Beyond School Improvement

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. 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. 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 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.

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

"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 "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 "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 "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 "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 "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