Creating a Learning Environment: An Educational Leader's Guide to Managing School Culture

Drawing on his personal experience as a modern day school administrator, John M. Brucato believes that there is a pathway to survival, success, and enjoyment in the role of a school leader that keeps the focus on meeting the needs of young people, while nurturing relationship with all stakeholders responsible for bringing this to fruition. Creating a Learning Environment addresses the need to: Assess the culture that defines a school's environment, Reflect on the variables which can improve/degrade the culture, Determine what practices to employ in order to make necessary improvement. By using the practical examples related to the everyday dynamics of school business, educational leaders working in large or small schools can collectively identify with the situations, scenarios, and processes described. This book should be of interest to all educators who assume or aspire to leadership roles and administrative positions.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Foreword by Phillip F. Flaherty Part 2 Preface Part 3 Acknowledgments Part 4 Introduction Part 5 Part I: The Problem Chapter 6 1. Assessing School Culture: Putting the Horse before the Cart Part 7 Part II: Beginnings Chapter 8 2. The Six Key Questions to Assessing School Culture Chapter 9 3. Why We Need to Read, Write, and Reflect: The Journal Chapter 10 4. Climate-Focused Leaders: The Profile Chapter 11 5. The Guiding Principles of Success Chapter 12 6. Building an Administrative Team: The Foundation of a Well-Run School Chapter 13 7. Climate Control: All Educators on Board Part 14 Part III: New Beginnings Chapter 15 8. Swinging the Balance Chapter 16 9. Clarity of Expectations Chapter 17 10. The Faculty Manual Chapter 18 11. Growth and Excellence Are Not Optional Chapter 19 12. Teacher Appreciation Chapter 20 13. The Student Body: The Driving Force of School Reform Chapter 21 14. How to Develop a Support Staff that Becomes the Glue that Holds Your School Together Part 22 Appendix I: How to Develop a School Culture that Reduces Discipline Problems and Enhances Safety Part 23 Appendix II: How to Deal More Effectively with Difficult Parents Part 24 Appendix III: How to Deal with Difficult Teachers Part 25 Appendix IV: How to Achieve Success with the Next Level of Student Discipline Part 26 Appendix V: Developing an Administrator-Friendly Student/Parent Handbook Part 27 Appendix VI: Seven Reasons Why School Administrators Cannot Turn Their Backs on Issues of Nonschool Conduct Part 28 Appendix VII: You Make the Call Part 29 References Part 30 About the Author

About the Author :
John M. Brucato is the principal of Milford High School, Milford, Massachusetts. He is an active member of the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators Association Executive Board and a former social studies teacher, athletic coach, dean of students, athletic director, assistant principal, and leadership advisor.

Review :
I have already recommended Creating a Learning Environment to three superintendents for use in principal mentoring programs. It would elicit rich conversation about everything from classroom instruction to teacher support and home-school communications. He says leaders must define their purpose relating to the culture of the schoolhouse, determine if they are a good match for the institution, and be committed to collaborating with fellow school leaders who have roots in similar cultures.