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Arrows: A Systems-Based Approach to School Leadership
Transformational leadership begins with willing individuals. Individuals who are ready to set aside their personal comfort for the needs and unity of the collective team. In education, now more than ever, we need individuals who are willing to lead in a time of transformation. But from where are we leaving and to where are we headed? Which direction should we take, as leaders of learning, in our classrooms, schools, and communities? How do we avoid change for change’s sake, and rather--shift the conversation altogether? How do we clarify the vision of learning? Simplify the impact of highly effective teaching in our classrooms? Create collaborative, empowered space for our teachers and students? Educational leaders and authors, Sarah Henry and Carrie Rosebrock, explore these questions and offer experiential and research-driven answers in their book, A Systems-Based Approach to School Leadership. Arrows is the personal story of a decade’s worth of growth and alignment within the Brownsburg Community School District in Brownsburg, Indiana. Unlike other educational leadership books, Arrows is the story of what happens when, not one school--but an entire district--simplifies its vision, clarifies its goals, and truly aligns its arrows. This is a story of leadership in action. Of a relentless desire to support and reach all students, from all backgrounds, from all experiences. An honest account of the impact of diligent collaboration and processes. It is a story of both systems and service; of both belonging and access. Arrows is a study in action--the story of what can happen when leadership alignment creates a sustainable system of support, clarity, love, and belonging.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2021
7 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 9, 2021
Beautifully crafted, Highly Needed
Finding poignant books on school leadership are highly needed in this ever increasingly complex time in education. Arrows is just that. Beautifully crafted, the wisdom and urging of leaders to take on the roles they are called to, is exactly the voice in the wilderness I was seeking. The systematic approach outlined in these pages will serve any current or aspiring school leader well!
Finding poignant books on school leadership are highly needed in this ever increasingly complex time in education. Arrows is just that. Beautifully crafted, the wisdom and urging of leaders to take on the roles they are called to, is exactly the voice in the wilderness I was seeking. The systematic approach outlined in these pages will serve any current or aspiring school leader well!
July 4, 2022
I enjoyed reading this book. It is a super easy read, organized really well, and a nice high level overview. I found it to be inspiring, and it helped me to put a few places that I was struggling to fit in the puzzle into place.
The highlights of the book for me were
1. The authors understand that in order to be student centered, leaders must be teacher centered.
2. They acknowledge that we have too much outside money, too much money driving the initiative which leads to constantly changing initiatives.
3. I thought the reflections helped me make sense of where I am in leadership, my growth areas, and how my values drive my organization.
The weak points for me
1. This was really high level.
2. I am bought into the philosophy, now I need a roadmap, a skills builder, a scope and sequence, a choose your own adventure that says... start here.
3. While the authors says standardized tests are one measure and they don't seem like fans, they use standardized tests and rankings as the measure of success. What we really need to do is find another way to talk about and measure success that isn't so ridiculous as our once a year standardized test and state school rankings.
The highlights of the book for me were
1. The authors understand that in order to be student centered, leaders must be teacher centered.
2. They acknowledge that we have too much outside money, too much money driving the initiative which leads to constantly changing initiatives.
3. I thought the reflections helped me make sense of where I am in leadership, my growth areas, and how my values drive my organization.
The weak points for me
1. This was really high level.
2. I am bought into the philosophy, now I need a roadmap, a skills builder, a scope and sequence, a choose your own adventure that says... start here.
3. While the authors says standardized tests are one measure and they don't seem like fans, they use standardized tests and rankings as the measure of success. What we really need to do is find another way to talk about and measure success that isn't so ridiculous as our once a year standardized test and state school rankings.
November 23, 2021
A fresh and comprehensive look at the PLC process!
April 30, 2022
This book has two things that I find lacking in many school leadership books. First, it avoids getting lost in leadership theory and focuses in on the efforts of one district sharing specific examples of their work. Second, it has a heavy focus on the importance of alignment and removing programs and initiatives that are not connecting with your current work towards the vision.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews