Description
Book SynopsisFor American education to meet the challenges of the 21st century, skilled leaders are needed to transform struggling schools into high quality learning communities. Of all the tasks school administrators face, perhaps the greatest is developing quality teachers. We must energize, encourage, and motivate them and show them that the destination is worth the journey. This book describes how leaders use the change process to build relationships that lead to systemic reform. It identifies this process from analysis of conditions through: Vision, Team building, Developing an action plan, Overcoming resistance, Evaluation. Zimbalist believes that the pursuit of change is a personal journey toward an improved condition and that the human factor is the most powerful ingredient in any form of social interaction. It's about understanding, accepting, working with, motivating, and respecting people in any social environment. So how do school administrators keep the faith when consumed with the battle inside the arena? What do we say to overworked teachers who are pushed to the brink of a career change? Through humorous and personal stories, The Human Factor answers these questions and more.
Trade ReviewAward-winning California high school principal Zimbalist offers advice to young and other school administrators on how to approach changes they want or need to make in the institutions they are charged with. * Reference and Research Book News *
Table of ContentsPart 1 Foreword The Essence of the Human Factor: Inside the Arena Part 2 Part I The Spirit of Change Chapter 3 1 Dreams Chapter 4 2 Be Careful What You Wish for Chapter 5 3 For Better or Worse Part 6 Part II The Process of Change Chapter 7 4 Why Me? Chapter 8 5 Turnaround Chapter 9 6 Look and Listen Chapter 10 7 What Needs to Change? Chapter 11 8 Vision Chapter 12 9 A Time for Action Chapter 13 10 Resistance Part 14 Part III The Results of Change Chapter 15 11 Evaluation Chapter 16 12 The Bottom Line Chapter 17 13 A Template for Change Part 18 References Part 19 Index Part 20 About the Author
