Creating a Culture of Excellence: A School Leader's Guide to Best Practices in Teaching, Curriculum, Professional Development, Supervision, and Evaluation(Bridging Theory and Practice)

School leaders are busy, overwhelmed, and may not always be cognizant of the latest cutting-edge theories and practices in the field of instructional improvement. Drawing from research, Creating a Culture of Excellence is a resource that serves as a guide to the best practices in teaching, curriculum, professional development, supervision, and evaluation. Attending to these five processes, utilizing best practices in the field of research and practice, will ensure high-quality instruction in any school. This book is replete with engaging learning activities and vignettes to reinforce ideas and concepts.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: The State of Instructional Quality in Schools Chapter 2: The Key Component of Instructional Quality: The Instructional Core Chapter 3: An Overview of Best Practices in Teaching, Curriculum, PD, Supervision, and Evaluation Chapter 4: Learning to Lead Instructional Change by Transforming School Culture to Support and Improve Teaching and Learning for All Appendix A: State of Teaching, Curriculum, PD, Supervision, & Evaluation (Shortest Version) Questionnaire Appendix B: State of Teaching, Curriculum, PD, Supervision, & Evaluation (Short Version) Questionnaire Appendix C: State of Teaching, Curriculum, PD, Supervision, & Evaluation (Long Version) Questionnaire Appendix D: On-the-Spot Beliefs about Instructional Quality Questionnaire Appendix E: Assessing Your Role as an Instructional Leader and Supervisor Questionnaire Appendix F: Teacher Self-Assessment Questionnaire Appendix G: Supervisor's Perceptions about Teacher's Views Questionnaire Appendix H: Teacher Attitude Questionnaire Appendix I: Best Annotated Works and Resources on Promoting Instructional Excellence Appendix J: Sample Instructional Audit Report Appendix K: The Instructional Goals Matrix About the Author Index

About the Author :
Jeffrey Glanz, Ed.D., is a professor of educational administration and supervision at Michlalah Jerusalem College in Jerusalem, Israel. He is Series Editor of the Rowman & Littlefield School Leadership Series.

Review :
Jeffrey Glanz has produced a book on creating a culture of excellence in schools like no other. Drawing upon his impressive career and its productivity, readers will find the latest research on teaching, curriculum, professional development, supervision, and evaluation. In addition, many diagnostic tools are included, along with annotated works that promote instructional excellence. At the core of Creating a Culture of Excellence is the challenge of shifting from a banking and compliance approach to instruction to one that will prepare every student as competent, caring, and loveable for this rapidly changing global age of living. Creating a Culture of Excellenceis an important and timely contribution for intelligent, action-oriented 21st century educational leaders seeking to create transformative instructional changes in their schools. Glanz provides valuable insights into current needs impacting school leaders today with practical, field-based suggestions. The book is replete with vignettes and activities for reflection. For decades, Professor Jeffrey Glanz has been among the most prominent and prolific scholars in the field of instructional supervision. Creating a Culture of Excellence is geared to become a classic for its cogent attention to helping school leaders improve instructional quality. Readable, scholarly, yet practical, this book draws attention to the over reliance on frontal teaching, pre-packaged curricula, boring PD, varied strategies in working with teachers to improve teaching via supervision, and eschewing useless teacher evaluation processes. This is a volume every school leader should own and policymakers need to attend to its message.