Description
Book SynopsisEducation in the twenty-first century demands that we examine school practices as never before. The research on teacher effectiveness abounds. It has influenced federal, state and local policies resulting in changed certification practices and improved professional development opportunities with a focus on student achievement results. These same conditions have impacted district and school leadership. This pragmatic book offers a road map to identify, design, and strengthen leadership skills. It is very readable, eminently sensible, and provides sound philosophical advice to support and sustain growth in leadership teams in any school or district.Some additional key features of this book include:A hiring process modelClassroom observation processParadigm for leadership professional developmentProcess for leadership observationsExtensive research supporting book's tenets
Trade ReviewIn Raise Student Achievement: Become a Leader of Leaders Drs. Freeley and Scircca have created a guide to leadership that is refreshing in its non-prescriptive nature. It offers constant opportunities for the reader to analyze and reflect on her/his own practice and progress in developing a complete instructional leadership climate and culture with reference to the ISSLC standards throughout and with emphasis on the total landscape of leading instructional improvement from classroom to boardroom. The idea that there is no one way to lead as there is no one way to teach illustrates the power of reflection on practice as opposed to slavish pursuit of a model. As useful and powerful as any aspect of the book is the constant use of stories to illustrate problems and successes in various leadership situations. The final chapter is a masterful summary of characteristics of effective leaders supported by vignettes of effective practice for each characteristic. Professional educators must read, re-read and reflect upon this book and then collaborate with others to incorporate its tenets if we are to move classroom observation from simple evaluation to meaningful professional development that results in the best student learning. -- Dr. Richard Hanzelka, Professor, St. Ambrose University, Past President of ASCD
This publication provides an interrelated discussion of topics critical to effective leadership. It is a practical guide to leadership at the district and building levels supported by a research base and national standards with examples that have been successfully used. The discussion includes the roles and behaviors necessary for successful school leaders as well as the actions and processes for district leaders to perform to make building leaders more effective. This comprehensive guide includes critical factors rarely addressed such as effective leadership strategies, sustaining and growth strategies for leaders through professional development, hiring practices and strategies to sustain strong schools. It is a must have guide for everyone seeking to make schools more effective. -- Marcia Knoll, professor of education at Hunter College
For too long, we have heard the criticism that the field of educational leadership lacks a repertoire of effective practices that are the hallmark of professionalism. Diane Scriccia and Mary Ellen Freeley, in their book, Raise Student Achievement: Become a Leader of Leaders, have clearly and thoughtfully responded, by pulling together research and expert guidance on the core leadership practices for continuous school improvement. By weaving in scenarios and reflective questions, they help the reader make connections to the framing ideas of the book—that developing leaders effectiveness is equally essential to developing teachers and that educator quality comes through well focused selection, professional development, observation and feedback. I highly recommend this book for aspiring and current school and district leaders as a springboard for planning for and enacting the guidance it so succinctly offers. -- Margaret Terry Orr, director, Future School Leaders Academy, Bank Street College of Education, co-author of "Preparing Principals for a Changing World"
Table of ContentsCONTENTS Foreword by Karin Chenoweth Chapter 1 Leadership: Essential to Continuous School Improvement Chapter 2 Leadership and Learning: The Need for Professional Development in Leadership Chapter 3 Effective School Leadership: Everyone’s Focus, Everyone’s Responsibility Chapter 4 Who Shall Be Hired? Chapter 5 Hiring the Best School Leaders Chapter 6 Creating Instructional Leaders Chapter 7 Classroom Observations: The Foundation of Professional Development Chapter 8 Professional Development for the Leadership Team: A Paradigm that Works! Chapter 9 Leadership Observations: Supporting Continuous Growth Chapter 10 Strong Leaders Sustain Strong Schools Chapter 11 Going the Distance: Becoming a Leader of Leaders Bibliography
