Educators, you are the hope you’ve been looking for.
Have you ever wondered what it would look like for you and your colleagues to really change how things are done in your school? For over twenty-five years, Partners in School Innovation has empowered educators in doing just that, across twenty-two school districts and eight states, dramatically improving underperforming schools in the process. Their secrets? Specialized adult learning tools, a results-oriented cycle of inquiry, professional development systems focused on coaching and collaboration, implementing improvement science, understanding the roles of race, class, culture, and power in schools, and more.
This book presents those time-tested, research-based practices through narratives chronicling the efforts of real-life educators. It presents thoughtful checklists and discussion questions to help educators strengthen the skill sets and mindsets needed to implement sustainable school improvement.
A lot has changed in recent years, but the solution to turning schools into lively, loving, learning communities remains the you. This book provides a blueprint for you to become the change agent your students need.
I've known Justin for a long time and I was really impressed with this book -- I liked the case studies of educators making progress through collaborative work, and I really appreciated the focus on fighting for genuine equity. A powerful guide to using collaboration that considers local context to build great schools for kids.
This book is a *must read* for anyone working in public education.
Though it is written for classroom teachers (with a chapter for district leaders and staff), the insights, framework, and values are incredibly relevant and no less important for those working (or volunteering or serving in office) in policy roles, in and out of the classroom.
Justin thoughtfully infuses history, contemporary narratives/case studies, guiding principles of equity and commitments to academic rigor into practical and actionable steps.
It’s worth a read in full, then repeated references back to the text again and again.
Real, genuine, timely insights on making more with less in our schools and the communities they serve. Having known this author personally, I could hear his voice throughout counseling and supporting. Nothing here is about ridiculously easy fixes, but is straight-forward about the hard work needed to do the hard work needed. Boils down to the notion that once we know better, we need to do and be better.