Practicing the Art of Leadership : A Problem-Based Approach to Implementing the ISLLC Standards

Prospective educational leaders get practical help for developing a sound understanding of ISLLC Standards and how to put them into practice effectively. The problem-based approach uses realistic scenarios patterned on those that appear on national examinations to show how theory relates to practice. The author covers the full spectrum of educational leadership theories and how they apply to today's actual classrooms and schools.

Reginald Leon Green is Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Memphis. He received the Ed.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Missouri—Columbia. He has served at the teacher, principal, deputy superintendent, and superintendent levels of K—12 education, and has been in higher education for 15 years. In 1977, Dr. Green was one of five educators chosen nationally to participate in the Rockefeller Foundation’s Superintendency Preparation Program, and, in 1996, he was selected as an associate to the Institute for Educational Renewal, under the leadership of Dr. John Goodlad.

 

Dr. Green has published a book on inner-city education and articles on educational restructuring, primary grade restructuring, gang violence, and other contemporary educational issues. He has completed national inquiries into nurturing characteristics that exist in schools and standards and assessment measures being established as part of the school reform movement. This work led to the development of the Center for Urban School Leadership at the University of Memphis, where Dr. Green administered programs for five years to prepare principals for roles in urban school leadership, using a nontraditional approach.

   

Most recently, Dr. Green distinguished himself with the publication of The Four Dimensions of Principal Leadership: A Foundation for Leading 21st Century Schools.  Currently, he teaches courses in educational leadership with a focus on instructional leadership, school reform, and models for turning around low performing schools. His research interests include school leadership, team building for effective teaching and learning, superintendent/board relations, school district restructuring, and the effects of nurturing characteristics on the academic achievement of students.

Chapter 1:  Standards Informing School Leadership                                                                                   

    The Emergence of Standards for School Leaders   

    The Use of Standards and Organizations that Create Them   

    Unpacking the ISLLC Standards   

    Other Organizations Using Standards   

    Transforming Standards into Practice   

    Leadership for Today’s Schools

    Chapter Summary   

    Moving Into Practice

    Acquiring an Understanding of Self

    Deepening Your Understanding

    Practice for The School Leader Licensure Assessment

    Suggested Readings   

    Websites   

 

Chapter 2:  Establishing a Framework for Leadership                                                                                 

    Leadership Defined

    Leadership:  A Historical Perspective

    Contingency and Situational Leadership Theories   

    Power and Authority  

    Bridging the Past and the Present   

    Leadership for Today’s Schools

 

The Scenarios

    The Consequences of Working in Isolation

    Chapter Summary   

    Moving into Practice   

    Acquiring an Understanding of Self   

    Deepening Your Understanding   

    Practice for The School Leader Licensure Assessment

    Suggested Readings   

    Websites   

 

Chapter 3:  Contemporary Theories and Approaches to School Leadership        

    The Role of 21^st Century School Leaders: Learning Leader

    The Responsibilities of 21^st Century Leaders

    The Four Dimensions of Leadership

    Servant Leadership

    Transformational Leadership

    The Moral Dimension of Leadership

    Distributive Leadership

    Synergistic Leadership

    Leader-Member Exchange Theory

    Other Contemporary Perspectives on Leadership

    The Role of Management in 21^st Century Schools

    Leadership for Today’s Schools

 

The Scenarios

    The New Principal at Frost   

     Changing the Way We Teach Science   

      Chapter Summary   

    Moving into Practice   

    Acquiring an Understanding of Self   

    Deepening Your Understanding   

    Practice for The School Leader Licensure Assessment

    Suggested Readings   

    Websites   

 

Chapter 4:   Organizational Influences on Leadership

    A Definition of Organization   

    Schools as Organizations   

    Traditional Theories Influencing Contemporary Practice   

    Contemporary Theories Informing Organizational Leadership    

    Learning Organizations

    The Influence of Perception

    Leadership for Today’s Schools

 

The Scenarios

    Understanding and Predicting Individual and Group Behavior in Schools   

     Addressing Dysfunctional Thinking   

    One of the Bus Contracts Has Been Canceled   

    Chapter Summary   

    Moving into Practice   

    Acquiring an Understanding of Self   

    Deepening Your Understanding

    Practice for the School Leader Licensure Assessment   

    Suggested Readings   

    Websites   

 

Chapter 5:  Enhancing Leadership Effectiveness Through Communication                                                

    The Importance of Effective Communication   

    The Communication Process   

    The Flow of Communication in Schools   

    Reducing Barriers to Effective Communication   

    Interpersonal Relationships

    Communication: The Rise and Fall of School Leaders

    Electronic Communication

    Leadership For Today’s Schools

 

The Scenarios

    “The Tardy Policy Killed Kato”   

    The New Professional Development Plan   

    Chapter Summary   

    Moving into Practice   

    Acquiring an Understanding of Self   

    Deepening Your Understanding   

    Practice for The School Leader Licensure Assessment

    Suggested Readings   

    Websites   

 

Chapter 6:   Decision Making: Quality and Acceptance                                                                                 

Defining Decision Making   

Approaches to Decision Making   

Autocratic or Participatory Decision Making   

Group Decision Techniques   

Barriers and Traps that Inhibit Decision Effectiveness   

Leadership for Today’s Schools

 

The Scenarios

    The Requested Change   

    Retaining the Student Recognition Program   

    Chapter Summary   

    Moving into Practice   

    Acquiring an Understanding of Self   

    Deepening Your Understanding   

    Practice for the School Leader Licensure Assessment

    Suggested Readings   

    Websites   

 

Chapter 7:  Managing Conflict in Today’s Schools                                                                                      

    A Definition of Conflict   

    The Nature of Conflict in Schools   

    Sources of Conflict in Schools   

    How Individuals Respond to Conflict   

    Role Conflict   

    Conflict Management   

    Leadership for Today’s Schools

 

The Scenarios

    The Discipline Plan   

    I Am Your New Principal   

    The Assignment of an Assistant Superintendent of Instruction   

    Chapter Summary   

    Moving into Practice   

    Acquiring an Understanding of Self   

    Deepening Your Understanding   

    Practice for the School Leader Assessment

    Suggested Readings   

    Websites   

 

Chapter 8:  Instructional Leadership and Change                                                                                       

    Instructional Leadership Defined   

    The Concept of Instructional Change   

    Theories and Practices Informing Change   

    Implementing and Sustaining the Change Initiative   

    Addressing the Needs of All Students  

    Leadership for Today’s Schools

The Scenarios

     Just Get Those Test Scores Up   

     The Strategic Planning Process   

    Chapter Summary   

    Moving into Practice   

    Acquiring an Understanding of Self   

    Deepening Your Understanding   

    Practice for the School Leaders Licensure Assessment   

    Suggested Readings   

    Websites   

 

Index