Beyond School Improvement : The Journey to Innovative Leadership

"The authors are grounded educational leaders who have lived the approach to improvement and innovation that they write about. Filled with anecdotal examples, reflection exercises, and practical strategies, this is a very useful and timely resource for educators seeking to understand and influence educational innovation and transformation in the 21st century."
—Michael H. Dickmann, Professor
Cardinal Stritch University

"This book stimulates leaders as they stretch their organization′s culture to reveal mental models, consider external trends, and seek creative and energizing strategies that will prepare students for a future we cannot yet define."
—Edie Holcomb, Consultant
Marzano Research Laboratory

Prepare students to succeed in a changing world!

Because the world is constantly evolving, school improvement alone is not enough to prepare students for success in the 21st century. Educators also need to be innovators who nurture a culture of both improvement and innovation.

Based on complexity theory, systems thinking, innovation theory, and years of practical expertise, Beyond School Improvement prepares school leaders to connect with the new science on change and provides skills, practices, and tools for creating and leading dynamic educational systems. The authors discuss four elements of change—dissonance, identity, information, and order—and define five essential practices for leaders:

• Holding courageous conversations
• Embracing dissonance
• Creating context
• Changing your field of vision
• Letting ideas collide

Self-assessment activities, team conversation starters, stories, and examples support leaders as they balance improvement and innovation within themselves, their classrooms, and their organizations.