Ruthless Equity: Disrupt the Status Quo and Ensure Learning for ALL Students

by Ken Williams

CAN YOU IMAGINE:
*working with super-charged confidence because you have clarity about how to ensure equity for EVERY student?
*leveraging equitable practices that will make student achievement both measurable and predictable?
*never again wondering if you make a difference, because you now understand you are the difference?

IF YOU ANSWERED "YES" TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS, THEN YOU NEED...

RUTHLESS EQUITY

In this powerful, unvarnished examination of the internal obstacles to providing genuine equal opportunities for every student, bestselling author Ken Williams shows readers how to identify and defeat the enemy of equity by unlocking these barriers.

RUTHLESS EQUITY is a provocative, empowering coach and guide guaranteed to galvanize every educator who dreams of being an equity warrior who delivers learning, excellence and achievement for ALL students, regardless of background.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching, School, Leadership

232 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2022

Reviews

[Kat Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredibly powerful! I could not put it down. I recommend it for every educator. It is full of information I needed to digest in order to stop making excuses when my students are not mastering essential learning outcomes. Countless ideas in the book resonated with me and called me to action. These lines in particular were a wake up call for me and reminded me why I became a public school teacher:"It starts with a realization that education is a profession of service. It takes a realization that professional accomplishment is not thirty years of comfort and ease and the collection of a pension but involves doing work that transforms the lives of generations who will live long beyond your physical presence on this earth. It is using your craft to positively touch those whom this society has deemed irredeemable. It is restoring hope for those who've lost hope by the end of kindergarten. It requires a willingness to think differently and change the narrative."

[The Blog Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book says I’m the problem and the way I fix me is by perfectionism, denying any human limitations, ignoring laws of space and time, extreme positivity, sky high expectations and zero actual instructions. Citing systemic problems is copping out. This was a lot of smoke and mirrors- a lot of talk and not a lot of actual evidence to back it up or actionable steps we can take. The educational system preys on the noble intentions of educators who sacrifice themselves for their students- and eventually burn out. If you don’t back up your call to action with support in the way of adequate staffing, an acknowledgement/change to the realities of the job (like how there’s a full time administrative job of grading on top of the actual work day you don’t get paid for) and fair pay that allows teachers to live anywhere near where they work for those doing the work, you set educators up for failure. Discounting these realities and calling teachers “complacent” is a top-down cop out. Why are the people in charge ok with teachers burning out and leaving the field? Equity has to include the people doing the work.

[Kimberly Konecny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to everyone in the education field. Ken Williams will challenge your mindset and show the importance of raising the bar so ALL students achieve, no excuses allowed. Life does not level down, so we must level up!

[Athena Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ken is a wizard and taught me what it means to be an advocate for my students

[Angela]

A must read for current teacher practitioners who are searching to build an inclusive and equitable classroom environment. Ken Willimas will keep you laughing as he challenges your pedagogy, biases, and the way you teach!

[Tammy Flowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every single educator needs to read this!

[Karoline Kilkenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mantra after this book - high expectations with a plan and lots of love to get there ✨

I reaaaally think this book is the right perspective on education just had a little too much fluff in the beginning for me to confidently tell everyone to read it. But if you love someone hold them to high standards!!! If you care about kids hold them to high standards!!! While still loving and assisting 😘 anyways ask me how this is going in two months to find out if they are really hearty applications methods

[Michelle Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Currently the best, most practical, clear, and compelling education book I’ve ever read. A must for every educator!

[Buddy Draper · Rating 4 out of 5]

It takes a ruthless mindset for someone in education to pursue equity for all students. Many schools and districts face the difficult obstacle of status quo.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 or 4 stars: After attending the Ron Clark Academy for a visit this summer, I have been empowered to believe in my students more than ever before. That's the premise of this book and the words leapt off the proverbial page for the first several chapters. No student should be allowed to not learn because of their circumstances. If anything, their challenging circumstances should be a reason to work harder to ensure they get a quality education. As an ESOL teacher, I see and breathe this every day. There is no limit to how high our students can soar, and no limit to our belief in them. Thus ruthless equity. I'm all in.

As I settled into the second half (which to be fair was after taking a hiatus to read something else that popped up on my holds list, so my memory may have gaps), I noticed Ken tells more what NOT to do than what to do. But nonetheless, I love how much Ken believes in kids. EVERY kid. Our lessons shouldn't look over one kid or another because its "too hard for them," or whatever myriad of excuses there are. I hear the excuses loud and clear and want to bust through them with the same passion. It's our job as educators to be the creative geniuses, to make the match between where the student is and the content. The question now is: HOW? I would have appreciated more try-this-tomorrow examples, but its OK.

The other thing I wish he would touch on a bit more is teacher workload. Many of the teachers he mentioned probably worked 60+ hour weeks to make the magic in their classrooms happen. Admirable as that is, I would have liked some pointers for those of us in the trenches, raising a family, holding second jobs, running back and forth to scout meetings and band concerts, unable to give the abundant extra hours. How can we marry ruthless equity to the realistic amount of time teachers get to plan (who in my district get less than 3 hours prep time for 30+ instructional lessons each week)? Or is that therein the problem? Of course there isn't an answer to this, but I would like to see it acknowledged by the powers that be. The dumpy level of teacher planning time essentially encourages cookie-cutter, bland instruction, hence inequity. Am I the only one that sees this? He did empower me to seek those solutions myself, so all in all it was an inspiring read. I would definitely recommend and read other books by Ken. Very thought-provoking and convicting.

[Kristin Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Ruthless Equity by Ken Williams… and wow—buckle up, because this book is a game changer. It’s bold, unapologetic, and packed with truth after truth.

One of the most powerful messages throughout the book is that equity isn’t optional. Fixing inequity isn’t neuroscience, and not fixing it is a deliberate choice. Williams makes it clear: there is no passive path to equity. Complacency is the enemy, and urgency must drive our work.

I loved how he pushes us to shift from a savior mode to an advocate mindset, to question whether every decision—down to the master schedule—advances or impedes learning. One of my favorite lines: Start with the crown. Our job is to grow every student tall enough to wear it, not just the ones we think can.

He calls out the myth of “highest individual potential,” challenges ability grouping, and reminds us that louder and slower is not reteaching. The concepts of selequity and cosmequity hit hard—equity isn’t about surface-level moves, it’s about dismantling systems that hold kids back.

From the power of belonging to the reminder that “if you call them low, you teach them low”, this book doesn’t just challenge you—it calls you to action. If you’re serious about leading for equity, Ruthless Equity is a must-read. I’m walking away with a clearer vision, a stronger “yes, and” mindset, and a deeper commitment to reduce the time between complaining and creating.

[Hannah Roper · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, I am surprised this book has so many good reviews. While it is a great ideal, and equity is certainly important, this book only talks about how it is important. There is no practical action involved or brainstorming. What Ken Williams does is break down the problem, and the problems with what other people say about the problem, and then says we have to be ruthless to fix it. However, that is where it stops, it doesn't talk about classroom practices and it doesn't give advice or examples for how a teacher can overcome the issues he is listing. In fact, the majority of the issues he talks are about are at a school scale, or cultural scale, not an individual classroom scale, which makes this extremely hard to apply from day to day. Unfortunately, I found this to be mostly fluff, even though it claims to be the opposite and different from every other equity initiative. I feel like this book is someone talking at me telling me to be better, but then giving no tools or direction. Personally, I did not find it practical or helpful. This is not an excuse to not practice equity, I am just saying this book was not very helpful for me in improving.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I earned my teaching degree in the early 2000s, and my teaching classes, reading, and research were strictly based on pedagogy (remember Wong’s The First Days of School!? So good!). This book starts by explaining why equity has finally become such a vital part of education. It took my beliefs about teaching - relationships and inclusive spaces, unconditional positive regard, high expectations and rigor, teacher and student as partners in learning, focusing on essential learning outcomes - and enhanced them with scenarios, reflection questions, resource videos through QR codes, new ideas to consider to be active rather than passive, toolkits of responses and actions, etc. I hope this book becomes a must read for those earning their education degree and those who are already in education!

[Nicole Means · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing innovative but a great reminder about the necessity of taking action rather than being passive to inequitable educational practices. Interwoven throughout the book are QR codes with videos from the author about resistance to the status quo. Our students need educators who are agents of change not compliant to the inequitable practices of the status quo. They deserve us to bring our best selves forward and to believe in them when they may not believe in themselves.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

We listened to this on Audible (my husband and I are both teachers) ...because our district administration has been working with this book and will be bringing it to teachers. Some good ideas, and meant to be brutally honest and empowering. Listening to Ken read was probably more powerful than reading the black and white text.

[Katharine Noble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Required reading in DPS thought I'm guessing not many colleagues are reading -- some? It's a pompom book: you got this; do better; expect quality work from all students; equity should not be a trendy buzzword but a constant guiding concept. It's cheerleading at its best -- would be a better TED talk.

[Andrea Lakly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Williams' idea is that educators allow racism to hide in things like tracking, gifted programs, and not having time for PLCs.

It's written like a scrapbook -- full of video links (he's a great speaker!), anecdotes, quotes, poems, etc. Very approachable and enjoyable to read.

Lots of analogies of education to auto mechanics, ladders, etc.

[Christi Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Motivated me to really look in the mirror to see what teaching practices and beliefs about students are holding me back from growing these little people I have in my classroom to “wear the crown”. Thanks, Ken!

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book as a book study for the school I teach at. Definitely an eye opening book to read as a young teacher. I learned a lot from this book and am looking forward to reading it again at a time when I can really deep dive into it and focus on its contents.

[Joy Kirr · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 for me. This book is full of hope - and actual actions to take - should you truly believe ALL our students can learn. My notes are here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11...

[Julie Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes! So much good information. I borrowed this from the library but will buy a copy to keep for reference!

[Kellie Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! I read it and listened to it on audible. Love Ken’s passion and fierceness. Made me reflect and think what I can do to better myself as a teacher and a leader for my students and school.

[Jessi S · Rating 5 out of 5]

changed everything about how i think about equity in education

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possibly the best book on education I’ve ever read. He explains why you need to stop making excuses and help all students succeed.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for any educator! I also listened via Audible, and Ken Williams narrated his own book.

[Melissa Fengári · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was petty good, read it for work, the audiobook is great

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. I'm not sure how it would work to avoid tracking completely; I appreciate the prioritization of learning.

[Doris Caravella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good advice, helpful videos. There is a lot of fluff text that I personally am not a fan of.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for our school book club. While I feel like it could have been about 1/4 of the length as he repeated many of his ideas throughout to fluff it into a full book, many of the ideas were interesting. Of course if we teach below grade level our students will not reach grade level by the end of the year! There are definitely some systemic problems in education he tackled, but it still feels like this is not the cure all he seems to claim it to be…