with the goal of increasing the number of highly qualified, thoughtful, and innovative educational leaders.

Leadership Teaming

Leadership Teaming PDF Author: Cathie E. West
Publisher: Corwin Press
ISBN: 1412966310
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 153

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Book Description
Ideal for new or experienced school and district administrators, this book shows how to develop a strong superintendent-principal partnership. Written by a principal and a superintendent with decades of experience, this resource provides strategies for effective leadership, communication, and collaboration, and includes Both the principal's and the superintendent's perspectives on issues such as performance expectations and characteristics of quality teams, Critical experience- and research-based team components, Stories from the field about successful principal-superintendent teams, Reflective questions, summaries, and other tools to help readers apply the principles and strategies to their own practice. Use these practical and proven approaches to create a healthy school/district culture and promote mutually supportive professional relationships. Book jacket.