School Leadership: Handbook for Excellence in Student Learning

"Finely crafted and beautifully written . . . the most comprehensive and extensive treatment of the school leadership literature available to date." -From the Foreword by Joseph Murphy A set of key leadership behaviors can help create the right kind of conditions in schools for learning to occur. How can school leaders excel in those behaviors? An important and trusted resource for 25 years, this fourth edition of School Leadership: Handbook for Excellence in Student Learning emphasizes the school leader′s role as champion of student learning. Integrating theory and practice, the editors introduce school leadership from five perspectives: the person, the values, the structure, the mission, and the skills. This expanded edition draws from a variety of viewpoints on educational leadership to give school leaders—and those preparing for the role—insight and wisdom to meet the challenges of helping all their students learn. Updates include: Expanded coverage of instructional leadership and the principal′s role in student learning New chapters covering the principalship, accountability, effects of leadership, distributed leadership, political leadership, and engaging the public New chapters on data-based decision making and allocation of human, financial, and physical resources Eight completely reworked chapters that tie back to student learning End-of-chapter reflection questions for group discussion This is the ultimate guide for all principals and administrators—both a life-preserver and indispensable coach for the important work of school leadership.

Table of Contents:
Foreword - Joseph Murphy Preface How This Book Was Written Intended Audience Method of Citation Scope and Organization Acknowledgments About the Editors About the Contributors Introduction: Leadership for Excellence in Learning The Mission Is Student Learning What Is Leadership? Assumptions About the Nature of Leadership Conclusion: A Passion for Learning PART I. The State of School Leadership 1. The Landscape of School Leadership - Larry Lashway The State of the Principalship: A Snapshot The Supply and Demand Challenge What Is the Principal’s Proper Role? Conclusion: What’s Over the Next Hill? Reflections 2. The Effects of Leadership - Larry Lashway The Search for Leadership Effects Syntheses of the Evidence Essential Acts of Leadership Conclusion: A Compass, Not a Road Map Reflections PART II. The Person 3. Portrait of a Leader - Larry Lashway, JoAnn Mazzarella, and Thomas Grundy The Characteristics of Leaders Personality Competence Mastery of Self Interpersonal Competence Character Leadership Behaviors The Genesis of Leadership What We Don’t Know About Leadership Implications Conclusion: A Sketch for Each Leader to Complete Reflections 4. Leadership Styles and Strategies - Larry Lashway Dimensions of Leadership Style Unanswered Questions About Style The Importance of Style Leadership Strategies Hierarchical Leadership Transformational Leadership Facilitative Leadership Is There a Best Strategy? Choosing a Strategy Conclusion: The Need for Clarity of Purpose Reflections 5. Developing School Leaders - Larry Lashway A Developmental Perspective The Phases of Principals’ Careers The Special Case of the Assistant Principal Assessment Tools for Developing Leadership Conclusion: A Pathway Uncertain Yet Sure Reflections PART III. The Values 6. Ethical Leadership - Larry Lashway The Virtuous Leader Making Ethical Decisions Leaders as Advocates Conclusion: A Question of Destiny Reflections 7. Visionary Leadership - Larry Lashway The Nature of Vision The Impact of Vision The Problem With Vision The Leader’s Role Developing Personal Vision Tailoring the Vision to the School Institutionalizing the Vision Beyond Vision: The Learning Organization Conclusion: Change as a Driving Force for Excellence Reflections 8. Cultural Leadership - Stuart C. Smith The Power of a Strong Culture The Perspective of This Chapter The Heart of the Matter The Meaning of Culture Three Levels of Culture Principles for Shaping School Culture How Leaders Construct Culture Shaping the Student Subculture Fostering a Sense of Community Conclusion: Having the Heart to Persevere Reflections PART IV. The Structure 9. Accountable Leadership - Larry Lashway The Many Faces of Accountability The Leadership Challenge Using Accountability to Improve Learning Conclusion: A Core Leadership Responsibility Reflections 10. Site-Based Management - Wendell Anderson History and Structure of SBM Participants Site Councils SBM and Academic Achievement Role of the Principal in SBM Role of the Superintendent and Other Administrators Conclusion: Leaders’ Commitment Drives Change Reflections 11. Distributed Leadership - Larry Lashway Who Was That Masked Man, Anyway? An Alternative Conception: Distributed Leadership The Continuum of Leadership Distributed Leadership in Schools Varieties of Distributed Leadership Making Distributed Leadership Work Expanding Leadership Through Work Teams Conclusion: Why the Effort Is Worthwhile Reflections 12. Political Leadership - Larry Lashway The Two Worlds of School Politics Acting Politically Conclusion: Being Political, Remaining Ethical Reflections PART V. The Mission: Student Learning 13. Instructional Leadership: Supporting the Learning Process - Ronald A. Beghetto and Julie Alonzo What Is Learning? Clarifying the Goals of Purposeful Learning Selecting Instructional Strategies Conclusion: Collaboration Is the Route to Success Reflections 14. Instructional Leadership: Progress Monitoring - Ronald A. Beghetto and Leanne R. Ketterlin-Geller What Is Progress Monitoring? Using Multiple Sources of Information to Monitor Progress Improving the Interpretation and Use of Information Communicating Progress An Example: Progress Monitoring in a School District Conclusion: A Career-Long Practice Reflections 15. Instructional Leadership: Cultivating a Learning-Focused Community in Schools - Ronald A. Beghetto What Is a Learning-Focused Community? Why Do Students Engage in or Avoid Achievement-Directed Behavior? How Do Learning Communities Influence Students’ Achievement Behavior? How Does the Learning Environment Influence Teachers? Cultivating a Focus on Learning in the School Community Conclusion: The Need for Creativity and Resolve Reflections PART VI. The Skills 16. Communicating - Wendell Anderson Principles of Organizational Communication Communication and Student Learning The Communication Process Communication Skills The Silent Language Administrative Writing Conclusion: Perseverance Pays Off Reflections 17. Engaging the Public - Wendell Anderson A New Way of Doing Business Connecting With the Community Creating a Community-Relations Plan Delivering the Message Working With the News Media Evaluating Community-Relations Efforts Conclusion: Engaging for Mutual Benefit Reflections 18. Managing Data for Decision Making: Creating Knowledge From Information - Gerald Tindal, Luke Duesbery, and Leanne R. Ketterlin-Geller Principles of Data-Driven Decision Making Developing an Infrastructure for Managing and Interpreting Data Getting Accurate Data From All Students: Technical Adequacy and Universal Design Reference for Interpreting Results: Using Graphic Displays to Evaluate Performance Conclusion: The Goal Is Progress for All Students Reflections 19. Allocating Human, Financial, and Physical Resources - Faith E. Crampton and Randall S. Vesely Human Resources: Creating and Sustaining Human and Social Capital Fiscal Resources: Making the Best Use of Existing Financial Resources Physical Resources: Maintaining and Enhancing the Physical Environment of Schools Conclusion: Comprehensive Planning Is Best Practice Reflections References Index

Review :
“Smith and Piele have written a practitioner′s guide that is a ′must read′ for administrators at all levels of education. The authors did an exceptional job of writing with clarity about a very important subject.” “The most comprehensive and extensive treatment of the school leadership literature available to date. School Leadership is a gift to all of us in education.”