Qualities for Effective Leadership: School Leaders Speak

(Paperback)

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Description

Public education is the vehicle that protects the core values of a democratic society. In the 21st century, leaders who possess the skills and disposition to defend the tower are needed to articulate an educational vision, establish creative problem solving, and foster continuous improvement. This book, which provides information about leadership from eight practicing leaders, addresses these issues.

Qualities for Effective Leaders:
Discusses the complexities of leadership
Articulates the need for strong moral leadership
Stresses the need to create learning communities and describes how they work
Portrays the leader as an anthropologist
Identifies the problems that confront school leaders and offers strategies to solve them
Presents the case for financial adequacy for public education

Exemplary leaders must develop skills in listening, inspiring others, embracing the leader's vision, and being forthright when addressing issues. The focus on democratic principles, moral and ethical leadership, financial adequacy, and expectations that society has for equity and opportunity are reinforced. This book will be of interest to practicing and aspiring administrators, education professors and policymakers, and legislators.

Reviews

Qualities for Effective Leadership is a refreshing, new, and unique collection of timely thoughts and views authored by distinguished and forthright educational system leaders who have also served as prominent university teachers, authors and lecturers. This book can best be utilized by teachers, administrators, school board members, professors of education, legislators, and other public policy leaders who have an interest in public schools and what educational leadership in the 21st century ought to encompass. -- William R. Mason Jr., past president, Ohio Association of School Personnel Administrators
For persons seeking a position as an educational leader, this book is a 'must read'; it capturesin a very understandable manner the scope of the accompanying responsibilities. For persons already in positions of educational leadership, this book is also a 'must read'; it provides needed inspiration to continue to work passionately and selflessly on behalf of the students and nation we serve. -- Stephen W. Hefner, Ed.D., superintendent, Richland School District, Columbia, South Carolina
Davis brings together 10 chapters on successful leadership in schools, and discusses the present state of leadership. The contributors assess the importance of morality, the creation of learning communities, the leader as an anthropologist, issues such as diversity and accountability, financial problems, important leadership skills, and the law. * Reference and Research Book News *
More of the same (this) is not! This reviewer found the text inviting, comprehensive, written with passion, and quite useful, particularly for those charged with training future school leaders. * Choice Reviews *
As the purative "father" of accountability in education, I have viewed with great sadness the stresses and turmoil in American education....The book, Qualities for Effective Leadership, signals a direct attack on those stresses and turmoil as the very outset in the Preface when they rightly state, 'Public education is the vehicle that protects the core values of a democratic society.' The contributors convincingly address the necessary skills and disposition of leaders who have to articulate vision, find creative ways to solve problems and settle for nothing less than continuous improvement to defend this essential vehicle of our wonderful country. What a delight to find practical insights, wide ranging discussions, and intelligent writing in each chapter by experienced leaders! Decision-makers at all levels of the education enterprise and indeed the public in general, are well served by reading this important book. Our country simply cannot afford to fail to address the problems [this book] describes. -- Leon M. Lessinger, former Associate U.S. Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education

Author Bio

Dr. Gene Davis is director of the Intermountain Center for Education Effectiveness and professor of education leadership at Idaho State University. He has worked as a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent during his 42-year career.