Generations at School: Building an Age-Friendly Learning Community

"An insightful and uplifting read!" —James Rickabaugh, Superintendent, Whitefish Bay School District, WI "Baby boomer teachers are now the old guard. Gen-Xers demand accountability and transparency. And Millennials are recasting the attitudes and behaviors of youth. The authors provide a roadmap that rings true with anyone who works in a school." —Neil Howe, LifeCourse Associates Author, Generations and Millennials Rising An enlightening guide to encourage multigenerational school staff collaboration. Today′s workforce comprises distinct generational cohorts—Veterans, Baby Boomers, Gen-Xers, and Millennials. Generations at School provides educators with the knowledge and tools to create and sustain true collaboration, teamwork, and consensus. Suzette Lovely and Austin G. Buffum introduce the traits and tipping points of these diverse age groups, while providing: Case studies and workplace alternatives for the hiring and retention of high-quality employees as well as practices for orientation, mentoring, and boosting schoolwide communication Guidelines for examining the generational footprint of an entire district, department, or school site Easy-to-apply strategies to promote cross-generational collaboration, performance, and harmony When sound communication emerges and differences are understood, school districts can create communities that appreciate the uniqueness of each member and value the rich contributions from a multigenerational staff.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Roland S. Barth Preface: The Demographic Divide Acknowledgments About the Authors 1. The Generations at Work in Schools The Perfect Storm Who′s Who? A Snapshot of Four Living Generations Roadmaps and Aspirations Conclusion: A Cause Celebre 2. New Rules for the Sandbox Coloring Within the Lines From School to Work The Birth of Organized Labor Trailblazers, Pioneers, and Indiana Jones The Neutral Zone That Was Then, This Is Now Conclusion: Let Go of the Quo 3. Cross Age Connections in a Learning Community Intergenerational Chemistry in a PLC Know Your Lineup A Case in Point Conclusion: Ageless Excellence 4. Recruitment Renaissance: Give It to ′Em Their Way Generational Forecasting Start Your Own Farm Team Who′s on First? On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! Be All That You Can Be Handle With Care Conclusion: Become First-Rate 5. Creating Synergy in the Schoolhouse The Demographic Gulch Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It′s Off to Work We Go The Synergy Doctrine Diplomacy: New Word of the Day Connecting the Dots Conclusion: Not Too Young, Not Too Old 6. Here Come the Millennials, Ready or Not! Generational Recycling Bye-Bye, Breakfast Club A Special Lot Safety First! Oozing With Optimism Teamwork: Here, There, Everywhere Conventional Wisdom Under Pressure Achievers ′R′ Us When Theory Meets Practice Conclusion: In Good Hands 7. Meet the Parents Fly-Overs and Swoop-Ins Lower the Drawbridge Outwit, Outlast, Outplay Mind Your Manners Different Worlds Does Your Complaint Policy Make the Grade? Conclusion: Let′s Make a Deal Resource A: Attracting and Retaining High-Quality Leaders: District Inventory Resource B: Snag the Best and Bypass the Rest: Behavioral-Based Interview Questions Resource C: Partnership Teaching Contract Language Resource D: Synergy Audit: How Generationally Friendly Is Your Workplace? Resource E: Civility Board Policy References

About the Author :
Suzette Lovely is the deputy superintendent of personnel services for the Capistrano Unified School District in Orange County, CA. She has spent 24 years in public education as a teacher, assistant principal, elementary principal, and director of elementary operations. Lovely also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Chapman University, teaching courses in educational administration. Author of two previous books: Setting Leadership Priorities: What’s Necessary, What’s Nice and What’s Got to Go (Corwin Press, 2006) and Staffing the Principalship: Finding, Coaching and Mentoring School Leaders (ASCD, 2004), Lovely is also a staff writer for Master Teacher publications. Austin G. Buffum is currently adjunct professor of educational leadership at Chapman University and California State University, Fullerton. He recently retired as the senior deputy superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District in South Orange County, CA. During his 34-year career, Buffum served as a music teacher and coordinator, elementary school principal, curriculum director, and assistant superintendent. Buffum was selected as the 2006 Curriculum and Instruction Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators. He has presented at scores of regional and national conferences and speaks regularly to schools, districts, and departments of education across the nation about his passion for professional learning.

Review :
"An interesting, insightful, and uplifting read! Filled with practical suggestions and strategies to understand generational differences and build on shared interests and strengths while leveraging unique perspectives and motivations." "Baby boomer teachers are now the old guard. Generation X parents are demanding accountability and transparency. And a rising generation of Millennials is recasting the attitudes and behaviors of youth. The authors provide an excellent roadmap through this new landscape, drawing on concrete examples that will ring true with anyone who works in a school." "Filled with creative ways to develop the capacity of a staff to work together as a professional learning community. The authors make a compelling case for recognizing the significant generational differences in play among most faculties and, more important, offer specific strategies for addressing those differences in ways that benefit teachers and students alike." "This is the essence of the book: understanding our generational differences, finding our generational commonalities, which ultimately will enable us to work together to make a difference for all students. The authors do an outstanding job of providing practical examples and strategies that can be easily implemented."