Education Leadership & Administration

The book by Dr. Barbara Culp is a phenomenal recipe book for new principals, veteran principals, and principals who are still practicing. She has accomplished a feat that others wish they could have done and I am one of those persons. Dr. Culp has been an inspiration for me to write “my story” and one day soon, I will. We served together as principals during our tenure together and still share memories. Her book on “The Art of Appraisal” is on point and provides clear guidelines for others to follow regarding how to effectively evaluate teachers without bias and unfairness.

An educational organization is an extremely complex system that is expected to prepare each student for success in a world that is constantly changing. Dr. Norton’s identification of the primary components of a changing organization, including its culture and climate, and its integration into a fully functional enterprise is clear and relevantly applied to the reader’s school or school district. Norton creates and enhances thought that motivates the reader to implement steps to facilitate interventions that facilitate change and program improvement. The book is a must for school board members, school administrators, teachers and others who aspire to important roles in education and want to make a difference in the lives of students. The book leads to the creation of a school environment that adapts to a changing world and utilizes the talents, skills and experiences of every person in the organization.

Effective school district financial leadership is critical today because schools must be both more productive and more equitable in the learning opportunities they provide our students. This stimulating volume clearly explains these ramifications and offers cogent strategies to address the financial challenges our schools face.

Clearly, the success of a school has a lot to do with the school leader's ability to meet the increasingly tough demands of their job. On a daily basis, 21st century principals face issues that are often unpredictable and complicated. Yet they are the primary impetus for fostering the conditions that lead to dynamic teaching and learning. When problems arise, leaders today need to respond quickly while understanding the impact their decisions will have on culture and climate.
Dr. Hozien presents case studies that will challenge leaders to wrestle with problems of practice so they are ready to face the complexities of their job in real time. This book allows leaders to challenge their own thinking; ultimately gaining confidence so they are ready to lead. This is a must read for school leaders who aspire to the principalship or who are just starting their career in administration.

Empowering teachers is one of the most important concepts in Education today.  In their book, Growing Leaders Within, Coquyt and Creasman offer compelling thoughts about teacher leadership.  They establish the importance of teacher leadership followed by practical steps for implementation.  They offer characteristics for effective leadership that applies not only to Teacher Leaders but Leadership in general.  As a 45-year educator who has served as a Superintendent of schools in schools ranging in size from 1100 to 41,000, the Executive Director of a State School Boards Association, and finally as a University Professor I have come to believe that Teacher Leadership is one of the most important initiatives in Education.  I strongly endorse Growing Leaders Within as it is easy to read and would benefit any school administrator in their journey to growing teacher leaders.

Schools are complex and complicated human systems. As such, those who lead schools as principals need diverse and varied skills. A Guide to Managing and Leading School Operations: The Principal’s Field Manual by Dr. Jerome Cranston clearly recognizes and understands the complexity and nuance of this leadership position. By explaining the convergence of leadership and management, Dr. Cranston displays his unique understanding and experience as a principal. As educators, we often bring strong leadership and instructional skills to the position of principal but it is the management requirements that must be learned ‘on the job’. Dr. Cranston’s field manual will aid many a new principal in this highly specialized position and relieve much of the angst they feel in their first few years.

Mark Forner has penned a readable, much-needed account of the superintendency in the nation’s small school districts. Where accounts of the superintendency have long focused on the nation’s big cities, Forner talks concretely and constructively about the distinctive challenges of small district leadership. This illuminating volume offers both important insights and useful advice for those focused on rural education and small school systems.

Be assured that the reader will learn a great deal about school law as it applies to school leaders at all administrative levels. The introductory chapter on how laws and policies are developed and implemented at the federal, state and local levels provides a foundation for understanding the rights and liabilities of school principals, faculty and staff personnel, and students. The landmark court cases that historically have influenced the work of school leaders provide insight into how the rights of all citizens are protected in a democracy. Although the book title speaks of the legal world of the school principal, other administrative leaders, teachers, staff personnel, students and parents will find the book of special interest and personal benefit.

Educational leadership continues to be the most powerful key to ensuring the successful future of all other professions, and thus, the quality of lives for people around the world. This book, your weekly reader, will allow you to have the conversations to help faculty and staff, to help kids. More importantly, these readings invite your thinking to go to different places in your mind as you search for meaning. They are designed to cause new thinking about some familiar issues, and of course, creativity in their solutions.

In Mission Driven Leadership: Understanding the Challenges Facing Schools Today Dr. Christopher Colwell reminds us that leadership does indeed matter, and interpersonal skills matter most! High impact leadership requires personal awareness and relationship building – those interpersonal skills are critical competencies for effective 21st Century educational leadership. Mission Driven Leadership is a how-to book in which Colwell explains how leaders can establish a set of behaviors that, when implemented with fidelity on a daily basis, will support the development of interpersonal skills. A must read for current and aspiring educational leaders alike!

In this important new book, Oliver Robinson, an educational leader with an extraordinary track record of success, offers practical and sound advice rooted in his experience, to other educational leaders.   This is much more than a list of principles or the latest take on the recipe for success. It is instead, a deep and thoughtful reflection on how to transform schools into learning centers where children are motivated to learn and teachers are inspired to teach.  Written with honesty and unwavering candor, Robinson's insights and recommendations will serve as a useful source of wisdom and inspiration to leaders who strive to make a difference during these turbulent times.

A 2001 Public Agenda survey of school administrators found that 69% of them felt that school board members micromanaged. Anecdotally, this continues as a problem today and likely explains much of our nation’s excessive superintendent turnover. Farrell, Nayfack, Smith & Wohlstetter (“One Size Does Not Fit All”) argue that school board micromanagement is seen as a contributing factor to the perceived failure of American education. Now Elected, Now What?: The Path to Successful School District Governance by Chuck Namit well describes the board’s governance role in a manner that both new and veteran members will appreciate. This is a welcome resource to help board members better understand their role and value to our education system.

Dr. Cotter and Dr. Hassler get it! Collectively, they have detailed a practical set of strategies that they have employed in building successful schools and school districts. This publication, if followed, will encourage practicing principals and superintendents to better focus on those troubling gray areas that we all face in administration. Further, it serves as a reasonable guide to be revisited when looking at leadership, operations and instruction in need of improvement.

Mr. Moore’s experiences, perspectives and understanding of school safety is a valuable resource for any school leader when developing school safety plans. School principals are responsible for the safety of all students and staff on complex campuses and in a variety of potential circumstances. There is no curriculum in the teacher preparation or school leadership programs to prepare educators for safety planning or leading in an emergency. I was fortunate enough to start my leadership career in a district where school safety was a priority and Mr. Moore was a dedicated resource committed to partner with and support school leaders. Mr. Moore has an appreciation for the demands of the principalship as demonstrated by design of his book to include realistic scenarios and the format of a “quick reference guide” for future use.

This publication has relevant information for aspiring and current school leaders. It is important for leaders to know and apply the practicalities of standards. There is an increased emphasis on accountability. The publication is timely.

Mary Clement writes in a very readable, clear manner that makes it easy for busy professionals to access the guidance she provides. While the information and ideas in her book are practical and approachable, she uses a solid base of deep research to support her suggestions. The Summary Points for Success at the end of each chapter and the many useful tools in the appendices alone would make this publication a useful reference for building and district level administrators. As I read the book, I found myself making notes of ideas and templates to use in my hiring and induction of teachers. I know I will share this book with fellow administrators in my district.

As a Middle School Principal, I work with teachers daily, by meeting them where they are and providing guidance and gentle pressure to further advance their expertise. Providing immediate feedback that is laser focused on student success, is key. Giving the right feedback, in a mentor/coaching role allows for reflection in a non-threatening learning culture. We are all learners. "All Students Succeed" is not about judgment on teachers. It's being honest with where we are at with our professional work and having the mindset to always strive to get better. On a continuum of continual growth, mentoring skills for principals are essential as part of every school’s learning culture. This book is a resource for principals seeking ways to support and mentor their faculty in order to facilitate increased student learning.