You might want to incorporate the book, Breakthrough Principals, into your professional learning plan. It is described by its publisher, Wiley, as a “bridge the achievement gap with proven strategies for student success.” The book is written by three members of the senior management team at New Leaders, a school reform organization that works with principals to turn around high-need public schools. Here’s how they describe their book:
Breakthrough Principals: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Stronger Schools debunks the myth of the ‘superhero’ principal by detailing the common actions and practices of leaders at our nation’s fastest-gaining public schools. Based on New Leaders’ Transformational Leadership Framework—developed through in-depth study of more than 100 high-gaining, high-poverty schools—the book distills findings into a practical, action-focused plan for diagnosing school needs and implementing structures, systems and practices that accelerate student achievement.
Brought to life by case studies of principals—including many trained by New Leaders—who have led dramatic gains in student achievement, the book leads readers step-by-step through processes for increasing the quality of teaching and learning; improving school culture; attracting and supporting high-performing teachers; and involving families to help students achieve.
Whether principals work in a turnaround environment, or are seeking to make a good school great, Breakthrough Principals lays out the concrete practices that have been proven to work, unveiling the details behind our nation’s educational success stories and providing a roadmap for transformative improvement.
Available in either paperback or e-book.