Description
Book SynopsisIn education we are working on behalf of a truly noble cause: the lives of our students. We need a system for working together that is worthy of the work and one that harnesses the idealistic visions and inherent energies that brought us to education in the first place. Becoming A Great School prepares you to create that system. The authors challenge top-down leadership as a vestige of the past which fails to fully engage today's teaching professionals. They explain why the following structures are essential to school revitalization: an intrinsically-motivated, energized workforce functioning smoothly together as a team; a clear focus which inspires cohesion and a sense of purpose; and a process which gradually renews the school's educational systems piece-by-piece. The outcome is what American education needs: stronger, revitalized, more effective, extraordinary schools and it is all accomplished from within. Ken, Nels and Joe reveal the quality management principles and collaborativ
Trade ReviewI was blown away by it! It’s inspirational and should be required reading for all school administrators. It explains in very objective and concrete ways how to motivate teachers to work together in the best interests of the students. If all schools were modeled on this book, teachers would be excited to go to school and students would be engaged in the learning process. -- Nina Mazloff, director of teacher education, Becker College, Worcester, Massachusetts
This book is extraordinary. It details each step necessary to create and institutionalize quality management and collaborative leadership. The recommended process tools and organizational approaches are very understandable and achievable. It is a must-read for school administrators who are working to establish a dynamic, continuous learning environment. -- Dr. Jane Baugh, former deputy chief information officer for instruction, New York City Public Schools
Becoming a Great School clarifies in a direct, systematic way how a principal can build a school culture that will improve student achievement. It addresses what matters most—building consensus, upgrading relationships, and paying attention to the quality of a school culture—and then offers the ways to re-tool your educational system. This should be required reading for every school administrator. -- Jillayne T. Flanders, principal, Plains Elementary School, South Hadley, Massachusetts
All I can say is WOW…The book includes proven strategies to assist educational leaders to move their schools to the highest levels of excellence. Administrators and faculty in colleges and universities with educational leadership and certification programs should read and then share this book with students in those programs. -- Dr. Bill Osborne, professor and dean of education emeritus, East Central University, Ada, Oklahoma
A MUST READ for insight into a powerful, proven, successful blueprint, which will empower and challenge faculty, enrich school culture and curriculum, and improve test scores with no significant impact on budgets. Pick up the gauntlet, and embark on an exciting win-win journey that will benefit America’s greatest resource: our children! -- Donna Dilts, teacher for 37 years, Doyon School, Ipswich, Massachusetts
Becoming a Great School is a compelling and insightful book; it demonstrates how school administrators can evolve into leaders who are successful agents of change, creating systemic improvements in their schools. The reader is guided through strategic elements of collaboration, motivation, innovation, and transformation that ultimately benefit the students, enabling them to be well-prepared 21st century learners. This book is essential reading for school leaders who want to revitalize their schools, cultivating a culture of excellence through a collaborative leadership approach. -- Cynthia M. Manning, principal, Learning Prep High School, West Newton, Massachusetts
Being a great public school does not always require additional funding, new staff, and the latest technology. Much of what it takes is teamwork and shared power. That’s according to the authors of Becoming a Great School: Harnessing the Powers of Quality Management and Collaborative Leadership. Former Doyon School principal Dr. Ken Cooper, Ipswich resident Joseph Salah, and former Topsfield resident Nels Gustafson took it upon themselves to implement the business model Total Quality Management into the Ipswich Public Schools….After seeing such good results at Doyon, Cooper, Salah and Gustafson decided to share their method to success through a book geared towards other schools looking to improve. -- Ipswich Chronicle
Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Chapter One: The Need for a Different Kind of Leadership Chapter Two: The Need for Outstanding Working Relationships Chapter Three: Becoming a Collaborative Leader Chapter Four: Developing Outstanding Teamwork Chapter Five: Uniting Behind a Shared Vision and Focused Goals Chapter Six: Building Cycles of Success Conclusion: Renewing Your School’s Educational Systems Appendices: Appendix A: A Guide to Effective Meetings Appendix B: A Guide to Consensus Appendix C: Opening Exercises Appendix D: The Working Values (one page) Appendix E: The One-Page Improvement Plan Appendix F: Vision-Setting Exercises Appendix G: Goal-Setting Exercises Appendix H: Planning and Problem-Solving Tools Appendix I: Sample Survey Questions Acknowledgments About the Authors Bibliography Index
