The Lifeworld of Leadership: Creating Culture, Community, and Personal Meaning in Our Schools

by Thomas J. Sergiovanni (Trinity University)

• ISBN13: 9780787950286
• ISBN10: 0787950289
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-08-01
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

"Sergiovanni's book gives life and meaning to the words 'lifeworld' and 'systemsworld'--bringing a new and insightful perspective to the discourse on school reform--and challenges school leaders to gain a more holistic view of students and interaction in the teaching-learning process."--Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director, The National Association of Secondary School Principals"Once again, Sergiovanni has used his remarkable and unique insight to bring clarity to a major challenge of current leadership--the use of standards. He has managed to contextualize the issue of standards, through looking at the 'lifeworld' of schools, in a way no one else has. This is a fresh and thought-provoking take on a subject school leaders must understand."--Paul D. Houston, executive director, American Association of School AdministratorsThis inspiring book calls for leaders who act according to the unique culture, values, and needs of their schools. Tom Sergiovanni examines why this "lifeworld" is so vital to school success and shows how local leadership can make the difference in creating healthy, rigorous schools. He explores the crucial link between school character and school improvement. By building institutional character at the local level, principals, superintendents, and policymakers can not only protect the lifeworld of their schools but also craft an educational system based on layered loyalties and shared accountability.

Author Biography

THOMAS J. SERGIOVANNI is Lillian Radford Professor of Education and Administration, senior fellow at the Center for Educational Leadership, and founder of the Trinity Principal's Center at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He is the author of several books, including Leadership for the Schoolhouse, Building Community in Schools, and Moral Leadership.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii	(14)
The Author	xxi
1. The Lifeworld at the Center	1	(16)
2. School Character, School Effectiveness	17	(18)
3. Competence and Caring in Action	35	(24)
4. Community in a Diverse Society	59	(16)
5. Layered Standards and Shared Accountability	75	(18)
6. Whole Child, Whole School, Holistic Assessment	93	(30)
7. Teachers: Keys to School Improvement	123	(22)
8. Deep Change and the Power of Localism	145	(20)
9. Leadership, Democracy, and the Lifeworld	165	(18)
Appendix A: Excerpt from an External Review	183	(6)
Appendix B: Excerpts from an External Review	189	(10)
Endnotes	199	(2)
References	201	(12)
Index	213