The Effective Constructivist Leader: A Guide to the Successful Approaches

This book analyzes and synthesizes key elements of the most recent and dynamic emergent theory and practice of leadership-constructivist leadership. It presents the theory and practice in a down-to-earth, easy-to-read approach that removes fear and anxiety, using case studies revealing both the underlying philosophy and practical strategies both to teach and to lead constructivistically. Constructivist leadership is the most democratic form of leadership and can be used to reform schools to make them considerably more productive, effective, and healthy for kids and faculty, as the case studies demonstrate. Strategies are presented in pictorial, step-by-step, easy-to-follow diagrams. The book offers insights into the keys that make organizations and individuals tick and then to learn to use these insights in practical, constructive, and constructivist leadership approaches.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 So, What's Constructivist Teaching All About? Chapter 1 How Can I Recognize It in Teachers' Professional Practice? Two Case Studies Chapter 2 How to Think Like a Constructivist Teacher in Designing Your Classroom and Team Part 2 Tools: To Understand Ourselves, Our Kids, Co-Workers Part 3 More Tools: The Dynamics of Organizations and Constructivist Leadership Chapter 3 What Makes Terry Tick? (Our Needs for Power, Control, Recognition, Safety, Acceptance, Esteem and How Constructivism Helps Satisfy Them) Part 4 A Three (Now Five) Year Case Study of Constructivist Leadership Chapter 4 What Makes Organizations (Read, Schools) Tick? A Quick Guide to How Organizations Work (And How to Create a Healthy Sub-Culture in Them) Part 5 How to Pull Off Morphing Into a Constructivist Chapter 5 What Makes Organizations (Read, Schools) Tick? Hidden Behavior: Images, Cycles, and Pulls - Revealed Chapter 6 But First We Need a Purpose: A Case Study: How to Develop Achievable Goals and a Curriculum Structure to Generate Change as a Routine - and, the Crucial Role of Buy-In Chapter 7 Your First Priority and Tool: How to Establish Yourself with Teachers, Supervisors, Peers, Kids, and Community Chapter 8 Power, Empowering, and Constructivist Leadership: How Do We Get It? Use It? Grow It? Lose It? (Which is Pretty Easy to Do) Chapter 9 A Three-Year Constructivist Case Study: Part 1Diagnosing a School's Issues: Getting a Handle on Its Dynamics: EvenUsing a Constructivist Change Strategy to Make It Constructivist (And the Scores Jumped Up) Chapter 10 A Constructivist Case Study: Part 2Southwood School: Three (And Now Five) Years of Constructivism: Spectacular Changes - and, the Scores Jumped Up Chapter 11 At Last, What Does a Constructivist School Look Like?What Are Its Essential Elements?What Do Constructivist Leaders Do? - (So That I Can Pull It Off)

About the Author :
Arthur Shapiro is a professor of educational leadership at the University of South Florida in Tampa with considerable practical experience as a teacher, principal, director of secondary education, assistant superintendent and superintendent of schools K-12 in public, private, inner city, suburban, and rural settings.

Review :
Education has been subjected to the latest hula-hoop solutions ever since The Nation at Risk propelled school reform into the national limelight in 1983. While constructivist leadership has been around since John Dewey crafted a lab school at the University of Chicago in the early twentieth century, it has taken someone like Art Shapiro to write a book that unites the work of teachers and administrators in practical ways that produce results in real school settings. Shapiro knows how schools work and he understands the larger theoretical issues that must be addressed without pontificating or losing the reader in unnecessary social science jargon. His case studies and practical suggestions will make constructivist concepts come alive. Arthur Shapiro has inspired us all to seek the constructivist human side of the school enterprise. He guides us through very practical, but research based constructivist teaching and administrative practices with profound tips on improving our communication and interpersonal leadership skills. If you aspire to have a powerful learning community for all kids purchase this book. Like pieces of a puzzle that morph into a total greater than its parts, The Effective Constructivist Leader draws a clear blueprint of the key elements that make constructivist leadership achievable for a broad audience. I know Professor Shapiro as an experienced and widely-acknowledged educator who remains sensitive to bridging theoretical notions into readily understandable and practical lessons for both his students and readers. This unique volume accomplishes just that for those leaders morally committed to excellence. Constructivist leadership is not new, but Shapiro takes it to a new level. He provides sensible guidelines to overcome organizational constraints so that constructivist change and leadership become a reality. Dr. Shapiro successfully explains and sells the concept of "servant leadership" that is making inroads in many current organizations.