Is My School a Better School BECAUSE I Lead It?

Is My School a Better School BECAUSE I Lead It?
Author: Baruti K. Kafele
Publisher: ASCD
Total Pages: 93
Release: 2018-10-18
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1416626913

In this latest installment to his series of best-selling self-reflection guides, celebrated educator, author, and motivational speaker Baruti Kafele offers school leaders 35 thought-provoking questions to ponder from one fundamental overarching query: "Is my school a better school because I lead it?" Musing deeply on discrete leadership matters is an essential component of success for anybody overseeing the day-to-day operations of a school, and doubly so in communities plagued by drugs, violence, or other markers of societal dysfunction. In this book, Kafele offers those seeking to improve the quality of instruction in their institutions hard-won wisdom on such critical issues as ensuring an optimal culture and climate, engaging in parent and community outreach, confirming emergency preparedness, rallying staff, and much more. Because the sheer volume of responsibilities for a principal or assistant principal can leave you with very little time for developing an effective and consistent self-reflection regimen, Kafele has done the work for you. You need only open the book and begin reading to embark upon a penetratingly insightful journey destined to transform your practice, boost teacher satisfaction, and—most important of all—inspire students to excel academically.

Is My School a Better School BECAUSE I Lead It?

Is My School a Better School BECAUSE I Lead It?
Author: Baruti K. Kafele
Publisher: ASCD
Total Pages: 68
Release: 2018-10-18
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1416626921

In this latest installment to his series of best-selling self-reflection guides, celebrated educator, author, and motivational speaker Baruti Kafele offers school leaders 35 thought-provoking questions to ponder from one fundamental overarching query: "Is my school a better school because I lead it?" Musing deeply on discrete leadership matters is an essential component of success for anybody overseeing the day-to-day operations of a school, and doubly so in communities plagued by drugs, violence, or other markers of societal dysfunction. In this book, Kafele offers those seeking to improve the quality of instruction in their institutions hard-won wisdom on such critical issues as ensuring an optimal culture and climate, engaging in parent and community outreach, confirming emergency preparedness, rallying staff, and much more. Because the sheer volume of responsibilities for a principal or assistant principal can leave you with very little time for developing an effective and consistent self-reflection regimen, Kafele has done the work for you. You need only open the book and begin reading to embark upon a penetratingly insightful journey destined to transform your practice, boost teacher satisfaction, and—most important of all—inspire students to excel academically.

The Leader in Me

The Leader in Me
Author: Stephen R. Covey
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 218
Release: 2012-12-11
Genre: Self-Help
ISBN: 147110446X

Children in today's world are inundated with information about who to be, what to do and how to live. But what if there was a way to teach children how to manage priorities, focus on goals and be a positive influence on the world around them? The Leader in Meis that programme. It's based on a hugely successful initiative carried out at the A.B. Combs Elementary School in North Carolina. To hear the parents of A. B Combs talk about the school is to be amazed. In 1999, the school debuted a programme that taught The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Peopleto a pilot group of students. The parents reported an incredible change in their children, who blossomed under the programme. By the end of the following year the average end-of-grade scores had leapt from 84 to 94. This book will launch the message onto a much larger platform. Stephen R. Covey takes the 7 Habits, that have already changed the lives of millions of people, and shows how children can use them as they develop. Those habits -- be proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first things first, think win-win, seek to understand and then to be understood, synergize, and sharpen the saw -- are critical skills to learn at a young age and bring incredible results, proving that it's never too early to teach someone how to live well.

Using Research to Lead School Improvement

Using Research to Lead School Improvement
Author: Scott C. Bauer
Publisher: SAGE
Total Pages: 337
Release: 2012
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1412974054

-This text presents a step-by-step approach to problem diagnosis and school improvement. --

Flip This School

Flip This School
Author: John F. Eller
Publisher: Solution Tree
Total Pages: 248
Release: 2019
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9781936765447

Set the foundation for a successful, sustainable school turnaround. Designed for school leadership, district administration, and teacher leaders, Flip This School presents a framework to revitalize underperforming and turnaround schools. Throughout the resource, authors John F. Eller and Sheila A. Eller detail practical strategies for planning school improvement efforts and collaborating with the schools existing staff and faculty to initiate a complete school transformation. This book will guide educational leadership in planning successful school turnaround: Identify the unique needs of your school, and learn how to develop a school improvement plan with the best methods to address present conditions. Understand the skill set needed for effectively leading school turnaround efforts. Gain strategies for developing a data-gathering plan, and recognize the ways in which data is helpful for successful turnaround schools. Examine the role of districts in the school reform and turnaround process. Consider how to improve school culture and provide opportunities for professional growth for teachers. Learn how to effectively manage change as well as understand how teacher leadership teams contribute to school improvement planning and the turnaround process. Contents: Introduction: Understanding the Foundations of School Turnaround Chapter 1: Assessing and Developing Your Leadership Skills Chapter 2: Gathering Extensive Data Chapter 3: Gaining Commitment for Resources and Support Chapter 4: Developing a Positive Climate of Collaboration Chapter 5: Building Capacity for Growth Chapter 6: Successfully Managing Change Chapter 7: Implementing Structures and Practices for Success References and Resources

The Assistant Principal 50

The Assistant Principal 50
Author: Baruti K. Kafele
Publisher: ASCD
Total Pages: 146
Release: 2020-05-11
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1416629467

You're an Assistant Principal. Whatever your status—the sole AP in your school, one of two or more APs in your school, a career AP, an AP aspiring to the principalship—yours is one of the most misunderstood and underutilized positions in education. Positioned between teachers and the principal, you are an instructional leader. However, you are not the leader of the school. Therefore, you must carefully navigate your way to ensure that you thrive in your role without "stepping on the toes" of your principal. In The Assistant Principal 50, award-winning, four-time principal Baruti Kafele presents reflective questions that encompass the breadth and depth of the assistant principalship—from finding your leadership "lane" to thriving and being an asset to your principal. Kafele infuses the book (which also includes guidance and insights for principals and aspiring assistant principals) from beginning to end with personal anecdotes and accounts of both failures and successes from his years as an assistant principal. He arms you with tools and insights that will drive you to view the assistant principalship as critical to the climate and culture of your school as well as to student achievement. You, assistant principal, play a critical role in your school's success. The questions that Kafele asks you to consider will aid you as you hone your leadership skills toward becoming an effective leader in your school.

The Aspiring Principal 50

The Aspiring Principal 50
Author: Baruti K. Kafele
Publisher: ASCD
Total Pages: 129
Release: 2019-05-14
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1416627774

So, you want to be a principal? Are you a new principal who could benefit from the wisdom of a successful four-time principal? Could you use help preparing for a school administrator job interview? Then this is the book for you. In The Aspiring Principal 50, school leadership expert Baruti Kafele presents reflective questions aimed at assisting both new and aspiring school leaders as they work to become effective school leaders and consider making a leap to a leadership position, respectively. This book will help aspiring principals determine whether "The Principal" is truly who they want to be and help new principals grow and thrive in the principalship. Additionally, the book contains an entire chapter devoted to preparing for the school administrator job interview. Kafele infuses the book from beginning to end with succinct advice on everything from remaining focused on the principal's number one priority—student achievement—to addressing maintenance concerns, managing budget allocations, and ensuring that the school's website puts the school in the best possible light. With The Aspiring Principal 50, you can increase the likelihood that your tenure as principal will be a successful, beneficial, and healthful one.

Teaching with Poverty in Mind

Teaching with Poverty in Mind
Author: Eric Jensen
Publisher: ASCD
Total Pages: 194
Release: 2009
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1416608842

In Teaching with Poverty in Mind: What Being Poor Does to Kids' Brains and What Schools Can Do About It, veteran educator and brain expert Eric Jensen takes an unflinching look at how poverty hurts children, families, and communities across the United States and demonstrates how schools can improve the academic achievement and life readiness of economically disadvantaged students. Jensen argues that although chronic exposure to poverty can result in detrimental changes to the brain, the brain's very ability to adapt from experience means that poor children can also experience emotional, social, and academic success. A brain that is susceptible to adverse environmental effects is equally susceptible to the positive effects of rich, balanced learning environments and caring relationships that build students' resilience, self-esteem, and character. Drawing from research, experience, and real school success stories, Teaching with Poverty in Mind reveals * What poverty is and how it affects students in school; * What drives change both at the macro level (within schools and districts) and at the micro level (inside a student's brain); * Effective strategies from those who have succeeded and ways to replicate those best practices at your own school; and * How to engage the resources necessary to make change happen. Too often, we talk about change while maintaining a culture of excuses. We can do better. Although no magic bullet can offset the grave challenges faced daily by disadvantaged children, this timely resource shines a spotlight on what matters most, providing an inspiring and practical guide for enriching the minds and lives of all your students.

The Resilient Rural Leader

The Resilient Rural Leader
Author: Melissa A. Sadorf
Publisher: ASCD
Total Pages: 248
Release: 2024-04-04
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1416632883

The role of the rural education leader is complex and demanding, but the rewards of serving in a rural school district are innumerable. Learn how to work through challenges and maximize success in this often overlooked and underresourced field. In the United States, the umbrella term "rural education" applies to diverse place-based contexts ranging from remote mountain communities to midwestern agricultural areas to southwestern mesas and beyond. One thing these varied environments have in common is the need for creative, solutions-oriented leadership. In The Resilient Rural Educator, award-winning superintendent Melissa A. Sadorf draws on her extensive experience teaching and leading in a rural school district in Arizona to identify issues unique to rural education and explore ways to capitalize on local resources to provide the best possible education for all students. Topics Sadorf investigates in depth include the following: • Juggling multiple district roles while maintaining efficiency and effectiveness • Recruiting and retaining staff, teachers, and administrators in a rural area • Connecting students and families with needed services and resources • Solving the challenges of limited access to utilities such as broadband internet • Navigating the role of the rural school as the hub of the community • Managing community partnerships for mutually beneficial results Rural school districts serve approximately one in five students across the United States—students who deserve an equitable education. The insightful, innovative, and comprehensive strategies found in this book will help you and your district deliver that education to them.