Creating Connections for Better Schools: How Leaders Enhance School Culture

by Fiore, Douglas J.

• ISBN13: 9781930556058
• ISBN10: 1930556055
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Eye on Education

Summary

This book demonstrates that student achievement depends on school culture, the one element of your school at the foundation of everything that happens there. School culture is the system of beliefs, values, and expectations that governs the feelings and actions of everybody there. This book shows how principals can build relationships and connections to enhance school culture. Practical and accessible, this book provides guidelines which will show you how to: - communicate with teachers, students, and parents on a regular basis - be "visible" - recognize, utilize and empower your faculty

Table of Contents

About the Author	vi
Preface	xi
Introduction: The Relevance of Positive School Cultures	xiii
Examining School Culture: Strengthening Connections	1	(18)
Getting Us All on the Same Page	4	(4)
Culture/Climate	8	(2)
Why Focus on Culture?	10	(2)
Contrasting Cultures	12	(6)
Summary of Key Points	18	(1)
Improving the Culture and Enjoying Student Achievement	19	(18)
Establishing the Link	22	(3)
Impacting Student Achievement Through Culture	25	(4)
Learning From Each Other	29	(5)
Westwood Basics Plus School	30	(1)
Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School	31	(3)
Let's Get Started	34	(2)
Summary of Key Points	36	(1)
Creating, Fostering, and Sustaining a Positive Culture: The Principal's Role in Developing Connections	37	(18)
Three Principals	40	(5)
Principal 1	40	(2)
Principal 2	42	(1)
Principal 3	43	(2)
Putting It All Together	45	(2)
Ten Key Principal Behaviors	47	(6)
Summary of Key Points	53	(2)
Recognizing and Utilizing Teacher Leaders: Pioneering a Cultural Revolution	55	(18)
The Classroom is the Key	57	(6)
The Teacher as Leader	63	(2)
Giving Teachers Responsibility	65	(3)
Building the Teacher/Student Relationship	68	(4)
Summary of Key Points	72	(1)
Embracing Your Most Powerful Stakeholders: Parents	73	(18)
Contemporary Parents: A Snapshot	75	(3)
Parental Involvement and Student Achievement	78	(3)
Parents---Visitors or Criminals?	81	(2)
Utilizing Parents to Improve School Culture	83	(1)
Parent Advisory Councils	84	(2)
Parent Resource Rooms	86	(3)
Summary of Key Points	89	(2)
Helping Ourselves By First Helping Others: the Student's Role	91	(18)
Improving Student Achievement	97	(3)
Involving Students in Other Ways	100	(4)
Students: Integral Parts of School Culture	104	(3)
Involving Students in All Schools	107	(1)
Summary of Key Points	108	(1)
Getting to the Heart: Building Community Schools	109	(18)
The Community Principal	113	(3)
Business Partnerships	116	(2)
Community Schools	118	(3)
The Coalition for Community Schools	121	(2)
The School Leader in a Community School	123	(3)
Summary of Key Points	126	(1)
Building Confidence, Inspiring Trust: The Future of Public Education in America	127	(16)
Building Confidence	131	(2)
Sometimes the Truth Hurts	133	(3)
Inspiring Trust	136	(3)
The Future of Education	139	(1)
Conclusions	140	(2)
Summary of Key Points	142	(1)
References	143