Building Trust for Better Schools

Julie Reed Kochanek received her Ph.D from the University of Chicago in 2003. She is currently an assistant professor of sociology at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon.

Foreword - Anthony S. Bryk Preface Acknowledgments About the Author 1. Introduction: Making a Case for Trust Why Is Trust in Schools So Important? Efficient Schools as Network Organizations How Is Trust Defined in Schools? What Do We Know About Building Trust? Summary 2. Trust Building as a Developmental Process Setting the Stage for Positive Interactions Fostering Low-Risk Exchanges Creating Opportunities for High-Risk Interactions Illustrating a Model With Case Studies 3. MacNeil Elementary School: Improving a High-Trust School The Principal in the Office New Leadership: The People's Principal Refining Relationships for Higher Levels of Trust Summary 4. Mills Elementary School: Starting From a Lack of Trust A School in Conflict A Principal Under Siege Developing Relationships From the Lowest Levels of Trust Summary 5. Cole Magnet Elementary School: Coming Back to Trust A Temporary Intrusion Returning to Normal: The Maintenance Principal Shared Governance, Facilitated Relationships, and a Lack of Direction Summary 6. An Examination of Trust Building Through Quantitative Analyses How Does a Low Base State of Trust Affect the Effectiveness of Trust-Building Strategies? In Schools With Growing Parent-Teacher Trust, How Does Parent Involvement Vary With the Economic Level of the Parents? How Important Is a Buffer Between Teachers and Parents in Schools Where Parental Involvement Is Strong? Does the Growth of Teacher-Principal Trust Lead to a Growth in Teacher-Teacher Trust? Summary 7. Implementing Trust-Building Strategies in Your School Which Strategies Are Effective in Building Trust? Conclusion Resource A: CCSR Relational Trust Measures Resource B: Measures of Key Concepts of Trust Building References Index

"While trust has been shown as a key mechanism for facilitating school improvement, how that can be accomplished is not altogether clear. In this excellent book, Kochanek, through in-depth case studies and sophisticated quantitative analyses of data from a large urban school system, convincingly demonstrates how principal leadership can promote and sustain trust among administrators, teachers, and parents." -Barbara Schneider, Professor of Sociology University of Chicago -- Barbara Schneider, Professor of Sociology "Kochanek's book not only clearly explains the theoretical underpinnings of trust development in schools, but also provides rich case studies which explore this theory in action." -Carmen Manning, Assistant Professor, English Education University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire -- Carmen Manning, Assistant Professor, English Education