The Turnaround Mindset: Aligning Leadership for Student Success

(Paperback)

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This book provides a valuable balance between what one must know and what one must do to turn around low-performing schools. The 3-E framework simplifies this complex process by focusing resources on the environment, the executive, and the execution of the turnaround plan. Central to each of these components is a spotlight on the values supporting change and an examination of the unique perspectives and actions required at the school, district and state levels in renewing chronically underperforming schools.

A set of case studies on individuals who have led successful turnarounds of schools gives life to the theoretical concepts. These cases focus on the principal as turnaround specialist, offering leadership profiles from their varied perspectives and demonstrate the resilience of these leaders across settings and challenges. The book concludes with a discussion of how the developing field of school turnarounds affects educational policy in the K-12 and higher education arenas.

Reviews

Through case studies of successful turnarounds, educators learn to focus resources on the environment, the executive and the execution. Also included is a discussion of how these plans affect educational policy in both the K12 and higher education arenas. * District Administration *
Bridging organizational change theory and the gritty brass tacks of school turnaround, The Turnaround Mindset provides rare insight into how leaders can and have reversed the historical decline and decay of ineffective schools on behalf of students and their academic success. Anyone invested in the future of public schools and the enormous numbers of students whose life opportunities count on them will find pearls of wisdom and practical guidance in this important new book. -- Sandra J. Stein, former Chief Executive Officer, NYC Leadership Academy
Our 'Turnaround Challenge' report suggests that changed conditions and new capacity linked to clusters of schools are essential components for turnaround at scale. The vivid, ground-level profiles in Fairchild and DeMary's book make it clear that 'new capacity' requires specialized experience and school leaders who devote their careers to turnarounds. -- William H. Guenther, president and founder, Mass Insight Education
Ive devoted my career to education and turning around nonprofit organizations, so I know that tackling the challenges of underperforming schools requires an extraordinary and sustained investment in identifying and developing the best principals and teachers. The Turnaround Mindset is a must-read for educators, community and business leaders, and any stakeholder committed to changing the impediments to student success. With academic insights and practitioner perspectives, Fairchild and DeMary demonstrate the urgency for turnaround leadership. -- Janet M. Knupp, founding president and CEO of The Chicago Public Education Fund
A valuable resource, The Turnaround Mindset is not just for educators and academics focusing on chronically underperforming schools. This thought-provoking book will help you to understand that turnaround is a specialized skill set for school leaders in many settings and contexts. -- Renee Akbar Ph.D, associate professor, Division of Education, Xavier University of Louisiana

Author Bio

Tierney Temple Fairchild is the former executive director of the Darden/Curry Partnership for Leaders in Education and served as the lead consultant for EduLead, the developer of the blueprint for the Louisiana School Turnaround Specialist program, which began implementation in 2010.

Jo Lynne DeMary is the former state superintendent of public instruction for Virginia under Governor Jim Gilmore and Governor Mark Warner. She was the first female to serve in that position.