School District Master Planning


Book Description

What is school district master planning? This book explains how this planning is done, using a proven process, not theories. The process helps you avoid cost overruns, public outrage, repeated redistricting, and classrooms built in wrong places that all represent poor planning. Planning tools, steps and process check lists are discussed in rich detail, using actual case studies and the planning triangle of programs, demographics and facilities. Process roles are explained for district staff, consultants,and the public at each step. Steps are clearly explained for acquiring, analyzing, and applying critical data to drive planning to redistrict, build, close, renovate or expand schools. Steps are carefully explained for developing the comprehensive masterplan and getting it implemented on time and within budget. This book pulls no punches as to what usually goes wrong and why, along with what must be done, step by step, to avoid such mistakes. It is a guide to developing a district master plan that will work out for the long term and promote public support for public education.







NSTA Guide to Planning School Science Facilities


Book Description

Provides guidance and tools for planning a school science facility, discussing general room design, budget, furnishings, and other related topics and discussing safety, accessibility, and legal guidelines.




NSTA Guide to School Science Facilities


Book Description

The National Science Teachers Association, in response to the emergence of new science curricula and the need for updated science facilities in the nation's public schools, convened a task force to develop guidelines for K-12 science facility design and use. This guide, a result of NSTA Task Force on Science Facilities and Equipment, includes information about planning facilities design; budget priorities; space considerations; general room and laboratory design; and furnishings for the laboratory/classroom specifically targeting K-5, middle, and high schools. It is designed to familiarize educators, administrators, and citizens with the stages of the planning process for new and renovated science facilities and provides specific, detailed information on many aspects of the planning and design phases. Additionally, chapters address current trends and future directions in science education and safety, accessibility, and legal guidelines. Appendices include discussions on solar energy for school facilities, equipment needs planning, checklists, a glossary of construction terms, and classroom dimensional considerations. (GR)




The Essential Guide to Forest School and Nature Pedagogy


Book Description

This book is a complete guide to Forest School provision and Nature Pedagogy and it examines the models, methods, worldviews and values that underpin teaching in nature. Cree and Robb show how a robust Nature Pedagogy can support learning, behaviour, and physical and emotional wellbeing, and, importantly, a deeper relationship with the natural world. They offer an overview of what a Forest School programme could look like through the year. The Essential Guide to Forest School and Nature Pedagogy provides ‘real-life’ examples from a variety of contexts, sample session plans and detailed guidance on using language, crafting and working with the natural world. This accessible resource guides readers along the Forest School path, covering topics such as: the history of nature education; our sensory system in nature; Forest School ethos and worldview and playing and crafting in the natural world. Guiding practitioners through planning for a programme, including taking care of a woodland site and preparing all the essential policies and procedures for working with groups and nature, this book is written by dedicated Forest School and nature education experts and is essential reading for settings, schools, youth groups, families and anyone working with children and young people.




Instructional Coaches and the Instructional Leadership Team


Book Description

Supercharge school improvement with instructional coaches! For instructional coaches, no two days are ever the same. This unique companion melds theory and practice to show how coaches can seamlessly integrate themselves into the fabric of the school and help teachers improve their practice from day one. Dean Spaulding and Gail Smith address common challenges of coaches and instructional leadership teams, including: Observing classrooms and providing formative feedback Reaching out to the hesitant or resistant teacher Adapting data and analysis into usable information for the team Recruiting, training, and supporting new instructional coaches Journal entries based on the real-life experiences give an inside look at the day-to-day work of an instructional coach and the power of coaching to improve teacher effectiveness. The book also includes field-tested activities, materials, and forms for collecting data, navigating busy days, and organizing information. Instructional Coaches and the Instructional Leadership Team is ideal for those wanting to learn best practices to engage educators and support teacher evaluation reform. "This book would have made my life SO much easier. I highly recommend it to new and experienced instructional coaches alike!" —Kathy Ferrell, Instructional Coach Excelsior Springs Middle School, MO "This is a wonderful resource. Even schools without instructional coaches will benefit from the strategies and suggestions included. It′s an excellent book even for those who shy away from data analysis!" —Ann Dargon, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Westport Community Schools, MA




Planning for Technology


Book Description

Stay a step ahead of technological change so that every student can flourish! Students and classrooms are growing more technologically savvy every semester, which presents you with an essential choice: Will you let these learning tools sit idle, or will you unleash the power of technology for your students and staff? The first edition of Planning for Technology created leaders who empowered students to master the technological tools now required for success. This second edition will prepare you for the coming decade, when the pace of change will be much faster. In addition to the core methods and exercises, this book includes: Revisions addressing essential digital developments of the past decade that school leaders must learn to utilize New content covering guidelines for addressing the new Common Core State Standards, distributed leadership, adult learning theory, digital citizenship, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and more A new chapter on creating a "culture of technology" that goes beyond user manuals to create responsible, tech-savvy students Technology is no longer optional—it is a requirement for success in the 21st century. Planning for Technology is the go-to resource for ensuring your students thrive. "This book is about how to plan for technology, promote it, pay for it, and take steps to ensure that it really is improving student achievement. This book makes school administrators consider more thoughtfully how they are using technology for teaching and learning and why. It helps the reader understand how to plan for and implement technology in a more effective way." —Patricia L. Tucker, Retired Regional Superintendent District of Columbia Public Schools, DC "The reflective activities at the end of every chapter prompt leaders to think about diverse areas they may have not thought about before." —Frances L. O’Reilly, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership The University of Montana-Missoula




School Portfolio Toolkit


Book Description

The School Portfolio Toolkit is a book that includes over 300 tools, strategies, templates, and examples for use in building school portfolios and for planning, implementing, and evaluating continuous school improvement. The Toolkit was written to support school personnel with the mechanics of putting together a school portfolio, as well as to offer processes and strategies to move whole school staffs into and through continuous improvement. The tools in the Toolkit will help staffs create, implement, and maintain school portfolios and begin the journey of continuous improvement. Each chapter deals with one topic related to the school portfolio and comprehensive school improvement, with related documents and tools. The School Portfolio Toolkit book provides templates, tools, examples, and strategies that will help you analyze your school's data, create a vision that is truly shared by the school staff, build a continuous school improvement plan to implement the school vision, formulate a leadership structure to implement the vision, involve parents, community, and business in implementing the vision, embed up to forty different powerful professional development designs into your school plan, evaluate your continuous school improvement work, and create a School Portfolio that will organize and serve as a framework for the continuation of this work




A Guide to Leading and Managing Indiana School Facilities


Book Description

When school buildings are aging, a decision must be made as to whether to continue to maintain the existing building, renovate building, or build new. Very seldom is extending the existing buildings life over building a new building. If renovation costs exceed 50% of the cost of new construction, it is better to build instead of renovating. The taxpayers in your community will have much to say on whether to renovate or build new. Much emphasis should be given to taxpayer input before the school board makes a final decision. School administrators are responsible to the community for maintaining school buildings and they owe an explanation to the community of what has been done to protect existing school buildings. This book is developed to help aspiring teachers who want to become principals, business managers or superintendents, that existing buildings need to be properly maintained and functional and can continue to serve the public for many years to come.




Comprehensive Planning for Safe Learning Environments


Book Description

This book provides school administrators, school-based mental health professionals, and other educational professionals with the framework and tools needed to establish a comprehensive safe learning environment. The authors identify four necessary phases to achieve this (prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery) and provide numerous examples and tools to help readers create safe environments, while also addressing students’ academic, emotional, and social needs. An emphasis is placed on the importance of the balance between physical and psychological safety within a multi-tiered framework - it is not enough for students to know their school is secure; they must also feel they are safe and can turn to their teachers and school-based mental health professionals with their concerns. Aaccompanying downloadable resources contain several valuable resources, such as forms, handouts, articles, and monitoring tools.