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Deliberate Excellence
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Deliberate Excellence
Three Fundamental Strategies That Drive Educational Leadership

First Edition
  • S. Dallas Dance - President & CEO, The DDance Group; former Superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools

Foreword by Rod Paige



January 2018 | 160 pages | Corwin

Leadership isn’t just a title

What could you do with a $1 billion budget if you had 100,000+ students and one of the largest school systems in America?  Imagining is his reality. Learn along from Dallas Dance as he shares the successful change efforts he employed to transform Baltimore Public Schools.  

Deliberate Excellence is a true story of success in a challenging school environment that delivers great insight and inspiration. Readers will be moved and changed by three key success principles:

  • Establishing equity over equality by providing exactly what individuals need to be successful
  • Understanding change, how it happens, and what one needs to make it so
  • Knowing people deeply and how that leads to accomplishment and organizational change  

Be inspired by this passion for progress and the drive to maximize latent potential in all people.

"For 20 years, Dr. Dallas Dance has been an inspiration to me as a leader. He understands that true leaders inspire others to lead, galvanize their audience, and provide practical applications to difficult situations. Regardless of the political climate, Dr. Dance has always kept students first. After reading Deliberate Excellence, educators will take away successful strategies to increase student achievement."
Dr. John B. Gordon III, Chief of Schools
Chesterfield County Public Schools, Chesterfield, VA

"Leaders are desperate for books that offer techniques from educational leaders who still practice and hone their craft from the trenches and a proven record of success. Dallas Dance offers educational leaders a unique, candid, and welcome perspective."
LaQuita Outlaw, Principal – Grades 6-8
Bay Shore Middle School, Bay Shore, NY

 

 
Foreword
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
INTRODUCTION
 
Success Principle 1
 
LEADING FOR EQUITY: FOCUSING ON EACH CHILD, EVERY DAY
Know What Your Values Are

 
Demonstrate a Strong Appreciation for People

 
Addressing Equity Takes Leadership

 
Addressing Equity Will Guarantee Resistance

 
Equity Is the Work, Not an “Add-on” to the Work

 
Students Want Us to Focus on Equity, Not Equality

 
 
Success Principle 2
 
LEADING THE CHANGE: IMPLEMENTING SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES
Understand the History of the Organization

 
Acknowledge the Current State of the Organization

 
Understand the “Players” Within the Organization

 
Ensure People Understand What Change Means

 
Have an Effective Strategy to Implement Change

 
Success Principle 3

 
LEADING THROUGH COMMUNICATION: TELLING YOUR OWN STORY

 
Communicate Openly, Honestly, and in a Timely Manner

 
Communicate Your Story, or Someone Else Will!

 
Organize Your Communication Efforts

 
Individualize Your Communications

 
Use Every Available Resource to Communicate

 
View Communication as a Two-Way Street

 
Have an Open-Door Policy

 
 
CONCLUSION
 
Avoiding Pitfalls
Mistake 1: Knowing All the Answers

 
Mistake 2: Bashing the Previous Leadership

 
Mistake 3: Speaking Before You Think

 
 
Index

Shaun Dallas Dance

Internationally-renowned educator and speaker, Dr. S. Dallas Dance envisions and leads change that creates opportunities for all young people—including students of color and those living in poverty—to thrive as critical thinkers, thoughtful leaders, and lifelong learners. His calling is motivating teams of all sizes to develop young minds and working with leaders and organizations to build capacity to do greater work for all of the individuals within their community. Numerous national awards and board appointments—from institutions including the White House, Microsoft, and ASCD—recognize his impact on organizational culture, rigorous... More About Author

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ISBN: 9781506392011
$28.95

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