Description
Book SynopsisUsing metaphors of nets, trenches, sink holes and cisterns, this book shows instances of the obstacles that hinder academic success for our children. The purpose of this book is to bring an awareness of what is broken in our educational system by looking at leadership and reform efforts in the midst of relationships, sustainability of reform efforts in economic unpredictability, the impact on the future workforce, and what is needed to overcome obstacles. A second purpose is to engage educators, in particular leadership, in thought provoking conversations around building the trusting relationships amongst stakeholders that is necessary for effective, transformative and successful school districts.
The book introduces three case studies of three school districts that, in the form of short vignettes, share stories of how relationships can impact the climate and culture of a district. This book will contribute significantly to the establishment of trusting relationships that emp
Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1: Leading Unwanted Change When Change is Needed!
Section 1: Leading Change
Section 2: Rationale for Change: Because Everyone is Not Achieving!
Section 3: What’s Holding Us Down?
The Setting
Chapter 2: A Story of Three School Districts
Section 1: District 1 – Transitioning District
Section 2: District 2 – The Shore
Section 3: District 3 - Northwest
Nets
Chapter 3: Nets That Capture
Section 1: What’s Captured Our Children?
Section 2: Institutional Structure and Tradition
Section 3: Leadership at the Helm
Section 4: Teachers Collective Bargaining and the Rule to Work
Chapter 4: Nets That Hold
Section 1: Teachers’ Expectations, Beliefs and Mindsets
Section 2: Students’ Cultural Diversity and Generational Differences
Section 3: Parents Involvement, Engagement and Presence
Section 4: Community of Have and Have Nots
Trenches
Chapter 5: The Trenches – Leadership and Reform Efforts in the Midst of
Relationships
Section 1: In the Trenches
Section 2: Board of Education and the Superintendent
Chapter 6: More Important Relationships
Section 1: Central Office and School Building Staff
Section 2: Community, Parent and School District
Section 3: Policy Makers and Systemic Institutionalization
Sinkholes
Chapter 7: Sinkholes – Sustaining Reform Efforts During Political Tension
Section 1: Sinkholes
Section 2: Political Tide and Turnover in School and District Leadership
Chapter 8: Economic Unpredictability and Funding
Chapter 9: Ever Changing Pedagogical Approaches and the Curriculum Recycled
Section 1: Pedagogy, Curriculum and Assessment
Section 2: School Safety, Climate and Culture
Section 3: Family Relationships and Partnerships
Section 4: Technology- Blended Learning, STEM & Personalized Learning
Chapter 10: Accountability
Cisterns
Chapter 11: Cisterns: Empty Wells That Are Not Being Replenished
Section 1: Cisterns
Section 2: Teaching to the Middle and Lower Levels
Section 3: Cultivating the Prison Pipeline
Chapter 12: Workforce and Talent Development
Section 1: Preparing Students for the Future
Section 2: Globalization – Interdependence, Interconnected and Competitive
Breaking and Filling
Chapter 13: Breaking the Nets, Filling the Trenches, Sinkholes and Cisterns
Section 1: Visualizing the Perfect Scenario of Educational Utopia
Section 2: Rigorous Curriculum Embedding 21st Century Skills
Section 3: Accountability
Section 4: Leadership
Section 5: Partnership and Forward Thinking
Chapter 14: Overcoming the Hierarchy of Power
Section 1: What to Do?
Section 2: A House in Order Cannot Be divided
Denouement
Chapter 15: Denouement – Overcoming Obstacles and the Possibilities that Prevail
Section 1: Entry Into Superintendence
Section 2: Falling Short of the Right Fit
Chapter 16: What Do We Say?
District’s Response to Addressing Nets, Trenches, Sinkholes and Cisterns
Chapter 17: District One – Interweaving Coalitions and Strengthening the Mesh
Chapter 18: District Two – Embattlement of the Casted Net
Chapter 19: District Three – Building the Framework for a Strong Foundation
Chapter 20: Possibilities
Section 1: Moving Away from Traditionalism
Section 2: Improving Relationships through Communication
Section 3: Qualities of Future Leaders
Section 4: Revelation in the Metaphors
Bibliography
