Key Strategies to Improve Schools

School improvement initiatives are often the focus of political agendas, professional conferences, and publications. While a plethora of school improvement resources and techniques exist, most explanations for employing school improvement strategies in differing contexts are extremely vague at best and non-existent at worst. Here, author Edward Harris explains and illustrates strategic, practical approaches for adapting and applying research-based school improvement strategies. While consideration is given to the principal's role in the school, the notion of school leadership is viewed in broader terms and includes teacher roles as well. The interrelationship of organizational culture and school leadership is also a key component of this book. One of the goals is to bridge the gap between the "theory" and "practice" of school leadership. Harris provides an explanation of Mary Douglas's typology of grid and group, substantive analytical tools and procedures to examine one's social context and assess school culture, and practical examples and suggestions for contextualizing and adapting school improvement strategies. This book features in-depth, practical applications and explanations of the following school improvement strategies: * Increasing student engagement and motivation * Providing focused, sustained professional development * Implementing organizational and management practices * Building links * Monitoring and accelerating improvement This book is useful for teachers, administrators, and anyone involved in teacher leadership preparation programs.