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From Good Schools to Great Schools
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From Good Schools to Great Schools
What Their Principals Do Well

Edited by:

Foreword by Marge Hobbs



July 2012 | 184 pages | Corwin
From Good Schools to Great Schools reflects the leadership concepts presented in James C. Collins' influential book, Good to Great, and explores how Collins' research and identified effective leadership characteristics can be applied to the public school arena. Susan P. Gray and William A. Streshly show how we can rethink the way headteachers are trained and illustrate how to incorporate key leadership qualities into administrative preparation curriculum and ongoing professional development for leaders. The book focuses on the specific leadership qualities of school principals that positively affect student achievement and meet school improvement mandates and presents profiles of six successful headteachers that demonstrate how to actualize these qualities in practice.
 
List of Figures and Tables
 
Foreword by Marge Hobbs
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
1. We Know What to Do, so Why Do We Fail?
The "Good to Great" Research Project

 
Leadership Characteristics of Level 5 Executives

 
Leadership Behaviors of Level 5 Executives

 
Two Behaviors From the Collins Study

 
Great School Executives Build Relationships

 
The School Principals in Our Study

 
Leadership Qualities Exhibited

 
Reflection

 
 
2. First, Build Relationships
A Behavior Different From the Behaviors of the Level 5 Executive

 
Mr. Bond and Field Elementary School

 
Highly Successful Principals and Building Relationships

 
Comparison Principals and Building Relationships

 
Reflection

 
Suggestions for Principals

 
 
3. Exercise Your Professional Will, but Stay Humble
Issues With Identifying Personal Humility in School Principals

 
Personal Humility: The Evidence Differs

 
Shy and Self-Effacing Leaders

 
Unreserved and Enthusiastic Leaders

 
Comparison Principals

 
Reflection

 
Suggestions for Principals

 
 
4. Credit Others, Accept the Blame
Additional Data for Compelling Modesty

 
Evidence for Sustainability of Greatness

 
Evidence for Compelling Modesty

 
Mr. Unpretentious and Bay View Elementary School

 
Highly Successful Principals and Compelling Modesty

 
Comparison Principals and Compelling Modesty

 
Reflection

 
Suggestions for Principals

 
 
5. Be Ambitious First for the School's Success
Ambition for the Success of the School Is Key

 
Ms. Aspiration and Mission Elementary School

 
Highly Successful Principals and Ambition for the School's Success

 
Comparison Principals and Ambition for the School's Success

 
Reflection

 
Suggestions for Principals

 
 
6. Resolve to Do What Needs Doing . . . Then Do It!
Application of Unwavering Resolve to Schools

 
Ms. Persevere and Mountain High Elementary School

 
Comparison Principals and Resolve

 
Reflection

 
Suggestions for Principals

 
 
7. Get the Right People on the Bus
School Leaders' Difficulties in Getting the Right People

 
An Example of Getting the Right People

 
Highly Successful Principals and "First Who . . . Then What"

 
Comparison Principals and "First Who . . . Then What"

 
Reflection

 
Suggestions for Principals

 
 
8. Confront the Brutal Facts
Schools Face Challenges

 
Brutal Facts Tackled by the Principals in Our Study

 
Highly Successful Principals and Confronting the Brutal Facts

 
Comparison Principals and Confronting the Brutal Facts

 
Reflection

 
Suggestions for Principals

 
 
9. Know What Drives Your Educational Engine and Be Passionate About It
Academics Take Issue

 
Our Term: Educational Engine

 
Mr. Focus and Pines Elementary School

 
Highly Successful Principals and the Hedgehog Concept

 
Comparison Principals and the Hedgehog Concept

 
Reflection

 
Suggestions for Principals

 
 
10. Build a Culture of Discipline
The Concept Is Not New

 
Difficulties in Achieving a Culture of Discipline

 
Ms. Discipline and Eagle Elementary School

 
Highly Successful Principals and a Culture of Discipline

 
Comparison Principals and a Culture of Discipline

 
Reflection

 
Suggestions for Principals

 
 
11. Know Commonalities and Differences Between Public Schools and the Private Sector
Disparities Between Public Schools and the Private Sector

 
What We Have Learned From the Research on Leadership

 
Reflection

 
Suggestions for Principals

 
 
12. Support Research-Based Principal Preparation
The ISLLC Standards

 
The Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning

 
In Search of Excellence

 
Beware of Business Norms

 
Administrator Preparation Program Reform

 
A Final Comment

 
Reflection

 
Suggestions for Architects of Principal Preparation Programs

 
 
Resource A: Research Methodology
 
Resource B: Interview Participant Selection
 
Resource C: Principal Interview Questions Derived From Collins' (2001) CEO Interview Questions and Demographic Questionnaire
 
References
 
Suggested Readings
 
Index

"A useful resource for programs dedicated to training new administrators as well as for principals who want to improve the collaborative cultures of their schools. It will drive the thinking of principals and teachers who are committed to school improvement."

John Pieper, Fifth-Grade Teacher
Webster Stanley Elementary School, Oshkosh, WI

"Lots of food for thought. The ideas and strategies will nudge people in the right direction and help administrators be brave enough to either bring about change or resist change. This would be a good book for a principal study group."

Mary Johnstone, Principal
Rabbit Creek Elementary School, Anchorage, AK

"Links Jim Collins’s work to success in the school setting. The examples of the school leaders who were able to lead effective, systemic change are powerful."

Brenda Dean, Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Hamblen County Department of Education, TN

"This book is timely and hits all the hot topics."

Ted Zigler, Professor
University of Cincinnati

"These successful principals move beyond platitudes and optimistic denial and learn to face the facts of what is necessary to improve schools—then they do it. Among other things, these star principals learn to work with their teachers and their union rather than around them."

Charles Taylor Kerchner, Hollis P. Allen Professor
Claremont Graduate University

"The authors present evidence that supports a new paradigm for apprenticing school administrators-one that differs from the traditional model of un-researched best practices and standards. School leaders can use this book to inspire activities that will transform their schools and reframe their professional behaviors."

Sirreadalot.org, March 2008

"From qualities shared by superior schools and leaders to applying leadership principles and school-tested routines, this book is packed with insights."

The Bookwatch, April 2008
Midwest Book Review

Susan Penny Gray

Susan Penny Gray, PhD has been an educator for more than 40 years in Indiana and California, including 15 years as Director of Curriculum Services for the San Marcos Unified School District in San Marcos, California and 7 years as a member of the Educational Leadership faculty at San Diego State University. During her tenure as Director of Curriculum Services she was responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of exemplary programs recognized throughout California in Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, History-Social Science, and Science for grades K through 12. She was also responsible for effective teacher and... More About Author

William A. Streshly

William A. Streshly is Emeritus Professor of Educational Leadership in the College of Education at San Diego State University (SDSU). Prior to coming to SDSU in 1990, he spent 25 years in public school administration, including five years as principal of a large suburban high school and 15 years as superintendent of several California school districts varying in size from 2,500 to 25,000 students. In addition to his numerous publications in the professional journals, Dr. Streshly is author or co-author of five practical books for school leaders, The Top Ten Myths in Education, Avoiding Legal Hassles (two editions), Teacher Unions and... More About Author

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