The Challenge for School Leaders: A New Way of Thinking about Leadership

by Ronald Warwick

Overview

The Challenge for School Leaders identifies essential systems and their elements that enhance the school leader’s knowledge and skill to continually improve the academic program through a faculty collaborative process. The critical systems addressed are system elements, communication, curriculum, instruction, assessment, and collaborative decision making to determine causes of nonproductive systems and solutions to remove and solve these issues.

The text includes a pre- and post-school assessment survey process that involves the faculty and administrators in evaluating their school, and identifying critical areas that need improvement. This survey has been statistically affirmed for high reliability and validity with respect to academic system behaviors correlated with high academic student performance.

The continual improvement philosophy is the foundation of this text and collaboration is the method by which this concept is achieved. The value of each person is critical, and everyone is needed to improve the academic systems to serve the needs of the students and the faculty. The communication linkage system as well as curriculum-instruction-assessment integration is addressed and is essential to the improvement process. The analysis and improvement of the instructional process is the key to enhancing student academic performance. The concepts and practical suggestions along with the knowledge and skills to build an effective academic system for students is the aim of this study.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475810943
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	11/28/2014
Series:	The Concordia University Leadership Series
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ron Warwick is professor of Educational Leadership at Concordia University: Chicago. He has been a high school math teacher, public school administrator, university professor and administrator. He has presented and consulted throughout the U.S., Europe and Korea over the past 50 years.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter One: Continual Improvement
Chapter Two: An Overview of Essential Systems
Chapter Three: Communication System
Chapter Four: Curriculum System
Chapter Five: Instructional System
Chapter Six: Assessment System
Chapter Seven: Professional Behaviors and Values
Appendix 1: School Academic Systems Assessment Survey
Appendix 2: Decision-Making Process
References
About the Author

Editorial Reviews

As a current principal of an elementary school, I find the information in this book to be highly relevant and useful in fulfilling my leadership mission. The philosophy of continual improvement is a critical approach to ensure the continued success of a school, by way of analyzing performance results, identifying challenges and implementing solutions. This book provides guidance on applying and maintaining communication processes that build collaborative professional relationships, along with a practical approach to establishing vital systems that set the stage for effective instruction and student success. As a practitioner, I really appreciate the contemporary leadership methodology!

Ana Fuhrer

As a new principal in a public high school, this book offers exactly what I need! This fresh take on school leadership offers a concise explanation of the challenges today’s school leader’s face. The book is a brilliant application of the continual improvement process and presents valuable strategies to bring about institutional change. The Challenge for School Leaders is the perfect solution for leaders wanting to make a difference in the lives of young people through better schools.

Jonathan L. Guillaume

Rather than decry the value of continual-improvement intentions, [Warwick] provides strategies for leaders for inspiring and measuring improvement in their schools.. .. Some aspects of the material presented in The Challenge for School Leaders can be intimidating, but so, too, can real life assessment in which authentic goals toward improvement are embedded. The primary benefit for readers is the effort Warwick has made in detailing processes for getting this kind of work completed in a timely manner. There is opportunity for pioneering leaders to adapt recommendations to suit the needs of their own schools, and the guidelines can help all those engaged in these endeavors.

Global Education Review

Warwick nails the needs of today’s leading leaders. Data is now in hand to direct the learning in our schools. This book systematically leads educators to rethink, review and restructure the learning of our students based upon data relating to each student’s needs. A must read for leaders and deliverers of learning in the classrooms.

D. William Dodds

Dr.Warwick’s passion for the importance of educational leadership is evident in this book that presents W. Edwards Deming’s work of continual improvement in a relevant, practical manner. Recognizing that leaders and staff members are at the core of school improvement, Dr. Warwick brings the merits of inclusive collaboration and data analysis to the forefront. His ideas are steeped in educational research while focusing on immediate, practical application to get results.

Patricia Planic

There is a myriad of demands placed on educational leaders today. Because of this, knowing where to start can be an overwhelming task for many. Dr. Warwick helps educational leaders navigate the complex process of improving school and providing excellent educational experiences for our children by teaching them how to focus on continually refining the key systems that comprise their schools via the continual improvement philosophy. His knowledge in this field is second to none and his insight is valuable to anyone who has been given the incredible responsibility of leading a school or school district.

Josh Reitz

For anyone who knows Dr. Warwick, he is the antithesis of the status quo. Ron has spent a career echoing the constant need for educational improvement. This book is a blueprint to the necessary changes we must all embrace if our educational system in America is to improve. With conviction and passion, Dr. Warwick challenges us to make the substantive changes we desperately need in education today.

Michael Roberts