Optimize Your School: It's All About the Strategy

Lead the change that you want to see in your school! Is your school or district heading in the right direction? In this essential guide for leaders, Lee Jenkins shows how to unite and energize your team as never before, while helping your students to love learning and crave achievement.  A trusted advisor to numerous districts, Jenkins knows how to successfully transform school culture – for the long-term. Beginning with an introduction from scholar Michael Fullan, each chapter presents compelling insights and strategies for leaders, addressing how to Evolve your leadership style to guide, empower and serve Apply the principles of continuous strategic improvement as an antidote to win/lose approaches to school accountability Develop a healthy, positive culture of achievement by deeply engaging your students in their own progress and success Turn to this resource and prepare to lead positive change, from the classroom to the staff room and beyond. "This book creates a whole picture approach to school improvement while shunning the current top down model in favor of a school-led plan. The approach not only increases school performances, but values the school-level leadership and instructional faculty." Amanda Mayeaux, Career Management Specialist Iberville Parish Schools “If your district is ready to move from arbitrary to observable, from fractured to focused, and from silos to systems, you’ve found the book that can move entire organizations from a goal mindset to a growth mindset. Lee Jenkins provides common-sense strategies that impact the efficiency and effectiveness of our classrooms, with a clear focus on student growth. In an educational era saturated with the latest remedy for what ails us, Lee provides a refreshing cure by offering simple solutions for lasting change.”  Dr. Jane Stavem, Associate Superintendent for Instruction Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln, NE

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Michael Fullan Preface Introduction Part I. Continuous Strategic Improvement for Optimization Chapter 1. Continuous Improvement: Placing Wheels on Servant Leadership Chapter 2. Adding Strategic to Continuous Improvement Chapter 3. Efficiency: Removing Waste Chapter 4. Effectiveness: Testing Countermeasures Part II. The Classroom First and Foremost Chapter 5. Continuous Strategic Improvement: Classroom Chapter 6. Student Experts: The Standards Chapter 7. Practices That Support Powerful Standards Part III. Continuous Strategic Improvement for Instructional Leadership Chapter 8. Optimization With the Radar Chart Chapter 9. The Strategic Plan Chapter 10. Alignment and Stabilization Chapter 11. Strategies Worth Testing Chapter 12. The Dichotomous Rubric and Performance Expectations Part IV. Optimizing Human Resources and Finance Chapter 13. Human Resources Chapter 14. Finance and Operations Part V. Creating a Culture of Continuous Strategic Improvement Chapter 15. Classroom: Teacher Experts in Continuous Strategic Improvement Chapter 16. The Role of the Principal With Continuous Strategic Improvement Chapter 17. Reflection Part VI. Results Chapter 18. Data and Statistics: From a Continuous Strategic Improvement Perspective Chapter 19. Conclusion and Challenge Resources Glossary References Index

About the Author :
Lyle Lee Jenkins is a full-time author, consultant and speaker with his Scottsdale, Arizona firm, From LtoJ Consulting Group, Inc.  His earlier career was in the public schools of California as a district superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, math coordinator and teacher. In addition he was a professor/administrator for Oregon State University for five years. Lee’s best-seller is Permission to Forget: And Nine Other Root Causes of America’s Frustration with Education. Other continuous improvement titles are Improving Student Learning and From Systems Thinking to Systemic Action.   He started his writing career with math manipulative books including It’s A Tangram World, Let’s Pattern Block It, Fraction Tiles, Coin Stamp Mathematics and The Balance Book. Lee continues to be significantly influenced by the teaching of W. Edwards Deming.  The impetus for his current work began in 1992 with a 4-day, in person, Dr. Deming seminar.  He received a Ph.D. from The Claremont Graduate University, a master’s degree from California State University/San Jose and a bachelors degree from Point Loma Nazarene University. Lee’s speaking engagements have taken him to most USA states, Canada, India, Guatemala, Peru, Brazil, Peru, and Chile.  He offers keynotes, breakout sessions, and 1-3 day seminars. On his website, www.LtoJConsulting.com, a full keynote, plus segments of breakouts/seminars, are posted. Lee, and his wife Sandy, have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, have two sons, 7 grandchildren one great-grandchild. 

Review :
"This book creates a whole picture approach to school improvement while shunning the current top down model in favor of a school-led plan. The approach not only increases school performances, but values the school-level leadership and instructional faculty." "If your district is ready to move from arbitrary to observable, from fractured to focused, and from silos to systems, you've found the book that can move entire organizations from a goal mindset to a growth mindset. Lee Jenkins provides common-sense strategies that impact the efficiency and effectiveness of our classrooms, with a clear focus on student growth. In an educational era saturated with the latest remedy for what ails us, Lee provides a refreshing cure by offering simple solutions for lasting change." "Lee Jenkins has made a profound impact on the teachers in the Norman Public Schools. His work on engaging students and continuous school improvement has changed our focus and definition of learning. He has inspired classroom teachers, administrators, and district level personnel to set and achieve high expectations for all students."