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Time for Change: Four Essential Skills for Transformational School and District Leaders (Educational Leadership Development for Change Management)
Transformational leaders have four distinctive strong communication, the ability to build trust, the ability to increase the skills of those they lead, and a results orientation. Time for Change offers powerful guidance for those seeking to develop and strengthen the educational leadership skills needed for change management and overcoming resistance to change. Throughout this authoritative guide, Anthony Muhammad and Luis F. Cruz share concrete tools and strategies that will prepare you to lead your school toward lasting, meaningful, and strategic change. Use this educational leadership book to inspire a shared vision and help in overcoming resistance to
Introduction
Chapter 1: Finding Balance for Systems Change
Chapter 2: Communicating the Rationale -- Building Cognitive Investment
Chapter 3: Establishing Trust -- Making an Emotional Investment
Chapter 4: Building Capacity -- Making a Functional Investment
Chapter 5: Getting Results -- Collecting the Return on Investment
Chapter 6: Tying It All Together
Final Thoughts
References and Resources
Introduction
Chapter 1: Finding Balance for Systems Change
Chapter 2: Communicating the Rationale -- Building Cognitive Investment
Chapter 3: Establishing Trust -- Making an Emotional Investment
Chapter 4: Building Capacity -- Making a Functional Investment
Chapter 5: Getting Results -- Collecting the Return on Investment
Chapter 6: Tying It All Together
Final Thoughts
References and Resources
152 pages, Perfect Paperback
Published April 5, 2019
59 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 19, 2025
*DISCLAIMER: I'm reviewing this as a classroom teacher, NOT as an educator in a leadership position, which is who this book is aimed at.*
This book offers a framework for school leaders to shift resistant or toxic cultures into ones that support collaboration, trust, and student learning. Built on the belief that cultural transformation is key to academic success, the book presents practical strategies—especially the “Why? Who? How? Do?” model—to help guide teams through meaningful change. While geared primarily toward administrators and teacher leaders, the book emphasizes that effective leadership mirrors good teaching: clear purpose, consistent follow-through, and strong relationships.
This was really geared towards admin. While I thought it gave me some insight, I didn't get an incredible amount of help out of it as a classroom teacher who is NOT currently seeking out a leadership position.
This book offers a framework for school leaders to shift resistant or toxic cultures into ones that support collaboration, trust, and student learning. Built on the belief that cultural transformation is key to academic success, the book presents practical strategies—especially the “Why? Who? How? Do?” model—to help guide teams through meaningful change. While geared primarily toward administrators and teacher leaders, the book emphasizes that effective leadership mirrors good teaching: clear purpose, consistent follow-through, and strong relationships.
This was really geared towards admin. While I thought it gave me some insight, I didn't get an incredible amount of help out of it as a classroom teacher who is NOT currently seeking out a leadership position.
September 25, 2024
Time for Change: A Call to Moral, Equitable, and Humane School Leadership" by Anthony Muhammad (2018) focuses on transforming school culture and leadership.
it’s a Thought-provoking and insightful book with
Practical advice for school leaders and it Challenges conventional thinking.
It’s an interesting book with Target Audience for
• School administrators
• Educational leaders
• Teachers
• Policy makers
• Anyone interested in education reform
Key Takeaways:
1. Challenges traditional school leadership and organizational structures.
2. Advocates for moral, equitable, and humane leadership.
3. Emphasizes student-centered approaches and social-emotional learning.
4. Addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion in education.
5. Provides strategies for building collaborative school cultures.
Main Ideas:
1. The Need for Change: Critiques current educational systems and highlights the need for transformative leadership.
2. Moral Leadership: Prioritizes empathy, compassion, and justice in school decision-making.
3. Equitable Leadership: Addresses systemic inequalities and promotes inclusive practices.
4. Humane Leadership: Fosters positive relationships, well-being, and resilience.
it’s a Thought-provoking and insightful book with
Practical advice for school leaders and it Challenges conventional thinking.
It’s an interesting book with Target Audience for
• School administrators
• Educational leaders
• Teachers
• Policy makers
• Anyone interested in education reform
Key Takeaways:
1. Challenges traditional school leadership and organizational structures.
2. Advocates for moral, equitable, and humane leadership.
3. Emphasizes student-centered approaches and social-emotional learning.
4. Addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion in education.
5. Provides strategies for building collaborative school cultures.
Main Ideas:
1. The Need for Change: Critiques current educational systems and highlights the need for transformative leadership.
2. Moral Leadership: Prioritizes empathy, compassion, and justice in school decision-making.
3. Equitable Leadership: Addresses systemic inequalities and promotes inclusive practices.
4. Humane Leadership: Fosters positive relationships, well-being, and resilience.
April 1, 2020
Anthony Muhammad is an inspiring leader and I can hear Luis Cruz' voice throughout this book as well.
This book is geared to reiterating what it takes to be an effective school leader or "transformational" leader. Each chapter contains three scenarios with guiding questions with considerations when dealing with said scenarios.
All of the scenarios are real life and useful.
There's some valuable resources like on pp 118-119 (Purpose Statements from selected schools' guiding coalitions) and p 123 (online resources to strengthen both educator skills and leader skills).
I would recommend this book for administrative teams or for some teacher-leaders (lead teachers, instructional coaches, department heads).
This book is geared to reiterating what it takes to be an effective school leader or "transformational" leader. Each chapter contains three scenarios with guiding questions with considerations when dealing with said scenarios.
All of the scenarios are real life and useful.
There's some valuable resources like on pp 118-119 (Purpose Statements from selected schools' guiding coalitions) and p 123 (online resources to strengthen both educator skills and leader skills).
I would recommend this book for administrative teams or for some teacher-leaders (lead teachers, instructional coaches, department heads).
April 16, 2019
What a great, practical guide forward!!!
September 26, 2019
Read this as a leadership book study at work. Some very interesting points in here, with a lot of questions raised.
November 9, 2019
A helpful workbook to use with other teacher leaders who aim to become transformational leaders in their learning communities.
January 17, 2022
An important read for anyone who holds a leadership role within education! It doesn’t take long to get through, but there is some heavy thinking and reflection required to be transformational.
January 9, 2025
key word definitions followed by scenarios
July 5, 2025
I like how it says that teachers need to be on the leadership teams at schools. A very good book to read while working on my masters.
June 4, 2022
I attended a 3 day PLC conference a few months ago, and the authors were presenters. The book focuses on the 4 skills that transformation leaders must have - strong communication, an ability to build trust, a focus on results, and an ability to increase the skills of those they lead. The key here is the word transformational; just because you are a leader and even if you are doing well and seeing results, it doesn't mean you are transformational. The authors begin where they should - explaining what it means to be a transformational leader.
I appreciate that Muhammad and Cruz stress that human resources are the most valuable resources in a school, and leaders need to cultivate human potential. The authors take readers through the four essential skills, citing many studies and resources along with providing examples and scenarios. Tables, graphics, and questions for reflection deepen our understanding. An extensive list of references and resources in the back of the book demonstrate how many sources they cite throughout the book. At times, this makes the book feel like a research paper, but look beyond that to the message and helpful points provided. If you can, don't read this book in isolation. School leaders should read this book together and collaboratively work through the process. I don't think only administrators should read this book; it's a fine book for teacher leaders to review and discuss as well.
I appreciate that Muhammad and Cruz stress that human resources are the most valuable resources in a school, and leaders need to cultivate human potential. The authors take readers through the four essential skills, citing many studies and resources along with providing examples and scenarios. Tables, graphics, and questions for reflection deepen our understanding. An extensive list of references and resources in the back of the book demonstrate how many sources they cite throughout the book. At times, this makes the book feel like a research paper, but look beyond that to the message and helpful points provided. If you can, don't read this book in isolation. School leaders should read this book together and collaboratively work through the process. I don't think only administrators should read this book; it's a fine book for teacher leaders to review and discuss as well.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews