School Climate: Leading With Collective Efficacy

by Peter M. DeWitt

Overview

Build a positive school climate to impact students, teachers, and the community!

 

Is improving school climate on your to-do list? Do you think about it as a top-down directive or as a dialogue to build equity within the school? A healthy school environment should never be seen as an option, but instead supported as a must-have.

 

Peter DeWitt offers leaders practical high impact strategies to improve school climate, deepen involvement in student learning, and engage a broader family network. In addition to international vignettes focused on community stakeholders and research-based practices, this book features tools such as:

•  A leadership growth cycle to help leaders build their self-efficacy

•  A teacher observation cycle centered on building collective efficacy

•  An early warning system to identify potential at-risk students

•  Action steps following each chapter to apply to your own setting

•  Discussion questions for use in team environments

 

Establishing a supportive and inclusive school climate where professionals can take risks to improve the lives of students is vital to maximize learning in any school community.

"This is a fabulous book by a renowned expert in the field of leadership. Peter DeWitt explains the complex and credible in a way that is thought-provoking, challenging and inspiring. I love how he gives insights in what successful collaborative leadership is and shows how we can all build our skills and mindset for leading towards collective efficacy."

—James Nottingham, Challenging Learning author and creator of #TheLearningPit

JN Partnership LTD, Northumberland, United Kingdom

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506385976
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	07/24/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	232
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Peter DeWitt (Ed.D) is the founder and CEO of the Instructional Leadership Collective. He was a K-5 teacher for 11 years and a principal for 8 years. For the last 10 years, he has been facilitating professional learning nationally, and internationally, based on the content of many of his best-selling educational books. 

 

DeWitt′s professional learning relationships are a monthly hybrid approach that includes both coaching and the facilitating workshops on instructional leadership and collective efficacy. 

Additionally, in the Summer of 2021, DeWitt created a year long on-demand, asynchronous coaching course through Thinkific where he has created a community of learners that include k-12 educators in leadership positions. 

 

DeWitt′s work has been adopted at the state level, university level, and he works with numerous school districts, school boards, regional networks, ministries of education around North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the U.K.

 

Peter writes the Finding Common Ground column for Education Week, which has been in circulation since 2011. In 2020 DeWitt co-created Education Week′s A Seat At the Table where he moderates conversations with experts around the topics of race, gender, sexual orientation, research, trauma and many other educational topics. 

 

Additionally, DeWitt is the Series Editor for the Connected Educator Series (Corwin Press) and the Impact Series (Corwin Press) that include books by Viviane Robinson, Andy Hargreaves, Pasi Sahlberg, Yong Zhao and Michael Fullan.

 

He is the 2013 School Administrators Association of New York State′s (SAANYS) Outstanding Educator of the Year, and the 2015 Education Blogger of the Year (Academy of Education Arts&Sciences), and sits on numerous advisory boards. 

Peter is the author, co-author or contributor of numerous books. Click on title to purchase. They include:
Dignity for All: Safeguarding LGBT Students (Corwin Press. 2012).

Flipping Leadership Doesn′t Mean Reinventing the Wheel (Corwin Press. 2014)

Collaborative Leadership: 6 Influences That Matter Most (Corwin Press/Learning Forward).

School Climate: Leading With Collective Teacher Efficacy (Corwin Press/ Ontario Principals Council. 2017).

Coach It Further: Using the Art of Coaching to Improve School Leadership (Corwin Press. 2018). 

Instructional Leadership: Creating Practice Out Of Theory (Corwin Press. 2020).

Collective Leader Efficacy: Strengthening the Impact of Instructional Leadership Teams (Corwin Press. Learning Forward. 2021).

De-implementation: Creating the Space to Focus on What Works (Corwin Press. 2022). 

Leading with Intention - Developing self-awareness to fostering an unreasonable human interconnectedness to impact the school community (co-authored with Michael Nelson. Corwin Press. 2024).

Peter′s articles have appeared in educational research journals at the state, national and international level. His books have been translated into numerous languages. 

Some of the organizations Peter has worked with are the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), Learning Forward, National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), University of Oklahoma, Cognition Education (New Zealand), Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL), Victoria Department of Education (Australia), University of Rotterdam (Netherlands), Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA), Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), the National Education Association (NEA), New Brunswick Teacher′s Association (Canada), the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), Education Scotland (Scotland), Glasgow City Council (Scotland), Kuwait Technical College (Kuwait) the National Association of School Psychologists, ASCD, l’Association des directions et directions adjointes des écoles franco-ontariennes (ADFO), the Catholic Principals’ Council of Ontario (CPCO), and the Ontario Principals’ Council (OPC), National School Climate Center, GLSEN, PBS, NPR, BAM Radio Network, ABC, and NBC′s Education Nation.

Learn more about bringing Peter DeWitt to your school or district at petermdewitt.com

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction: A Tale of Two Leaders
Meet Tim
Meet Trudy
Leadership and School Climate
Chapter 1. What Is Collaborative Leadership?
The Hattie Effect
The Importance of Self-Efficacy
In Pursuit of Collaboration
What the Research Says
Collaborative Leadership Framework
Collaborative Leadership Growth Cycle
In the End
Chapter 2. School Climate: Setting Up a Safe Space to Collaborate
Why Does School Climate Matter?
Collaborative Leadership Framework for Teachers
Solving the Issues: Collaboration in Action
In the End
Chapter 3. Climate Change: Raising Student Self-Efficacy
Social-Emotional Learning
Minoritized Populations
The Early Warning System (EWS)
Using the Early Warning System
A Warning About the EWS
In the End
Chapter 4. Increasing Teacher Self-Efficacy
The Cycle of Collaborative Teacher Observation: A Review
Professional Learning and Development (PLD)
Teacher Leaders and School Climate
Building Collective Efficacy Through Collaborative Inquiry
Classroom Climate
In the End
Chapter 5. Building Collective Efficacy With Families
What Do We Expect From Families?
Family Engagement Communication
Do We Openly Listen to Families?
In the End
Chapter 6. Building Our Own Self-Efficacy
A Tale of Two Leaders
What’s Your Mindset?
How Do Leaders Increase Their Own Self-Efficacy?
In the End
Appendix
Collaborative Leadership Reflection Tool
Faculty Meeting Exit Ticket
Teacher Efficacy Scale (Short Form)
Collective Teacher Efficacy Scale
Leadership Self-Efficacy Scale
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

"Peter De Witt has provided us with a powerful and timely book on the growing phenomenon of ‘Collective Efficacy’. The Six Chapters contain a goldmine of ideas, resources, tools, surveys, action steps and reflective questions. What I like best is that the book is grounded equally in research and practice. This is an urgently needed book, and you will learn a lot from it! "

Michael Fullan

"School Climate: Leading With Collective Efficacy combines the research, anecdotes, reflection questions, and action steps necessary to become a high-impact, capacity-building school leader. De Witt's style, all-at-once relatable and grounded in the work of John Hattie and so many others, will prompt readers to consider the essential aspects to our work together to be catalysts for progress in teacher, and community learning, and in student achievement. "

Dennis J. Schug

"Peter’s book provides hands-on information on how collaborative leadership can help you create a school climate with the focus on learning. One in which all students (and teachers) feel they belong and are able to grow. Each chapter ends with action steps and questions to help me find the confidence to lead my team towards collective efficacy, including my own, without avoiding the tough topics. "

Claire Ohlenschlager

"As educators we consistently hear about the importance of collaboration, critical thinking, communication and creatively and in School Climate , Peter De Witt highlights the additional key element ‘Climate’. By providing action steps, discussion questions and reflective tools, this book helps guide teachers, leaders and those teachers who aspire to be leaders, to develop a positive school climate. Increased self-awareness encourages teachers to become more reflective and effective, which develops a more collaborative school climate. Providing effective strategies throughout, this book is relevant and applicable to all school contexts, teams and individuals. "

Andrea Stringer

"Where am I going? How am I going? Where to next? Simple, yet aspirational questions we ask our students to answer daily, but are we ready to ask this of ourselves in relation to our leadership of school climate and collective efficacy? Peter Dewitt is comprehensive, yet succinct, producing a practical guide for developing individual and collective efficacy in an inclusive, positive school climate. Research-based strategies, thought-provoking questions and effective tools at your fingertips, ready for immediate use. If you're after a good read, that's exactly what you'll get here....but if you're after an essential resource to empower your school community through the strength of belief that they can make learning happen, you will get that and more. "

Ben Walsh

"Collaborative Leadership: A Collective Efficacy Approach to Improving School Climate is an impressive follow-up to De Witt’s previous book, Collaborative Leadership: Six Influences That Matter Most. In his latest offering, De Witt offers practical yet deep advice and strategies for improving school climate for the benefit of students, families, teachers, and administrators. Throughout the book, he communicates by seamlessly combining research with his experiences and the accounts of other professionals in the field. Many ideas can be implemented tomorrow, and De Witt’s main points are those with which any educational leader could identify. If you are looking for a book to assist you on your journey to advancing your leadership abilities, your school, and/or your district, look no further! "

Ross Cooper

"Supported by current educational research, and grounded in powerful leadership narratives, Dewitt offers a compelling case for leaders and learning communities to collaborate to achieve collective efficacy for student success. The practical strategies, research citations, conceptual frameworks, rubrics, and self-assessment tools provide leaders with practical instruments for reflection, setting intentions, securing accountability, and measuring the impact of a collaborative climate and culture. "

Jill Ott

"If you are a fan of cooperative learning like I am and believe in the power of team work, this book is for you. Whether you are a district leader, school principal or classroom teacher, you will find numerous examples and practical ideas that Peter De Witt offers in this book useful. Collaborative Leadership shows how one plus one can sometimes be three in collectively led schools. "

Pasi Sahlberg

"In School Climate: Leading With Collective Efficacy , Peter De Witt delivers in print what he so readily delivers in person — clarity and coherence around a most important topic. As a former high school principal and district leader, De Witt leaves me with both the confidence that I can do this, and the understanding of how I can make progress, starting today. This is a must read for any school leader. "

Kerry Alcorn

"Peter De Witt gives school leaders exactly what they need, research-based school improvement strategies that work effectively in schools today. Our instructional leadership teams, working with Peter over the past year building teachers’ self-efficacy and collective teacher efficacy, are now co-constructing a school culture where everyone not only grows, but thrives. School Climate: Leading With Collective Efficacy is a roadmap to this proven approach to student success. "

Matthew Bolduc

"This is a fabulous book by a renowned expert in the field of leadership. Peter De Witt explains the complex and credible in a way that is thought-provoking, challenging and inspiring. I love how he gives insights in what successful collaborative leadership is and shows how we can all build our skills and mindset for leading towards collective efficacy. "

James Nottingham

"After reading De Witt's book on collaborative leadership and school climate, my own self-efficacy improved. I closed the cover feeling empowered and eager to share what I've learned. The discussion questions bring practicality to the possibility of implementation and excitement about the potential results. "

Sera Deo

"While schools focus on common standards, data analysis, and increasing achievement, Peter De Witt explains the critical nature of school climate and why, as the "5th C,” it is imperative for school success. As a school leader, Peter often asked thought-provoking questions, engaged in challenging conversations, and encouraged reflection, much as he does in Collaborative Leadership: A Collective Efficacy Approach to Improving School Climate. Through interesting vignettes, personal experience, and a variety of research, Peter provides a practical approach for growing a rich, safe environment. "

Melissa J. Weatherwax