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Standout School Leaders - Book Cover Look Inside

Standout School Leaders

Challenging What It Means to Lead

This book provides school and district leaders with the knowledge and tools to integrate innovative practices and foster environments where educators and students can thrive.

Full description

Standout School Leaders - Book Cover Look Inside
Product Details
  • Grade Level: PreK-12
  • ISBN: 9781071964323
  • Published By: Corwin
  • Year: 2025
  • Page Count: 200
  • Publication date: April 01, 2025
Price: $37.95

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Description

Description

Bridge the gap between managing well and leading for impact.

In this must-read guide for education leaders, Alan C. Jones expertly distinguishes between Administrators Good at their Jobs (AGJs) and Standout School Leaders (SSLs) by exploring the qualities that make select leaders truly exceptional. While AGJs focus on maintaining effective school operations, SSLs address the gaps within institutional systems to create environments that foster genuine learning and growth, balance institutional demands with innovative educational approaches, and align day-to-day operations with the deeper mission of schooling.

You’ll find chapter openers that contrast how SSLs and AGJs approach fundamental administrative functions and closing questions to support personal reflection and application of the concept at your school site. Additional features include:

  • Vignettes that illustrate daily challenges faced by administrators and contrasting leadership responses
  • SSL Tips to offer insights into how SSLs think differently about schooling goals
  • End-of-Chapter Resources to deepen understanding of key concepts

Jones empowers education leaders with the knowledge and tools to integrate innovative practices into their roles. Whether you're a principal, department head, or district leader, this book provides the guidance needed to transition from managing to leading by fostering environments where both educators and students can thrive.

Author(s)

Author(s)

Alan C. Jones photo

Alan C. Jones

Dr. Alan C. Jones is an educational consultant specializing in curriculum, instruction, and instructional leadership. His teaching career includes teaching English at DuSable Upper Grade Center in Chicago, Illinois; social studies at Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois; and school administration at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. He began his administrative career as an activity’s director at Thornton Township High School and went in to become assistant principal at Bremen Township High School and served as principal of Community High School District 94 in West Chicago, Illinois, for seventeen years. Under his leadership, Community High School was awarded the Blue-Ribbon School of Excellence in 1993 and was recognized as a 1995 School of Excellence by HISPANIC magazine.

His publications include articles in educational journals on instructional leadership and school reform, and five books: Students? Do not Push your Teacher Down the Stairs on Friday: A Teacher’s Notebook (Quadrangle Books, 1972), Becoming a Strong Instructional Leader; Saying No to Business as Usual (Teachers College Press, 2012), Teaching Matters Most: A School Leader’s Guide to Improving Classroom Instruction (Corwin Books, 2012), The First 100 Days in the Main Office: Transforming a School Culture (Information Age Press, 2018); Living Up to Your School Mission Statement: Reforming Schools from the Inside Out (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021).


Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Being Good at the Job

Chapter 2: Friendly Enemies

Chapter 3: What is a Good School?

Chapter 4: The Academic Mind

Chapter 5: Beyond Managerial Truths

Chapter 6: Self-Authoring

Chapter 7: Connecting the Dots

Chapter 8: Disciplined Talent

Chapter 9: Controlling Narratives

Chapter 10: Cracks in the Systems

Chapter 11: Tools

Chapter 12: Views From the Balcony

Chapter 13: The Realities of Schooling

Chapter 14: Standout School Leadership: The Hope of Schooling

References

Reviews

Reviews

Quote by Lela A. Bridges-Webb: Standout School Leaders: Challenging What It Means to Lead details the difference between Administrators Good at their Jobs (AGJs) and Standout
School Leaders (SSLs). Jones provides a true contrast between the two leadership approaches, acknowledging the risks one must take in order to
transition from being good to being great. The text is thought-provoking and reflective, connecting the academic with praxis.
Standout School Leaders: Challenging What It Means to Lead details the difference between Administrators Good at their Jobs (AGJs) and Standout
School Leaders (SSLs). Jones provides a true contrast between the two leadership approaches, acknowledging the risks one must take in order to
transition from being good to being great. The text is thought-provoking and reflective, connecting the academic with praxis.
Lela A. Bridges-Webb
Quote by Sammie Cervantes, Nipomo High School: In the crowded market of school leadership literature, this book stands out by offering a distinctive perspective that addresses contemporary challenges with fresh insights. It is poised to significantly enhance administrators’ efficacy by offering a comprehensive toolkit of practical strategies and insightful perspectives. Administrators will be able to apply these concepts effectively in their daily work, fostering a more dynamic and impactful leadership style.
In the crowded market of school leadership literature, this book stands out by offering a distinctive perspective that addresses contemporary challenges with fresh insights. It is poised to significantly enhance administrators’ efficacy by offering a comprehensive toolkit of practical strategies and insightful perspectives. Administrators will be able to apply these concepts effectively in their daily work, fostering a more dynamic and impactful leadership style.
Sammie Cervantes
Nipomo High School
Quote by Josh Chambers, Glenbard High School District 87: Jones provides a thoughtful exploration of school leadership, emphasizing the importance of aligning daily practices with mission-driven goals. This
book offers practical insights and strategies that will resonate with educators striving to make a meaningful impact on their schools and communities.
Jones provides a thoughtful exploration of school leadership, emphasizing the importance of aligning daily practices with mission-driven goals. This
book offers practical insights and strategies that will resonate with educators striving to make a meaningful impact on their schools and communities.
Josh Chambers
Glenbard High School District 87
Quote by Dana Salles Trevethan, Turlock Unified School District: Jones has captured the essence of effective, dynamic, and unique school leadership based on first-hand experiences, observations, and reflections. This book contains a comprehensive wealth of information that every current and aspiring school administrator can learn and benefit from!
Jones has captured the essence of effective, dynamic, and unique school leadership based on first-hand experiences, observations, and reflections. This book contains a comprehensive wealth of information that every current and aspiring school administrator can learn and benefit from!
Dana Salles Trevethan
Turlock Unified School District
Quote by Kristopher Kwiatek, Bob Hope Elementary School: Jones insightfully depicts the realities of school leaders and shares reflective frustrations and successes of what standout school leadership can look like. He provides hope for what school leadership could become. This is a must-read for school leaders who have faced the realities of our current school systems.
Jones insightfully depicts the realities of school leaders and shares reflective frustrations and successes of what standout school leadership can look like. He provides hope for what school leadership could become. This is a must-read for school leaders who have faced the realities of our current school systems.
Kristopher Kwiatek
Bob Hope Elementary School
Quote by Jill Gildea, Park City Schools: Standout School Leaders (SSLs) break the mold of the traditional managerial leader. This text highlights those strengths and skills that principals can
cultivate to shepherd our next generation of learners and leaders. A great read for the complexities we are navigating.
Standout School Leaders (SSLs) break the mold of the traditional managerial leader. This text highlights those strengths and skills that principals can
cultivate to shepherd our next generation of learners and leaders. A great read for the complexities we are navigating.
Jill Gildea
Park City Schools
Quote by Steven Kellner, California Education Partners: Standout School Leaders is a road map from someone who has done it! Starting my career as a teacher working with Jones, I’ve been applying these
lessons my whole career. It is fantastic to see them in book form. The specificity, nuance, and real-world examples make this book required reading.
Standout School Leaders is a road map from someone who has done it! Starting my career as a teacher working with Jones, I’ve been applying these
lessons my whole career. It is fantastic to see them in book form. The specificity, nuance, and real-world examples make this book required reading.
Steven Kellner
California Education Partners
    Price: $37.95

    Review Copies

    Review copies may be requested by individuals planning to purchase 10 or more copies for a team or considering a book for adoption in a higher ed course. Request review copy

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