Download or read book Best Practices of High School Principals for Improving Student Achievement in Urban Schools written by Anthony Wayne Smith and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Author's abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the best practices of high school principals for improving student achievement in eight urban high schools in the Metro Atlanta area. Specifically, the best practices of urban Georgia high school principals in the areas of vision, risk-taking, human development, belief in others and integrity were explored through an interview process. Each participant was asked five open-ended questions since these allow for participants to answer questions in a more complete manner. The qualitative, phenomenological research design was employed. Qualitative analysis was used to determine recurring themes related to the research questions. The recurring emerging themes from the data collection and data analysis were: (1) a strong vision that is clearly and concisely communicated with action, (2) the need for a strong and coordinated curriculum, (3) strong support system for teachers and staff members, (4) a safe and positive school climate, (5) incorporate teachers as leaders philoshophy, (6) collaborative decision-making process, (7) strong relationships with teachers build on trust and belief in others, (8) calculated risk-taking.
Download or read book Leadership in America s Best Urban Schools written by Joseph F. Johnson, Jr. and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2017-02-03 with total page 171 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Leadership in America’s Best Urban Schools describes and demystifies the qualities that successful leaders rely on to make a difference at all levels of urban school leadership. Grounded in research, this volume reveals the multiple challenges that real urban elementary, middle, and high schools face as well as the catalysts for improvement. This insightful resource explores the critical leadership characteristics found in high-performing urban schools and gives leaders the tools to move their schools to higher levels of achievement for all students—but especially for those who are low-income, English-language learners, and from various racial and ethnic backgrounds. In shining a light on the essential qualities for exceptional leadership at all levels of urban schools, this book is a valuable guide for all educators and administrators to nurture, influence, support, and sustain excellence and equity at their schools.
Download or read book Best Practices from High Performing High Schools written by Kristen C. Wilcox and published by Teachers College Press. This book was released on 2015-04-24 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In their second collaboration, Wilcox and Angelis tell the stories of high school educators who embody best practices in their day-to-day activitiespractices that consistently lead to higher student academic achievement across the core subjects for all students. This book shares results of a multi-case study of how some high schools consistently deliver better student performance, including improved four-year graduation rates. These schools have learned how to successfully adapt to the climate of increased (and increasing) accountability. Best Practices from High-Performing High Schools is for anyone who strives to ensure that all teens graduate from high school and are ready to succeed in college, in their careers, and in life.
Download or read book Teaching Practices from America s Best Urban Schools written by Joseph F. Johnson, Jr. and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-08-16 with total page 158 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discover the teaching practices that make the biggest difference in student performance! This practical, research-based book gives principals, teachers, and school administrators a direct, inside look at instructional practices from top award-winning urban schools. The authors provide detailed examples and analyses of these practices, and successfully demystify the achievement of these schools. They offer practical guides to help educators apply these successful practices in their own schools. Teaching Practices from America's Best Urban Schools will be a valuable tool for any educator in both urban and non-urban schools-schools that serve diverse student populations, including English language learners and children from low-income families.
Download or read book Breakthrough Principals written by Jean Desravines and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2016-03-17 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bridge the achievement gap with proven strategies for student success Breakthrough Principals debunks the myth of the 'superhero' principal by detailing the common actions and practices of leaders at our nation's fastest-gaining public schools. Based on the authors' Transformational Leadership Framework, which they developed through in-depth study of more than 100 high-gaining, high-poverty schools, the book distills findings into a practical, action-focused plan for diagnosing school needs and implementing structures, systems and practices that accelerate student achievement. Brought to life by case studies of principals who have led dramatic gains in student achievement, the book is a how-to guide for increasing the quality of teaching and learning; improving school culture; attracting and supporting high-performing teachers; and involving parents and community to help students achieve. You'll learn how breakthrough principals make the school's mission a real part of both strategy and practice, and set up sustainable systems that support consistent, ongoing improvement. High-impact practices are organized into five broad categories: learning and teaching, school-wide culture, aligned staff, operations and systems, and personal leadership. The primary job of school leadership is to help students succeed. It begins with first recognizing and prioritizing areas of need, then finding and implementing the most effective solutions. Whether you work in a turn around environment, or want to make a good school better, this book will give you a set of concrete practices—illustrated through examples of real principals in real schools—that have been proven to work. Discover the primary drivers of student achievement Work toward the school's vision in staffing, operations, and systems Set the tone for all relationships and practices with good leadership Closing the achievement gap is a major goal of educational leadership, and principals are forever searching for viable methods that help them better serve their students. Breakthrough Principals unveils the details behind the success stories from across the nation to provide a roadmap to transformative gains.
Download or read book Keys to Success for Urban School Principals written by Gwendolyn J. Cooke and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2006-11-07 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A must read for practitioners of educational leadership and students alike! Offers powerful strategies, recommendations, and resources to successfully lead school reform. The checklists are invaluable tools to bring about the cultural shift needed to focus all stakeholders on teaching and learning." —Roy F. Davenport, Principal, Alfred E. Beach High School, Savannah, GA Urban principals face unique challenges that deserve unique solutions. How can urban principals meet the challenge of educating students in environments that routinely include poverty, violence, aging infrastructure, lack of funding, cultural differences, and high levels of turnover? This accessible manual offers powerful tools and practical guidance to ensure that urban principals succeed as school leaders. Gwendolyn J. Cooke provides tried-and-true, research-based strategies for initiating, stabilizing, and sustaining effective practices. Each chapter includes reflective thinking activities to help school leaders assess needs, and set and achieve goals. This second edition examines the challenges the current educational environment and links the ISLLC standards to seven keys of leadership: Control: manage the school community by building consensus Caring: create a school climate that invites students to learn, grow, and explore Change: use effective strategies to implement constructive change processes Charisma: cultivate your own charismatic potential Communication: strengthen your ability to communicate in different settings Curriculum: provide instructional leadership by harnessing the power of curriculum Courage: find the courage needed to take risks that will move your school forward Use these proven strategies to increase your leadership capacity and effect real change in your school!
Download or read book Best Practices of Award Winning Secondary School Principals written by Sandra Harris and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2006-05-12 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over 100 of the best field-based practices of award-winning secondary principals are examined to help school leaders produce a successful, thriving school environment.
Download or read book Handbook of School Improvement written by Jo Blase and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2010-03-30 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A practical, useful, easy-to-read resource that I will keep on the edge of my desk as a reference. The book is filled with excellent and useful information and serves as both a concise summary of focal points for principals as well as a resource for additional information." —Kari Dahlquist, Principal Creek Valley Elementary School, Edina, MN "All school administrators who want their school to become a high-performing school have to read this book. It is transformational!" —Sean Beggin, Assistant Principal Andover High School, MN Learn how successful principals make a difference in their school′s performance! Outstanding principals are made, not born. With insights drawn from a ground-breaking study and numerous firsthand accounts, this illuminating book reveals how principals develop the leadership qualities that support schoolwide achievement. Written by best-selling authors and respected experts in school improvement, this comprehensive guide captures unique perspectives from 20 successful principals, representing a wide range of urban and rural schools. Presenting real-life strategies and best practices, the authors show how principals use a systems-development approach to build empowered teams and excellent organizations. Designed for school and district administrators as well as staff developers, this resource: Describes the key characteristics of extraordinary principals and high-performing schools, including nine crucial actions that drive positive change Focuses on how principals balance both administrative responsibilities and instructional leadership Shows how to actively involve teachers, staff, and families in school improvement, including individual and group activities Addresses the role of research and data in stronger schoolwide performance Offers tips and suggestions from highly regarded principals, along with recommended resources for further study and team trainings Learn how the experiences of fellow principals can help you energize your team and realize your school′s promise!
Download or read book Exploring Urban School Principal Reports of the Professional Development Perceived as Beneficial for Working in a District that Adopted a Model for Improving Student Achievement Requiring Both Decentralization and Accountability at the School Level written by Penny E. MacCormack and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this study was to describe the professional development (knowledge and skills) urban school principals' report as beneficial for working in districts that have adopted a model for improving student achievement requiring both decentralization and accountability at the school level. Tucker and Codding (2002) provided the conceptual framework for identifying professional development beneficial for working in a district that adopted decentralization and accountability for improving student achievement. Data sources included: (1) digital recordings and transcripts of individual one-on-one, open-ended, in-depth interviews and (2) interviewer notes on the interview protocol taken during interviews and interviewer notes written in a journal during coding. Qualitative findings for all eight research questions suggest that principal reports of the professional development beneficial for working in an urban district that adopted decentralization and accountability for improving student achievement included learning focused on: (1) Vision formation and best practices for operationalizing the vision, (2) Processes required to set effective goals for improving instruction and raising student achievement, (3) Increasing the accuracy and reliability of teacher observation skills and the ability to give quality feedback for improving instruction, (4) Understanding district accountability requirements for schools and the implications of those requirements at the classroom level, (5) Developing teacher commitment to improving student achievement through a deeper understanding of district accountability expectations and the role of teacher effectiveness in improving achievement, and (6) The process of using school and classroom data for improving instruction. In addition, they identified a need for obtaining specific feedback from district-level supervisors to improve their leadership practices as potentially beneficial. Principals in the study also indicated that the most beneficial professional development they had received was being assigned a coach, mentor or working as a resident for one year under the supervision of a successful principal.
Download or read book Improving the Odds written by Thomas Del Prete and published by Teachers College Press. This book was released on 2015-04-24 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A much-needed counterpoint to the sweeping rhetoric of reform, this important book offers a nuanced depiction of the challenges and possibilities at the school and classroom level. Through the experiences of urban high school teachers who partner with their local university, Del Prete provides unique insight into teaching and learning in the midst of reform. He effectively illustrates why focusing on teaching practice and school cultures—more than standards and accountability—is a more fruitful way to achieve real and lasting change. With powerful portraits from classrooms serving diverse and low-income students, this book: Depicts the daily concerns and small victories of teachers determined to support all students in meaningful learning, and prepare them for postsecondary education. Characterizes the importance of a coherent school learning culture, based on one of the most effective small urban schools in the country. Illustrates the potential of university-school partnerships to support the development of teaching practices that will help close the achievement gap. Thomas Del Preteis Director of the Jacob Hiatt Center for Urban Education, and Chair of the Education Department at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He has worked for more than two decades on teacher education, university-school partnership, and school reform. “Tom Del Prete presents a fascinating case study of teachers at three high schools that really get it right when it comes to engaging all students in challenging content and higher-order thinking. In the process, he makes a compelling argument for creating high school–college partnerships that lead to a ‘culture of learning’ that engages teachers and improves student performance dramatically.” —David Conley, CEO, Educational Policy Improvement Center, Director, Center for Educational Policy Research, and Professor, University of Oregon "School-University collaboration is a phrase far easier to roll trippingly off one's tongue than it is to accomplish with effectiveness and integrity. In this fine volume, we read an account that rings true and can guide others hoping to pull off similar difficult collaborations. It is a book well worth reading and deserves to be studied with care.” —Lee S. Shulman, President Emeritus, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching "Del Prete provides a richly detailed account of how a team of teachers grows and nurtures a collectively built body of knowledge and practice that enables them to achieve remarkable results—year after year—with students from one of the lowest income urban communities in the state. If you want to know why we need to build a collaborative learning culture in schools, read this book. If you want to know how to do it, read it again." —Tom Carroll, President, National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF) "Del Prete has written a book that describes what it means to prepare for and teach in an urban high school setting. At the same time, he masterfully weaves the contexts of policy, content area, and school culture into a compelling story that outlines what high-quality teaching should look like." —Lee Teitel, Harvard University Graduate School of Education
Download or read book The Principal as Professional Development Leader written by Phyllis H. Lindstrom and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2004-02-20 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The authors provide principals with the tools needed to help teachers and staff enhance their skills and improve student learning.
Download or read book Principals and Student Achievement written by Kathleen Cotton and published by ASCD. This book was released on 2003-10-15 with total page 122 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What are the direct and indirect influences of principals on student achievement? How do successful principals motivate others? What kinds of relationships do they have with parents, students, and staff? Principals and Student Achievement identifies 26 essential traits and behaviors of effective principals to show how they achieve success as instructional leaders. Based on a review of 81 key research articles from the last 20 years, this concise book examines how certain practices can affect student achievement, including: * Communication and interaction * Classroom observation and feedback to teachers * Recognition of student and staff achievement * Dedication to a safe and orderly school environment * Support of professional development of staff * Role modeling The book also reviews differences in instructional leadership between elementary and secondary principals, male and female principals, principals in high- and low-socioeconomic-status schools, and more. We all know that principals are important to student success, but few people have pinpointed exactly how they make a positive difference. At a time when principals are being asked to do more for school reform and accountability, Principals and Student Achievement provides a valuable resource for identifying what it takes to be an effective principal and, in turn, an effective school. Note: This product listing is for the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version of the book.
Download or read book A Mixed Methods Case Study written by Khalid N. A. Sutton and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the Philadelphia area, there are too many high schools where students are not making adequate academic progress, as measured by the Pennsylvania Value Added Assessment System (PVAAS). As a result of this insufficient academic progress, there are many young adults lacking the minimal skills necessary to enroll in college or to enter into the workforce. The purpose of this mixed methods case study was to explore principal leadership behaviors and characteristics, and the extent in which they contribute to the achievement of students in urban high schools within the Philadelphia region. In every institution of learning, the overarching goal should be centered on providing students the necessary skills to assist them in growing academically, as well as socially. Principals as the leaders, of K-12 buildings, play an important role in ensuring that students receive the best education possible, while also maintaining and creating a safe environment for students and staff members. The research question for this investigational study was: What is the relationship between principal leadership behaviors and high school student achievement in urban districts within the Philadelphia area? The researcher used the following sub-questions to provide answers to the overarching question: (1) What leadership behaviors do teacher respondents perceive as positively impacting student achievement in urban high schools; (2) What leadership behaviors do principal respondents perceive as positively impacting student achievement in urban high schools; (3) How do principals describe the direct effects of their leadership behaviors on urban high school student achievement; and (4) How do principals describe the indirect effects of their leadership behaviors on urban high school student achievement? At two high schools in the Philadelphia region, 27 teachers and two principals participated in this mixed methods study. The high school teachers completed a survey using the well-known and validated Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS), designed for teachers by Dr. Philip Hallinger. The two principal participants took part in a semi-structured interview and completed the PIMRS survey designed for school leaders. The semi-formal interviews, scheduled for 30 minutes, were recorded using two digital devices and transcriptions were electronically and manually completed. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to interpret and analyze quantitative data while InVivo and hand coding was used for qualitative data analysis. From the analysis of the qualitative data, three major themes emerged for principal behaviors: (a) data collection and analysis is essential, (b) curriculum and instruction must be monitored and (c) school culture is a factor. This study may inform current and future school leaders on the leadership behaviors essential to improving academic achievement. Considerations for further research in the area of principal leadership are offered.
Download or read book Improving Achievement in Low Performing Schools written by Randolph E. Ward and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2004-02-03 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "I find here nothing less than a blueprint for transforming a failing urban school district with abysmal levels of student and adult performance into one of fiscal and academic respectability. No small feat!" Roland S. Barth Author, Lessons Learned How can multi-stressed, low-performing schools overcome obstacles to respond to the unique learning needs of students? As accountability in schools becomes more crucial, educators are looking for comprehensive and innovative management practices that respond to challenges and realities of student academic achievement. In order to improve academic performance and the quality of instruction, the entire school community needs to be involved. Improving Achievement in Low-Performing Schools provides six steps to overcome low performance. School principals and teacher leaders can create a school culture that supports the goals for student achievement and expects the same standards for all students. This excellent new resource focuses on: Improving student achievement in the core subjects Aligning teaching and learning with student performance Linking professional development for all staff to the goals for students Creating safe, clean, and secure school facilities Forging stronger links with parents, families, and the community Increasing management effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability The student is the chief client served by the educational profession. As students and their families become more confident that educators are dedicated to meeting students′ individualized needs, they become committed to supporting the key results accountability process.
Download or read book Creating the High Schools of Our Choice written by Tim Westerberg and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-09-13 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides strategies, tools, and examples to help high school principals achieve the goals put forward in the No Child Left Behind legislation.With its clear examples of best practices in leadership, personalization, and strategic use of data, it will show you how to achieve your school's academic mission.
Download or read book Principal Leadership and Student Achievement written by Janet A. Munger and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-12-27 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT...RESEARCH IN NEW JERSEY URBAN HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS By Dr. Janet A. Munger WITHOUT LEADERSHIP, THERE IS NO SUCCESS My research clearly demonstrates positively and significantly that principal leadership effectiveness relates to school productivity: student achievement, school retention rate and educational continuance rate. The manner in which the school principal influences student achievement is determined. The link between the internal school structure and the external school environment is established. It has been determined from reviewing current research that limited attention has been paid to the methodology of collecting research data. Reviews of research since the 1950s and 1960s have charted intellectual progress. From national and international reviews, it has been brought to light that there exists the tendency in research publications to omit pertinent information pertaining to the rationale of the study; methods of data collection; the extraction of data; its evaluation and analysis; and the explanation of how this has impacted the interpretation of the research findings. As evidenced, improvement is needed in setting research studies within conceptual frameworks and in applying proper analytical procedures in examining combinations of variables. Explanatory Framework My research is set within an explanatory framework. It is based on theory and the desire to increase our understanding of school process. Proper analytical procedures are employed in examining sets of variables. The rationale of the study; methods of data collection; extraction of data; lengthy descriptions and interpretations of how this has impacted its interpretation are presented in my research study in great detail. It is supported by my real-life experiences from over 40 years in educational administration and teaching. Organizational Leadership: Importance Its presentation of the historical development of the literature from 1900 provides a rich background study in the field of organizational leadership. The strength of the data collection procedures, data extraction methodology, analytical methods employed, and research findings serve as a model for future researchers and graduate students of leadership effectiveness and school productivity. It is a syllabus for graduate study in educational administration and school leadership. It is needed in the professional development training of school principals, school leaders, and teachers. It is imperative that these research determinations are employed by educators and administrators alike if we are to increase our understanding of leadership effectiveness and school productivity, inclusive of student achievement. Those variables determined to contribute to leadership effectiveness as it relates to school productivity, culled from hundreds of research studies, are subsumed within my research manuscript. Those effective school leader determinations, compiled from the study of hundreds of research studies over the past century and the expenditure of millions of dollars are found in this manuscript--my doctoral research study. The relationship between leadership effectiveness and school productivity is established. It is strong, positive, and significant. Those factors contributing to the differences in leadership effectiveness and school productivity are summarized, analyzed, and discussed in great detail. Higher Education is a multi-million-dollar industry in consulting services. The cost of customizing leadership development programs from top business schools can cost $150,000 per person. This Leadership Research Will Serve to Fill This Need in Our Global Economy.
Download or read book Becoming a Great High School written by Tim R. Westerberg and published by ASCD. This book was released on 2009-11-05 with total page 145 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What will it take to move your high school to the next level? In Becoming a Great High School, former principal Tim Westerberg emphasizes that significant improvement in any high school must start with improving the quality of instruction in the classroom. But the isolated efforts of individual teachers aren't enough. If your school is functioning like "a collection of educational entrepreneurs held together by a common parking lot," it's time for teachers and administrators to work together and pursue comprehensive, coordinated strategies that will help all students succeed. Westerberg's 6+1 Model for High School Reform shows how high-achieving schools maintain success and identifies what other schools can do to achieve similar results: * Adopt a we-expect-success attitude. * Develop clear instructional goals. * Implement effective instruction. * Use frequent formative assessment. * Track student progress. * Provide timely intervention for struggling students. * Celebrate student success. Westerberg provides comprehensive research on high school reform from leading education experts, candid examples from his 26 years as a principal, and thought-provoking insights from other high school leaders who have taken up the call to improve their schools. If you're ready to take your high school to the next level, this book will give you the tools and strategies to make the leap and create a school that enables all students to reach their full potential.
