A School Board Guide to Leading Successful Schools

Stephanie Hirsh is executive director of Learning Forward. Learning Forward's more than 10,000 members and 40 state and provincial affiliates are committed to increasing student achievement and educator performance through more effective professional learning. Prior to her appointment as executive director, Hirsh served the association as deputy executive director for 18 years. She began her career as a secondary teacher and also served as a school district administrator in the Richardson (TX) Independent School District. In 1996 she was elected to the Richardson school board and served for three terms. Today, Hirsh advises governors, legislators, state and local superintendents, and other policy makers regarding professional development, school improvement, and student learning. Hirsh also presents, publishes, and consults on Learning Forward's behalf across North America. Her recent books include A Playbook for Professional Learning, co-authored with Shirley Hord, The Learning Educator, co-authored with Joellen Killion, and Transforming Schools Through Powerful Planning, co-authored with Kay Psencik. Hirsh writes a regular column for JSD, Learning Forward's bimonthly magazine. She has also written articles for Educational Leadership, Phi Delta Kappan, The Record, The School Administrator, American School Board Journal, The High School Magazine, and Education Week. Hirsh serves on several advisory boards including Learning First Alliance, University of Texas College of Education, National Stem Equity Pipeline, and The Teaching Channel. She has been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Learning Forward Texas; as a Distinguished Alumnae from the University of North Texas; and as Master Trustee and member of an Honor Board from the Texas School Boards Association. Anne Foster is the Executive Director of Parents for Public Schools (PPS), a national organization of community-based chapters working to strengthen public schools by engaging, educating and mobilizing parents. Foster had a longtime career in real estate in the Dallas area and served as a three-term elected school board member for Richardson (Texas) ISD. She served as board president for seven years and founded Realtors Supporting Richardson Schools (RSRS) as a way to bring Realtors into support of public schools. She graduated from Leadership Texas and became the first ED of the business/public school advocacy group Raise Your Hand Texas. In her current position with PPS, Foster speaks, presents and writes on behalf of parent and community engagement in public schools, as well as school board advocacy. Her commentaries have appeared in Phi Delta Kappan, Educational Horizons, The Dallas Morning News, USA Today, and others. She is a regular commentator on public education issues on KERA Dallas public radio, and she consults with community and municipal groups on parent engagement in schools. Foster received the Outstanding Communicator Award by the National School Public Relations Association. She has been recognized as a Master Trustee and member of an Honor Board from the Texas Association of School Boards. She serves on The National Family, School, and Community Engagement Working Group, which advises the White House and Department of Education on federal policy.

Foreword by Anne Bryant Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors Introduction: Using This Book as a Guide to Your Learning 1. Hiring the Superintendent: Making the Right Choice 2. Planning Strategically: Setting and Supporting Priorities 3. Advancing Professional Learning: Adopting Standards for Professional Learning 4. Allocating Resources: Prioritizing Dollars and Time for Learning 5. Improving School Performance: Reviewing School Improvement Plans 6. Approving Programs: Supporting Professional Learning for Success 7. Setting School Calendars: Providing Time for Educator Learning 8. Building Schools: Putting Learning at the Center 9. Evaluating Performance: Aligning Expectations 10. Compensating Educators: Supporting Learning and Action 11. Engaging Parents: Making Parent Learning a Priority 12. Improving Continuously: Walking the Talk of Professional Learning Appendix A: Standards for Professional Learning Appendix B: Standards for Professional Learning: School Board Innovation Configuration Maps Appendix C: Standards for Professional Learning: Superintendent Innovation Configuration Map (Leadership Standard) Additional Resources Index

"As Hirsh and Foster note, school boards play a pivotal role in creating a climate of learning in a school system. They have numerous and diverse opportunities to do this--by enacting policies, approving school calendars, adopting budgets, evaluating superintendents, and engaging their communities, to cite just a few. This book offers practical advice to enable school boards to fulfill this critical aspect of their public leadership role. It is a roadmap for action and continuous improvement for every school board." -- Thomas J. Gentzel, Executive Director "Effective professional learning merits school board involvement and direction as an integral part of the school district's vision, mission, goals, and planning. This book will lead a board and district leadership through the process of transforming 'professional learning' from a 'district department' to an essential component of the district's culture." -- Luke Davis, Former Trustee "The demands of public education continue to challenge school boards and school district managers. New initiatives and changes to existing programs have become routine. School boards must include support for implementation of these initiatives and changes by establishing a foundation for professional development in their strategic plans and by allocating resources for the professional development needed to succeed." -- Glen Ishiwata, Retired Superintendent "This book is an excellent tool for the collaborative work of school boards and school personnel. The case studies align with today's challenges in education and in professional learning. The design of the activities encourages the collaboration and conversation that supports continuous improvement in education. This is a great tool for advocating for professional learning!" -- Lisa Casto, Director of Curriculum and Staff Development "As Professional Learning Director for my school system, I am excited about the possibilities this field guide affords my district through reflection, collaboration, professional growth, and student achievement." -- Rhonda Baldwin, Professional Learning Director "Hirsh and Foster have utilized their experiences as educators, board members and professional learning experts to create a valuable resource for school administrators and board members committed to institutionalizing the concept of Professional Learning Communities 'from the boardroom to the classroom.' The chapters are organized to provide case studies on relevant educational topics. The addition of 'conversation starters' and 'activities' aimed at promoting understanding, reflection and proposed actions, allow the guide to be used in a variety of ways. Most importantly, the guide provides a template for boards and administrators to address any issues that impact both student and adult learning." -- Wendy Robinson, Superintendent