A Guide for Educational Policy Governance: Effective Leadership for Policy Development

(Hardback)

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Description

The varying concepts of organizational development are relevant to everything done administratively in educational practice. Organizational development centers on the concepts of schools as social organization, and like all other social systems, schools have structure, power, values, assumptions, conflicts, ongoing changes, and issues that exert strong influences on human behavior. The interplay between the organizational, human, and social environments combines to influence relationships, roles, attitudes, and program outcomes. The often-heard statement that schools are people and that the human component is our greatest asset are discussed in-depth throughout the book. The book focuses on the concepts of organizational development and the matter of on-going change. The significant concepts and contributions historically that have served as foundations for contemporary administrative practices are underscored. Guidance is given to administrative leaders for dealing with ongoing organizational changes is an important focus of the book. School leaders and school personnel must work in changing internal and external environments. Organizational culture and climate as they influence school practices are discussed in-depth. Contemporary applications of organizational development and a look to the future are projected for the guidance of all school personnel.

Reviews

Dr. Norton has thoroughly detailed the important responsibilities of school board members and school superintendents to develop, revise, and implement policies that shape the operation of a school district and focus organizational attention on student learning. This book is an essential policy resource for the school administrator launching a career in educational administration plus a value-added resource for the veteran administrator. The attention given to such topics as policy codification, policy awareness, local control, and governance models has special importance for governing school board members and the school superintendent. Such a book is long overdue. -- Michael Cowan, EdD, superintendent of schools, Mesa, Arizona

Author Bio

M. SCOTT NORTON is a former public school teacher, coordinator of curriculum, assistant superintendent, and superintendent of schools. He has served as professor and vice-chair of the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and as professor and chair of the Department of Educational Administration and Policy Studies at Arizona State University, where he is currently professor emeritus.