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Escaping the School Leader's Dunk Tank: How to Prevail When Others Want to See You Drown
No school leader is immune to the dunk tank—the effects of discrimination, bad politics, revenge, or ego-driven coworkers. In Escaping the School Leader’s Dunk Tank, Rebecca Coda and Rick Jetter share real-life stories and insightful research to equip school leaders with the practical knowledge and emotional tools necessary to survive and, better yet, avoid getting “dunked.”
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 23, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 2, 2017
In an age where we like to sugarcoat things and worry about the category into which a book falls, Rebecca Coda and Rick Jetter write the kind of book that should be required reading for any educational politics class that make up a Principal licensure program. Heck, district leaders who wish to cultivate future school leaders would do well to build book studies around this.
Just like schools of Education never help you see the importance of relationships with students to help with classroom management and discipline, Admin programs do not do a sufficient job of acclimating potential leaders to the "Dunk Tank" - or "Arena" as I like to call it.
The beginning chapters lay bare some horrifying - but real - scenarios that leaders of any kind in a school or district setting will recognize. The first six chapters will have you saying, "Shut up! This can't be true!" Or "How did they know?"
Not all Dunk Tanks end careers, and all Dunk Tanks provide an opportunity to learn. If you are considering taking on a leadership role - education or otherwise - please, do yourself a favor and buy this book. If you have this knowledge beforehand, it will make it much easier to navigate the Dunk Tank.
Just like schools of Education never help you see the importance of relationships with students to help with classroom management and discipline, Admin programs do not do a sufficient job of acclimating potential leaders to the "Dunk Tank" - or "Arena" as I like to call it.
The beginning chapters lay bare some horrifying - but real - scenarios that leaders of any kind in a school or district setting will recognize. The first six chapters will have you saying, "Shut up! This can't be true!" Or "How did they know?"
Not all Dunk Tanks end careers, and all Dunk Tanks provide an opportunity to learn. If you are considering taking on a leadership role - education or otherwise - please, do yourself a favor and buy this book. If you have this knowledge beforehand, it will make it much easier to navigate the Dunk Tank.
March 5, 2017
This is a must read for educators! Truthful, eye-opening and thought-provoking book with relevant scenarios to help navigate work related situations. Re-reading and highlighting!
February 23, 2017
School Leaders Dunk Tank a must read!
A great read to identify leadership pot holes both big and small. School leaders will benefit from the quick real life vignettes told throughout the book. A positive focus on making a difference and doing what is best for kids while adversaries purchase the balls to get you into the waters of the Dunk Tank!
A great read to identify leadership pot holes both big and small. School leaders will benefit from the quick real life vignettes told throughout the book. A positive focus on making a difference and doing what is best for kids while adversaries purchase the balls to get you into the waters of the Dunk Tank!
January 26, 2017
One of the things that I appreciated about this book is how real and how raw it is. It's designed to juxtapose the realities of leadership with strategies for hope that it can improve. In any regard, it supports the well-known truism that leadership matters. Especially now more than ever in public education. And the text paints the picture of the very real realities of what happens when we don't have strong, humane and ethical leaders at the helm.
The authors paint a realistic picture of some of the struggles we face as leaders in public education. It saddens me to think that leaders exist in the manner described in the book: but it's true. I appreciated the glimmers of hope strewn throughout. Although the stories evoke a sense of frustration, they do provide comfort in knowing that, if there are those who are victims of poor inept leadership such as that described in the text, we are not alone.
The strategies for dealing with workplace politics were good and helpful. They supported my belief that kindness matters and, in all things, we should strive to be kinder than necessary.
This would be a good book for anyone who is moving into a leadership position: particularly a central office role.
The authors paint a realistic picture of some of the struggles we face as leaders in public education. It saddens me to think that leaders exist in the manner described in the book: but it's true. I appreciated the glimmers of hope strewn throughout. Although the stories evoke a sense of frustration, they do provide comfort in knowing that, if there are those who are victims of poor inept leadership such as that described in the text, we are not alone.
The strategies for dealing with workplace politics were good and helpful. They supported my belief that kindness matters and, in all things, we should strive to be kinder than necessary.
This would be a good book for anyone who is moving into a leadership position: particularly a central office role.
February 12, 2017
This was a fantastic look at what is behind the curtain in education. Not only filled with raw, transparent stories, but with practical ideas, inspiration and application to move us forward. I recommend this book to anyone contemplating or who is currently in an educational leadership position.
August 3, 2017
Pretty depressing vignettes
What I loved were the quotes before each chapter. The issues presented seemed to be mostly toxic and not as nuanced as I was hoping. Good lists at the end for grounding yourself.
What I loved were the quotes before each chapter. The issues presented seemed to be mostly toxic and not as nuanced as I was hoping. Good lists at the end for grounding yourself.
July 7, 2017
Didn't like this book at all. I found it very negative and didn't really give solutions to the problems. I walked away from this book, thankful that I don't work in the American education system. How do people survive it?
Book description:
Have you ever felt as if a supervisor, coworker, or even your own school board was trying to sabotage you? No school leader is immune to the effects of discrimination, bad politics, revenge, or ego-driven coworkers. If you've ever worked in such conditions, you know that adversaries can make your job as a school leader miserable. But even if you're lucky enough to be thriving in your current role, you've probably seen leaders whose careers have been tanked by difficult and demanding circumstances. You may even wonder from time to time, "Am I next?" In Escaping the School Leader's Dunk Tank, Rebecca Coda and Rick Jetter interviewed superintendents, principals, and other educational leaders across the nation who have faced "dunk tank" situations. Through real-life stories and by sharing insightful research, the authors (who are dunk tank survivors themselves) equip school leaders with the practical knowledge and emotional tools necessary to survive and, better yet, avoid getting "dunked."
Book description:
Have you ever felt as if a supervisor, coworker, or even your own school board was trying to sabotage you? No school leader is immune to the effects of discrimination, bad politics, revenge, or ego-driven coworkers. If you've ever worked in such conditions, you know that adversaries can make your job as a school leader miserable. But even if you're lucky enough to be thriving in your current role, you've probably seen leaders whose careers have been tanked by difficult and demanding circumstances. You may even wonder from time to time, "Am I next?" In Escaping the School Leader's Dunk Tank, Rebecca Coda and Rick Jetter interviewed superintendents, principals, and other educational leaders across the nation who have faced "dunk tank" situations. Through real-life stories and by sharing insightful research, the authors (who are dunk tank survivors themselves) equip school leaders with the practical knowledge and emotional tools necessary to survive and, better yet, avoid getting "dunked."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2018
Let me start off by saying I am a huge worrywart. I’m always staying up late wondering if I have hurt someone and replaying conversations in my head. As an educator, this can be exhausting. Dunk Tank helps leaders, coaches, and teachers to work through the times when others people want to tear you down. The topics include dealing with jealousy, long workdays, difficult conversations and more. I found this book to be excellent for administrators of a school but also found some parts to be relatable for teachers and coaches as well. Excellent writing and easy to read.
January 17, 2018
One of the best professional books I’ve read in a long time. It deals with real issues that many choose to ignore. I’ve been in the dunk tank and I now realize where I may have been the dunk tank. This book teaches you about yourself, others you work with, and provides strategies for daily success in the tough field of educational leadership. I recommend it to all school leaders and aspiring leaders.
August 26, 2017
So glad I chose this book for our principals' book study! Now I fully employ proactive paranoia, make it a point to consider other people's motivation, readily work on not being my own adversary, and wholly appreciate my fellow principals.
March 27, 2018
Equipped to Combat
This book is filled with positive and negative experiences in educational leadership, and the useful tools are phenomenal. Now, I am better equipped to handle anything.
This book is filled with positive and negative experiences in educational leadership, and the useful tools are phenomenal. Now, I am better equipped to handle anything.
May 27, 2017
👍
👍 👍 A good read for anyone going through a "dunk tank" situation. I read it as part of a book study
👍 👍 A good read for anyone going through a "dunk tank" situation. I read it as part of a book study
March 5, 2018
Quickly shipped it off to a fellow administrator after I finished reading it. Great ideas!
March 28, 2018
POWERFUL
A very insightful book filled with many stories and suggestions on how to avoid the Dunk Tank and prevail when adversity comes calling.
A very insightful book filled with many stories and suggestions on how to avoid the Dunk Tank and prevail when adversity comes calling.
October 9, 2018
Protect yourself. Enough said.
March 18, 2017
I enjoyed the book, but came to realize I was enjoying the stories and began to imagine some of the things happening at my school. Maybe it was a case of the need student 'getting' every disease studied syndrome. as I finished the book I was not so emotionally caught up in the stories and began to notice grammar errors, missing words, etc. Overall I will recommend the book to school leaders, but with a warning about getting caught up in the negative drama of the stories. They needed to be told, but read with a word of caution.
January 16, 2017
Not a fan . . . sorry. Though I had previously taught in a public school and remember some of the politics contained therein, I'm not that excited to read about the drama that fills many of our nation's public schools.
Does my private Christian school have drama? You bet! Would I like to see solutions? Sure, but I'll look to the Bible for those.
I just wasn't into this text as it was problem after problem with no solution (just warnings).
Does my private Christian school have drama? You bet! Would I like to see solutions? Sure, but I'll look to the Bible for those.
I just wasn't into this text as it was problem after problem with no solution (just warnings).
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February 4, 2018I got this one from an EdCamp!
I'm thankful I'm not a leader in the paid sense of the word... I was feeling so awful for the stories told in the front half of this book - I almost put it down. The value I found in it was that I now look at my own administrators in my school in a different light. I always knew they had more stressors than I do, but I didn't think that people were ever out to dunk them. I will protect my administrators that add value to our schools. I read this book thinking of the coworkers that don't like what I do in the classroom (even though they've never stepped foot in it) and those that gossip. I also read it thinking of the parents that tell me I'm "manipulating" their children, or that what I'm doing is "crazy." The last few chapters had some gems in it - for any educator. I'm passing this book along to administrators.
I'm thankful I'm not a leader in the paid sense of the word... I was feeling so awful for the stories told in the front half of this book - I almost put it down. The value I found in it was that I now look at my own administrators in my school in a different light. I always knew they had more stressors than I do, but I didn't think that people were ever out to dunk them. I will protect my administrators that add value to our schools. I read this book thinking of the coworkers that don't like what I do in the classroom (even though they've never stepped foot in it) and those that gossip. I also read it thinking of the parents that tell me I'm "manipulating" their children, or that what I'm doing is "crazy." The last few chapters had some gems in it - for any educator. I'm passing this book along to administrators.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews