Leadership in America's Best Urban Schools

Joseph F. Johnson, Jr. is Dean of the College of Education, Executive Director of the National Center for Urban School Transformation, and the QUALCOMM Professor of Urban Education at San Diego State University, USA.Cynthia L. Uline is Professor Emeritus of Educational Leadership and Director of the National Center for the 21st Century Schoolhouse at San Diego State University, USA.Lynne G. Perez is Deputy Director of the National Center for Urban School Transformation at San Diego State University, USA.

• ContentsAcknowledgementsMeet the AuthorsPrefacePart One: Schools that Achieve Outstanding Results for All StudentsChapter 1: Excellent and Equitable Learning ResultsEvidence of Excellence and EquityLeadership for Excellence and EquitySummaryWhat It Is & What It Isn’t: Excellent and Equitable Learning ResultSchool Self-Assessment Tool: Is Your School Achieving Excellence and Equity?Chapter 2: Positive Transformational CulturePositive Transformational Culture as the Foundation The Power of a Coherent Educational Improvement System to Create and Sustain SummaryWhat It Is & What It Isn’t: Positive Transformational CultureSchool Self-Assessment Tool: Does Your School Have a Positive Transformational Culture?Chapter 3: Access to Challenging Curricula for All StudentsFocus on Deep UnderstandingWriting to Promote UnderstandingAccess to Art, Music, Physical Education and Other Non-Tested SubjectsRigor for All StudentsThe Power of a Coherent Educational Improvement System to Ensure Curricular Rigor SummarySchool Self-Assessment Tool: Does Your School Provide Access to Challenging Curricula for All Students?Chapter 4: Effective Instruction that Results in Engagement and MasteryCommon Practices Making students feel valued and capableLeading students to love learning The Power of a Coherent Educational Improvement System to Ensure Effective SummaryWhat It Is & What It Isn’t: Effective Instruction that Results in Engagement and MasterySchool Self-Assessment Tool: Does Your School Provide Effective Instruction that Results in Engagement and Mastery?Part Two: Leadership that Promotes Outstanding Results for All StudentsChapter 5: Leadership that Influences the Desire to ChangeFraming a Reason for Change that Resonates Specifying Who Will Benefit from the ChangeBasing Every Decision on the Fundamental Reason for ChangeSummaryWhat It Is & What It Isn’t: Leadership that Influences the Desire to ChangeSchool Self-Assessment Tool: Does Your School Leadership Positively Influence the Desire to Change?Chapter 6: Leadership that Influences Belief in the Capacity to Improve and SucceedModeling Belief that All Students Will Improve and Succeed Finding and Celebrating Evidence that Cultivates BeliefConfronting DisbeliefSummaryWhat It Is & What It Isn’t: Leadership that Influences Belief in the Capacity to ImproveSchool Self-Assessment Tool: Does Your School Leadership Positively Chapter 7: Leadership that Influences Clarity about Roles and ResponsibilitiesClear, Consistent, and Regular Communication of ExpectationsPrioritizing and De-prioritizing Roles and ResponsibilitiesPromoting Inquiry and FlexibilitySummaryWhat It Is & What It Isn’t: Leadership that Influences Clarity about Roles and ResponsibilitiesSchool Self-Assessment Tool: Does Your School Leadership Influence Clarity about Roles and Responsibilities?Chapter 8: Leadership that Builds Capacity to SucceedIdentifying and Responding to the Reasons for the Lack of Effectiveness in Assuming Essential Roles and ResponsibilitiesDistributing Leadership to Build CapacityProviding Enough Support to Reduce Fear and Magnify EnthusiasmIntegrating Collaboration, Professional Development, Observation and FeedbackSummaryWhat It Is & What It Isn’t: Leadership that Builds Capacity to SucceedSchool Self-Assessment Tool: Does Your School Leadership Build Capacity to Succeed?EpilogueEquity and Excellence are AttainableThe Pursuit of Excellence and Equity is DifficultImplications for School Leader PreparationImplications for School Districts

"We have known for many years that leadership matters, and in this important new book we learn what school leaders do to make a difference for all children in urban schools. For educators, policymakers, and parents looking for ways to improve schools, this book will be an invaluable resource."-Pedro A. Noguera, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Education, Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, UCLA