Making Sense of Social Networks in Schools

by Terrence E. Deal, Ted Purinton, Daria Cook Waetjen

Overview

"It is refreshing to see a volume dedicated first and foremost to understanding and building human relationships in schools. By developing strong networks, schools can foster open systems committed to distributive leadership and exemplary academic outcomes."
—Sharon Conley, Professor
University of California, Santa Barbara

Discover how to navigate your school′s social networks to maximize communication and collaboration!

Social networks reflect the usually invisible relationships that control the flow of information and power within a school. This compelling guide provides school leaders with an understanding of the real relationships within their schools and how to use their social savvy to promote school goals.

This resource examines the types of social networks typically found in schools and provides samples of social network maps, steps for developing your own maps, and practical advice for managing social networks effectively. Learn how to leverage the power of:

• Task networks determined by work roles and organizational structure
• Friendship networks based on relationships between staff members
• Power networks that can influence opinions and resources
• Culture networks that can help unite staff

By understanding the many relationships that contribute to a school′s culture, leaders can cultivate innovative ideas, enhance teacher capacity, manage conflict, and get things done.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452294940
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	12/03/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Terrence E. Deal is the Irving R. Melbo Professor at University of Southern California’s Rossier School. He is an internationally known lecturer and author who has written numerous books on leadership and organizations. In addition to those written with Lee Bolman, he is the coauthor of Corporate Cultures (with Alan Kennedy, 1982) and Shaping School Culture (with Kent Peterson, 1999).
Ted Purinton is assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at National-Louis University in Chicago. His research interests are in organizational theory, educational policy, and innovation diffusion. He has worked with various organizations in their explorations of their own internal social networks.
Daria Cook Waetjen is a veteran teacher, special educator, and administrator. Currently at the Orange County Department of Education in Southern California, her focus is on organizational innovations and school reform.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Foreword by Guilbert Hentschke
Preface: What′s in a Song?
Lyrics to Green Door
Introduction: The New Principal Encounters a Locked Door: Through a Smoky Cloud
Outside Looking In
Overview of the Book
1. A Glimmer of Networks: Saw an Eyeball Peepin′
Business Research
Predominance of Networks
Impact on Schools
Misreading Clues
The Context of Leadership
Managing Networks
Finding Direction
2. Network Basics: Green Door, What’s That Secret You’re Keepin’
Nuts and Bolts
Network Players
Whole Networks
The Key to the Green Door
3. Limitations of Task Networks: Door Slammed, Hospitality′s Thin There
Searching for the Boss
Turned Down by the Boss
No Access
Finding Access
Awareness
Resources
Stephanie Relaxes the Rule Book
4. Friendship Networks: The Happy Crowd
Finding Friends
Someone Who Understands Me
Someone Convenient
The Impact of Comfortable Connections
Emotional Contagion
Informal Induction
Jasmine’s Cost-Benefit Decision
Friendship and Productivity
Antipathy and Its Problems
The Blessings and Curses of Friendship Networks
5. Power Networks: Wish They’d Let Me In
Politics as Usual
Power Stars
Power as Perception
Power Players
Baskets and Eggs
Working the Power Networks
Principals as Politicians
6. Culture Networks: They Laugh a Lot Behind the Green Door
Stories and Traditions
Ties That Bind
The Way Things Are Done Around Here
Tribal Leaders, Mavericks, Mavens, Gossips, and Spies
The Door Ajar
Cultural Players
Trust Thy Neighbor
The Spirit Moves Her: A Principal Assumes the Dais
The Ghost of Garvey
A Bonding Moment
Reflecting on Garvey’s Green Door
7. Scoping and Working the Networks: Midnight, One More Night Without Sleepin’
Promises and Caveats of Network Study
Beyond Individual Players
Learning Communities, Culture, and Communication
Making Sense of School Networks
Opening a Can of Worms: Big Brother or the Future of Leadership
Inside the Green Door
Appendix: Research on Networks in Sociology, Business, and Education
Network Literature
Network and Related Literature in Education
Our Endeavors in Social Network Analysis
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

"The important message of this book—that tasks and people are important, but an understanding of power relationships and cultural bonds are crucial to effective leadership—is a message that must be understood by all who work to improve learning for all students in our schools. "

Stuart E. Gothold

"The authors have created a useful, practical, and compelling guide for school and district leaders as they navigate the complexities of school environments. They skillfully guide the reader to manage the school culture in ways to support student achievement and overall school improvement. The authors provide tools, strategies, and resources for site and district administrators to collect and analyze data about one of the most important and often-ignored resources: social capital. "

Delores B. Lindsey

"Provides an intriguing insight into the reality and power of the human relationships that exist in our schools. This work offers alternative strategies for getting things done just as it proposes a new paradigm for thinking about the fundamental organization of the school. Readers will think about how they can lead most effectively with a new and challenging perspective. "

Joanne Rooney

"In an era of accountability and simplistic management 'quick fixes,' it is refreshing to see a volume dedicated first and foremost to understanding and building human relationships in schools. By developing strong networks, schools can foster open systems committed to distributive leadership and exemplary academic outcomes. "

Sharon Conley

"A unique book in that it makes the invisible but powerful human dynamics among staff members within a school more transparent and user-friendly. "

Joy St. Pierre