How Schools Succeed: Context, Culture, and Strategic Leadership

(Paperback, Second Edition)

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All meaningful and enduring educational reform occurs locally. Evidence suggests that educational success is driven by the contextual conditions in which students learn. How Schools Succeed: Context, Culture, and Strategic Leadership, Second Edition considers a broad conception of educational context, taking into consideration work environment, facilities, and space as well as the interpersonal, social, and organizational settings in which teaching and learning occur. This is not a one-fits-all approach. It is, however, a proactive approach, and necessary tools and development strategies are offered to promote continual and sustainable school improvement at the local level. While this volume considers specific administrative roles in schools, it also explains strategic leadership in broad terms. School leadership not only implies principal and superintendent roles, but teacher roles as wellperceiving teachers as leaders and building leadership capacity are central concepts in understanding strategic leadership as well as moving toward genuine school reform.

Reviews

"School leaders wanting to analyze and shape their school culture will find this book to be incredibly beneficial. Professor Harris does an outstanding job of describing the factors affecting culture, providing practical advice for school improvement and professional development, and challenging readers with thought-provoking questions to push their thinking and action. By furnishing school leaders with a fresh perspective on the relationship between school context and culture, this book provides a useful and practical approach for strategic school reform." --Dr. Bruce Barnett, Department Chair and Professor, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Texas at San Antonio

"Conversations that effectively translate abstract theory to pragmatic practice in service to school improvement are rare. This book is one of those exceptional efforts that proves not only to be an interesting read, but inspiring in its accessible practicality. Dr. Harris provides leaders in schools, education agencies, and universities with unique insights as to the role of school in society and what culture is and is not. This is an important and vital addition to the national conversations about culture, education, and the purpose of school in society." --Autumn Tooms Cyprs, Chair, Department of Educational Leadership, Virginia Commonwealth University

"Be prepared to put school-improvement strategies to work in your educational environment! Edward L. Harris' book provides practical guidelines and pertinent tools for educators to build and nurture vital support systems and infrastructures necessary for student success and productive school-home-community collaboration." --Lori L. Lamb, President of National Alternative Education Association, Director of Alternative Education, Arkansas Department of Education

Author Bio

Edward L. Harris, PhD, is Professor and Williams Chair of Educational Leadership Administrator for the Brock International Prize in Education at Oklahoma State University/Tulsa.