Synopses & Reviews
Student-Centered Leadership offers a timely and thoughtful resource for school leaders who want to turn their ideals into action. Written by educational leadership expert Viviane Robinson, the book shows leaders how they can make a bigger difference to the quality of teaching and learning in their school and ultimately improve their students' performance.
This book is based not on fad or fashion but on the best available evidence about the impact of different types of leadership on student outcomes. The book includes examples of five types of leadership practice as well as rich accounts of the knowledge and skills that leaders need to employ them with confidence.
Filled with practical lessons, clear information, and much inspiration, Robinson encourages leaders to experiment with changing how they lead so they can transform their schools for the better.
Student-Centered Leadership is part of the Jossey-Bass Leadership Library in Education series.
Praise for Student-Centered Leadership
"Student-Centered Leadership shines with clarity and practical, powerful ideas. Add this book to your leadership library."Michael Fullan, author, The Six Secrets of Change and Leading in a Culture of Change
"Viviane Robinson's compelling book is both evidence based and profoundly practical."Steve Munby, chief executive, National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services, England
"This book will be an equally important resource for individual school leaders, professional developers, and administrator-preparation programs. There will be two copies on my shelfone to loan and one for my own reference."Karen Seashore Louis, Regents Professor, University of Minnesota
Synopsis
Busy school leaders need practical research-based guidance about effective educational leadership: the particular types of leadership practice that have the most pay-off in terms of improved academic and social learning of their students. This book clearly explains how leaders can create the conditions for improved teaching and learning in their schools. Expert author Viviane Robinson presents five dimensions of effective educational leadership. These five dimensions are clearly described, richly illustrated and their principles explained so that school leaders can intelligently adapt them for use in their own schools.
About the Author
Viviane Robinson is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and academic director of its Centre for Educational Leadership. She is the author of numerous articles and five books.
Table of Contents
Figures and Tables vii
The Author ix
Acknowledgments xi
1 The “What” and the “How” of Student-Centered Leadership 1
2 Three Capabilities for Student-Centered Leadership 21
3 Dimension One: Establishing Goals and Expectations 45
4 Dimension Two: Resourcing Strategically 61
5 Dimension Three: Ensuring Quality Teaching 81
6 Dimension Four: Leading Teacher Learning and Development 103
7 Dimension Five: Ensuring an Orderly and Safe Environment 125
8 Putting Education Back into Educational Leadership 143
References 157
Index 167
Figures and Tables
Figures
Figure 1.1 Five Dimensions of Student-Centered Leadership 9
Figure 1.2 Five Dimensions Supported by Three Leadership Capabilities 16
Figure 2.1 How Relational Trust Works in Schools 34
Figure 2.2 Two Ineffective Strategies for Dealing with Performance Problems 37
Figure 3.1 How Goal Setting Works 47
Figure 5.1 The Ladder of Inference 99
Figure 5.2 Questions for Checking the Validity of Inferences 100
Figure 6.1 Two Competing Theories About the Use of Data About Reading Achievement 117
Figure 6.2 Two Strategies for Leading Teacher Change 118
Tables
Table 2.1 The Relationship Between Three Principals’ Pedagogical Understandings and Their Conduct of Classroom Observations 25
Table 2.2 A Problem-Solving Skill: Identifying Solution Requirements 29
Table 2.3 Principals’ Problem Solving: A Comparison of Expert and Typical Principals 33
Table 2.4 An Open-to-Learning Approach to Communicating Performance Concerns 40
Table 2.5 Key Components of an Open-to-Learning Conversation About a Performance Issue 41
Table 3.1 Goal Setting: Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them 56
Table 4.1 Some Criteria for the Design of Smart Tools 72
Table 5.1 Questions for Inquiry into the Quality of Teaching 92
Table 8.1 Ambivalent Leadership of a Team Meeting 153