Shaking Up the Schoolhouse: How to Support & Sustain Educational Innovation(Education Series)

"Once again, Phil Schlechty demonstrates why I consider him to be one of the clearest minds in American education. He knows how important public education is to our democracy and has real ideas for making it better. This book is a must-read for policymakers at any level and for those who think and care about school improvement." - Paul D. Houston, executive director, American Association of School Administrators. "Schlechty shares leading-edge insights and offers practical guidance to anyone who affects student learning. His suggestions are wonderful dialogue starters for educators searching for ways to make dramatic improvement in schools." - Dennis Sparks, executive director, National Staff Development Council. In this visionary book, renowned educator Phillip Schlechty argues for change-adept school systems. He not only challenges educational administrators, teachers, teacher leaders, legislators, and policymakers to recognize the need for transformation, but also shows how they can grow into skillful leaders of lasting change. "Shaking Up the Schoolhouse" begins with an incisive discussion of the dangers and opportunities in reworking school systems. Drawing from decades of experience and from actual cases, the author describes the essential characteristics of change-adept organizations. He then presents a practical framework for helping teachers to overcome obstacles in the learning experience, from reviewing the competition to improving student engagement through more effective standards. Schlechty also focuses on empowering principals, superintAndents, and school board members as they struggle with structural and cultural change in their schools and communities.

Table of Contents:
Part I: From Change--Inept to Change--Adept. 1. Introduction. 2. Dangerous Opportunities. 3. The Characteristics of Change--Adept Organizations. 4. The Technologies of Schooling. 5. Illustrative Cases. Part II: Working on the Work. 6. Focusing on Results. 7. Getting Down to Business. 8. Learning from Competitors. 9. Assessing the Student Engagement. 10. Using the WOW Framework. Part III: Working on Leadership. 11. Leading Structural/Cultural Change. 12. Empowered Leaders: Questions of Style and Substance. Part IV: Understanding the Systems of Schooling. 13. The Coordination and Directional Systems. 14. The Power, Authority, Evaluation, and Enforcement Systems. 15. The Boundary System. 16. The Recruitment and Induction System. 17. Who's on First: A Personal View.

About the Author :
PHILLIP C. SCHLECHTY is founder and chief executive officer of the Center for Leadership in School Reform and the best--selling author of Inventing Better Schools, Schools for the 21st Century, and other publications. In addition to advising school districts throughout the United States and Canada, Schlechty conducts seminars and training sessions for superintAndents, school board members, union leaders, principals, teachers, and parent groups.

Review :
"Louisville's Phillip C. Schlechty is one of the most productive and respected people writing about American education today...Schlechty is not just blowing smoke from the theory class. He understands schools...This is a book that everyone in schools should not just read, but talk about and reflect upon with other educators." --Louisville KY Courier-Journal "Once again, Phil Schlechty demonstrates why I consider him to be one of the clearest minds in American education. He knows how important public education is to our democracy and has real ideas for making it better. Shaking Up the Schoolhouse leads the way for creating change-adept schools. It is all about empowering leaders so they can improve schools. This book is a must-read for policymakers at any level and for those who think and care about school improvement." --Paul D. Houston, executive director, American Association of School Administrators "In Shaking Up the Schoolhouse, Phil Schlechty shares leading-edge insights and offers practical guidance to anyone who affects student learning. His recommAndations to school board members, central office staff, union leaders, principals, teachers, parents, and state legislators make this an important resource for creating schools in which all staff and students are learning and performing at high levels. Schlechty's suggestions are wonderful dialogue starters for educators searching for ways to make dramatic improvement in schools." --Dennis Sparks, executive director, National Staff Development Council "I have worked with Phil Schlechty for over twenty years and I continue to learn from him. Shaking Up the Schoolhouse is filled with sound suggestions for school leaders, as well as practical suggestions for parents and politicians. Those familiar with Schlechty's work will find fresh and new insights in these pages." --Gerry House, president and CEO, Institute for Student Achievement, and former SuperintAndent of the Year "Schlechty's solution to improving public education is straightforward: focus on the quality of students' work. Engaging and loaded with ideas, Shaking Up the Schoolhouse brings together experience and theory in a single volume of wisdom. If we heed Schlechty's advice, we will certainly shake up the schoolhouse." --Betty Lou Whitford, professor of education and director of the National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools, and Teaching, Teachers College, Columbia University