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Beyond School Improvement

The Journey to Innovative Leadership

By: Robert Davidovich, Pauli Nikolay, Bonnie Laugerman, Carol Commodore

Foreword by Rick Stiggins

Prepare students to succeed in a changing world!

Based on complexity theory, systems thinking, innovation theory, and years of practical expertise, this book encourages leaders to connect with the new science on change and nurture a culture of both improvement and innovation. With self-assessment activities, team conversation starters, stories, and examples, this book provides tools for leading innovative educational systems. The authors discuss four elements of change—dissonance, identity, information, and order—and define five essential practices for leaders:

Holding courageous conversations
Embracing dissonance
Creating context
Changing your field of vision
Letting ideas collide

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Product Details

Grade Level: K-12
ISBN: 9781412971409
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2009
Page Count: 248
Publication date: November 16, 2009

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Description

"The authors are grounded educational leaders who have lived the approach to improvement and innovation that they write about. Filled with anecdotal examples, reflection exercises, and practical strategies, this is a very useful and timely resource for educators seeking to understand and influence educational innovation and transformation in the 21st century."
—Michael H. Dickmann, Professor
Cardinal Stritch University

"This book stimulates leaders as they stretch their organization's culture to reveal mental models, consider external trends, and seek creative and energizing strategies that will prepare students for a future we cannot yet define."
—Edie Holcomb, Consultant
Marzano Research Laboratory

Prepare students to succeed in a changing world!

Because the world is constantly evolving, school improvement alone is not enough to prepare students for success in the 21st century. Educators also need to be innovators who nurture a culture of both improvement and innovation.

Based on complexity theory, systems thinking, innovation theory, and years of practical expertise, Beyond School Improvement prepares school leaders to connect with the new science on change and provides skills, practices, and tools for creating and leading dynamic educational systems. The authors discuss four elements of change—dissonance, identity, information, and order—and define five essential practices for leaders:

Holding courageous conversations
Embracing dissonance
Creating context
Changing your field of vision
Letting ideas collide

Self-assessment activities, team conversation starters, stories, and examples support leaders as they balance improvement and innovation within themselves, their classrooms, and their organizations.

Author(s)

Robert Davidovich

Dr. Robert Davidovich is a consultant specializing in leadership, transformational change, innovation, systems thinking, and organizational planning. An educator for more than 30 years, he has served students as a teacher, principal, staff development coordinator, and director of organizational development. For fourteen years he was principal of a U.S. Department of Education School of Excellence. In his role as the director of organizational development he oversaw the district’s transformational planning initiative. Robert is an adjunct instructor and lecturer at local universities and a consultant for organizations in several states regarding system improvement, innovative leadership, and organiznational development.

Pauli Nikolay

Dr. Pauli Nikolay has served as a teacher, principal, director of instruction, superintendent, and an assistant state superintendent at the Department of Public Instruction. In addition to her consultant work in the area of academic standards and instructional strategies, she facilitates workshops on leadership, culture, and improvement/innovation strategies. She received her state’s Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Educator of the Year Award, the Educational Media Association Administrator of the Year Award, the State Reading Association Outstanding Administrator Award, and the Women’s Leader in Education Award. She currently serves as a site coordinator, instructor, and mentor for students in the Master’s in Educational Leadership program at Cardinal Stritch University.

Bonnie Laugerman

Dr. Bonnie Laugerman is a high school principal in a large suburban school district that is listed in US Newsweek as one of the top 1,500 high schools in the nation and Number 1 rated high school in sports in the state by Sports Illustrated. She is currently leading her district through a process of responding to the needs of the 21st-century learner. She has been an educator over 30 years, working in urban and suburban school districts in building and central office leadership capacity. Bonnie is a consultant and adjunct professor for a local university and teaches courses related to brain compatible learning, assessment, curriculum, and teacher supervision and evaluation. She has a special interest in the experience of high school principals shaping a learning culture in their schools.

Carol Commodore

Carol Commodore is an independent consultant whose special interests center on leadership, assessment, systems thinking, motivation and learning. An educator for more than 30 years, she served as a classroom teacher, a department chair, an assistant superintendent and an assessment coordinator. During her tenure as a district leader she facilitated the establishment of new programs in the areas of balanced assessment and foreign language. Carol has coauthored three other books in the areas of assessment and leadership. Carol presents and consults for local, state, national and international organizations across North America, Asia, and the Middle East.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Rick Stiggins

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Part I. Leading Beyond Improvement

1. Schools in a Changing World

In This Chapter

The Need for Improvement

Are Our Schools Broken?

Trends in the External Environment

Two Trends: Getting Better and Becoming Different

Summary

Team Conversation Starters

Self-Assessment: Schools in a Changing World

2. Improvement Is Not Enough

In This Chapter

Awakening to the Difference Between Improvement and Innovation

Improvement Is Not Enough

Lorie's Story

Schools Working Toward Innovation

Vignette 1: Michelle's Story

Vignette 2: A Midwestern School District

Vignette 3: The Story of SBK High School

Summary

Team Conversation Starters

Self-Assessment: Improvement is not Enough

3. Attributes of Innovation

In This Chapter

Starting the Journey to Improvement and Innovation

Randy’s Story: Looking Beyond Current Practice

Key Attributes for Innovation

Unwelcome in Command and Control

Envisioning Leading Adaptive Systems

Self-Organizing Systems

Starting the Journey

Summary

Team Conversation Starters

Self-Assessment: Attributes of Innovation

4. Develop the Courage to Leap

In This Chapter

Innovation Life Cycles

The Hero’s Journey

Developing the Courage to Innovate

Summary

Team Conversation Starters

Self-Assessment: Develop the Courage to Leap

5. Hold Courageous Conversations

In This Chapter

Personal Orientation to Change

Sue's Story

John's Story

The Power of Paradoxes

Summary

Team Conversation Starters

Self-Assessment: Hold Courageous Conversations

Part II. Essential Leadership Practices

6. Embrace Dissonance

In This Chapter

Dissonance in the Natural World

Essential Leadership Practice – Embrace Dissonance

What Embracing Dissonance Looks Like in Practice

Action Tips – Embrace Dissonance

Paradoxical Leaders

Summary

Team Conversation Starters

Self-Assessment: Embrace Dissonance

7. Create Context

In This Chapter

The Importance of Identity

Essential Leadership Practice – Create Context

What Creating Context Looks Like in Practice

Action Tips – Create Context

Paradoxical Leaders

Summary

Team Conversation Starters

Self-Assessment: Create Context

8. Change Your Field of Perception

In This Chapter

The Importance of Information

Essential Leadership Practice – Change Your Field of Perception

What Changing Your Field of Perception Looks Like in Practice

Action Tips – Change Your Field of Perception

Paradoxical Leaders

Summary

Team Conversation Starters

Self-Assessment: Change Your Field of Perception

9. Let Ideas Collide

In This Chapter

The Importance of Order

Essential Leadership Practice – Let Ideas Collide

What Letting Ideas Collide Looks Like in Practice

Action Tips – Let Ideas Collide

Paradoxical Leaders

Summary

Team Conversation Starters

Self-Assessment: Let Ideas Collide

10. Innovate the Way You Lead

In This Chapter

The Journey Starts With Unlearning

The Inner Journey

Action Plan for Innovating the Way You Lead

Summary

Resource A: Glossary

Resource B: Essential Leadership Actions

Resource C: Continuum of Leadership Behavior

References

Index

Reviews

"The authors are grounded educational leaders who have lived the approach to improvement and innovation that they write about. Filled with anecdotal examples, reflection exercises, and practical strategies, this is a very useful and timely resource for educators seeking to understand and influence educational innovation and transformation in the 21st century."

Michael H. Dickmann, Professor
Cardinal Stritch University

"The authors contrast improvement of existing practices with a more rigorous and creative push for innovation that introduces new and different practices and structures. In many situations, district and school improvement plans have evolved into the technical work of interpreting data about the past and present, studying research, and creating documents. This book stimulates leaders as they stretch their organization's culture to reveal mental models, consider external trends, and seek creative and energizing strategies that will prepare students for a future we cannot yet define."

Edie Holcomb, Consultant
Marzano Research Laboratory

"This book is aimed at school based leaders who what to move beyond micro-level tinkering. The authors arm adventurous school leaders to venture boldly into the challenging role of innovative paradigm shifts that have the potential to improve the school’s effectiveness exponentially.”

Neil MacNeill, Principal
Ellenbrook Primary School, Australia

“This is one of the most important works I have read in a number of years. The author describes the challenges educators face and gives a means to create the best schools ever. It holds the promise of unlocking the future of great schooling in our country."

Sister Camille Anne Campbell, Principal
Mount Carmel Academy, New Orleans, LA

“This book should be read by all teacher leaders and administrators! It will cause you to rethink the way we are instructing our students today, in preparation for their tomorrow.”

Gayle Wahlin, Director of Leadership Services
DuPage County Regional Office of Education, Downers Grove, IL

"This book should be sent to leadership programs, organizational programs, boards of education after guidance from the superintendent, superintendents, district office personnel, principals, and all individuals in key leadership positions. Perhaps even to political leaders, especially in local communities.”

Douglas Gordon Hesbol, Superintendent
Laraway CCSD 70C, Joliet, IL

Other Titles in: Leadership | School Change, Reform, & Restructuring

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