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Beyond School Improvement
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
- Grade Level: K-12
- ISBN: 9781412971409
- Published By: Corwin
- Year: 2009
- Page Count: 248
- Publication date: November 16, 2009
Price: $42.95
For Instructors
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