Accountability is the Key: Unlocking School Potential through Enhanced Educational Leadership

(Paperback)

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School administration is more difficult today than at any time in our history. Whether addressing the needs of students, parents or staff at the building level, or facing the questions posed by the board of education, the media or the general public at the district level, administrators face constant calls for accountability. Demands for administrative accountability have steadily increased since the publication of A Nation at Risk in 1983. The most recent trend has been to tie administrative evaluations to student performance, increasing stress among administrators at all levels. The cumulative effect of three decades of challenges to administrative authority has undermined the publics view of educational administrators as experts.

The author examines the current state of public education, including the influence of private individuals and foundations, and alternative approaches to the educational delivery model and then highlights successful examples of public education. He concludes by considering input of current administrators and school board members and presents a strategy which educational administrators can employ to win back public confidence and support.

Reviews

Accountability Is the Key is a useful primer for all involved in the demanding and valuable work of improving our nations schools. Author John Hunt. . . .provides a thorough history of educational reform in the United States. . . .[T]he reader learns several vital skills collaborating with strength, understanding ones stakeholder groups and active listening. Hunt successfully blends anecdotes from schools nationwide with thought-provoking questions. * School Administrator *
Dr. John Hunt has provided aSimply excellent! Dr. Hunts reputation as both a scholar and successful administrator is demonstrated in this book by his clear understanding of accountability and other 21st Century challenges facing school leaders. Both administrators and administrators in training need to take heed of his excellent insights and recommendations.n outstanding resource for all school administrators. Dr. Hunt has taken school leadership to a higher level by providing avenues of successful methodology for understanding and improving school accountability. -- Jim Rosborg, president, Illinois Council of Professors in Education Administration (ICPEA), director of Master's in Education, McKendree University
Simply excellent! Dr. Hunts reputation as both a scholar and successful administrator is demonstrated in this book by his clear understanding of accountability and other 21st Century challenges facing school leaders. Both administrators and administrators in training need to take heed of his excellent insights and recommendations. -- Walter H. Warfield, Ph.D., executive director emeritus, Illinois Association of School Administrators
I recommend this book to any professional who wishes to better understand the complexities of improving accountability in education. -- Andrea Brown, Ph.D., member, Illinois State Board of Education
Dr. John Hunt proposes an optimistic, enthusiastic view of accountability for our nations public schools. New and experienced administrators will find this book both practical and inspirational. -- Anne Noland, retired superintendent, Forest Ridge School District 142, Partner, B.W.P. Associates, Ltd., Educational Leadership Search Consultants
At last, a book that accurately describes the ownership that all stakeholders must assume for school accountability. Dr. Hunts book should be required reading for every member of a school board or school accountability committee. -- Gregory N. Pierson, director emeritus, University Schools, Greeley, Colorado

Author Bio

John Hunt is an associate professor of educational leadership at Southern illinois University Edwardsville. He previously spent 34 years in Colorado, Illinois, Missouri and Washington as a teacher, principal, university laboratory school director, assistant superintendent and superintendent.