The Elementary Principal’s Personal Coach


Book Description

"There is such authenticity when educators speak from true experiences. I found myself unwilling to put this book down. There are so many ways this book can be used by educators, but probably none more important than by the individual principal seeking support, affirmation, and inspiration." —Stephanie Hirsh, Executive Director National Staff Development Council "Williams and Richardson bring to life the abstractions and aspirations of the ISLLC standards through helpful explanations, vivid examples, and compelling stories. Their reflective questions and use of journal writing honor the uniqueness of each reader, and the authors offer practical suggestions for further learning and action." —Dennis Sparks, President Thinking Partners The guidance and inspiration principals need to take on the challenges of leadership! Offering a personal leadership coach in book format, this valuable resource provides scenarios for rich conversations to strengthen a leader′s capacity for problem solving and for handling the day-to-day challenges of the elementary principalship. Written in a very personal voice and based on the authors′ experiences as principals, this engaging book is perfect for elementary school leaders to use on their own or as part of formal professional development. Each chapter focuses on a particular ISLLC standard and features real-life scenarios, mini coaching sessions, journaling sections, and professional development opportunities. The authors guide principals to: Reflect on the lessons learned from the stories and challenges faced by actual principals Deepen their understanding about their own practices through powerful coaching questions Write about and reflect on their own thoughts, stories, and practices Engage in proven professional development activities with their staff With this book as a portable coach, elementary principals can develop their practice, grow in their positions, and become the remarkable leaders their schools need!




The Survival Kit for the Elementary School Principal


Book Description

"I wish I′d had this useful desktop guide to help me through the challenges of my early years and as a reference guide for the later years. The authors have done a remarkable job of anticipating the daily needs of principals and offering practical suggestions that can be used within minutes! This book is eminently useful, up-to-date, and full of rich professional perspectives." —Ella Reiss Urdang, Elementary Principal Tenafly, NJ Public Schools "The school leader′s position is often the loneliest position in any school, but this excellent resource is the equivalent of having a mentor 24/7. This book should accompany all newly appointed school leaders into their new positions." —Neil MacNeill, Principal Ellenbrook Primary School, WA, Australia Creative, real-world approaches for responding to the fast-changing demands of school leadership! Designed for the busy administrator, The Survival Kit for the Elementary School Principal addresses daily challenges faced by all elementary school principals and offers expert solutions for virtually any leadership or administrative issue. Based on the authors′ extensive experiences in public and private schools, this easy-to-use kit includes time-saving forms, sample letters, charts, and checklists for successful day-to-day school administration. The book is a complete desktop reference with solutions for immediate problems or challenges. The authors′ pragmatic, tested strategies assist readers with: Systems thinking Negotiating the maze of NCLB requirements Using data to inform practice Understanding the key role that new technologies play in schools Succeeding as leaders, arbitrators, evaluators, disciplinarians, and more Gathering support through positive parent and community relations Suitable for diverse settings and school sizes, this comprehensive resource is a virtual library of essential information and support for effective elementary school leadership. All forms, letters, and checklists available online upon publication.




Better Than Happy


Book Description

Our unconscious thought patterns determine our relationships, our spiritual life and our connection to God to a much greater extent than we know. That's an alarming thought, because the subconscious mind is a mysterious realm that is really difficult to access and influence...right? No. It's really not! And it's the most urgent and impactful thing we can do. This book will show you how. How do I choose faith over fear when my loved ones are making poor choices? Why don't I feel happier if I'm reading and praying like I've been taught? How can I stop feeling like I'm just not good enough? What am I to do when my spouse is judgmental of me? How do I trust in Christ when everything seems to be falling apart? Get answers to these and other tough questions in the context of Christ-centered principles throughout this book. Jody Moore is a Master Certified Life Coach who has taught and coached tens of thousands of women through her in-person and online workshops and podcast. She brings her characteristic clarity, wisdom, humor and disarming honesty to this groundbreaking book. In Better Than Happy, Jody shows how a simple 5-step model she uses in every session with her clients can reveal the unconscious patterns of thoughts that keep us from deeper and healthier connection with ourselves, with our loved ones and with God. Jody then shows how, once we clear the debris of our unconscious patterns of thought, new streams of understanding of Christ's teachings begin to flow. I am a mother of 4, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and a woman trying to figure out how to minimize resentment, overwhelm and guilt, and replace them with happiness, gratitude and joy. Three years after getting married I found myself with two kids under age 2, a loving husband, and a lot of self-loathing. I struggled with the duties associated with being a mom and wife and then I felt guilty for feeling that way. After all, this was the life I thought I'd always wanted. I have a BA in Communications and an MA in Adult Education along with 15 years of experience as a Corporate Trainer and Leadership Coach, but what has helped me the most to overcome my struggles and to conquer all of my goals, are the tools I use now to coach my clients. Thanks to my extensive training with Brooke Castillo of The Life Coach School, I am now a Certified Life Coach, and I couldn't be more proud of the work I get to do in the world.




Blended Coaching


Book Description

Support new and veteran principals through coaching-based professional development! How can a coach support a school leader in mastering the professional and emotional challenges of school leadership in a manner that has a positive impact on students? This book provides practical skills and strategies for leadership coaching explicitly tied to the needs of principals and other school leaders. An indispensable resource for improving principal retention, teacher satisfaction and student achievement, this ready reference contains: Real-life examples Reflective prompts Practical exercises Comprehensive resources, including worksheets, sample forms, and assessments




Leading Like a C.O.A.C.H.


Book Description

"Renwick encourages school leaders to think like a coach who embodies these five practices: Create Confidence Through Trust Organize Around a Priority Affirm Promising Practices Communicate Feedback Help Teachers Become Leaders and Learners This book will be especially helpful for new leaders who need to build credibility and veteran leaders who want to support their staff and build a community of learners. Leading like a coach reframes our approach to schoolwide change, from acting as a autocratic leader to embracing the leadership capacity within our staff and empowering them to improve on their own areas of strength"--




Principal Professional Development


Book Description

Build transformational leadership using social media! Close the gap of knowledge and experience between educators and learn how you really can find the time to connect with other leaders using social media. This highly instructive and conversational guide makes it easy. Filled with real-world experiences from leaders all over the country, you’ll build balanced and effective leadership skills, grow a network of support, and model your vision for a thriving community of learners. Includes a handy start-up guide to help busy principals: Connect virtually with K-12 leaders Model continuous learning Find solutions using Twitter, Google Hangouts, and more




The Empowered Principal


Book Description

The Empowered Principal is for the new principal who feels overwhelmed by the responsibility they have taken on as a school leader. It’s no surprise principals feel overwhelmed and exhausted. Every day, they deal with federal and state regulations, district policies, and parental pressures. The expectations on educators are higher than ever, tempting many principals to consider alternate livelihoods. Former school leader and teacher Angela Kelly Robeck helps principals who feel discouraged at the lack of control they feel over their job and personal life, allowing them to find a new perspective on working to exhaustion, saying yes when they don’t want to, and completely dreading going to work each day. The Empowered Principal provides relief for readers by pointing out that they have the power and ability to manage the results in their life by adjusting their approach and being mindful of their thoughts and emotional state—regardless of whether they choose to stay in their job or even pursue an alternate career. Angela shares how to manage feelings of overwhelm, reasons why school leaders stay in their jobs, how to confidently stay or peacefully go (and how to choose, and why educators are afraid to speak up. The Empowered Principal guides principals to reform the way they live and work as an educational leader and allows them to work each day with joy and accomplishment.




Saving the School


Book Description

Inside the race to save a great American high school, where making the numbers is only the beginning Being principal was never her dream. Anabel Garza, the young widow of a young cop, got by teaching English to immigrant children, taking college classes at night and raising her son. And Reagan High was no dream assignment. Once famous for its state football championships, educational achievements and award-winning design, the school was a shadow of its former self. “Identified for improvement,” said the federal government. “Academically unacceptable,” said the state. Promising students were fleeing. Test scores were plunging. The education commissioner set a deadline of one year, threatening to close the school for good. But when Anabel took the job - cruising the mall for dropouts, tailoring lessons to the tests, firing a few lazy teachers and supporting the rest – she started something no one expected. As the numbers rose, she set out to re-create the high school she remembered, with plays and dances, yearbooks and clubs, crowded bleachers and teachers who brought books alive. And soon she was not alone. There was Derrick Davis, a star player on the basketball team in the early 1990s, coaching the Raiders toward a chance at the playoffs. There was Candice Kaiser, a science teacher who had left hard partying behind for Christ, drilling her students on chemistry while she drove them to games, tutoring sessions, Bible studies and sometimes even doctors’ appointments. There were JaQuarius Daniels, Ashley Brown and 900 other kids trying to pass the exams, escape the streets and restore the pride of a neighborhood, all while still growing up. Across the country, public schools face the threat of extinction in the numerically ordained churn of the accountability movement. Now, for the first time, we can tally the human cost of rankings and scores. In this powerful rejoinder to the prevailing winds of American education policy, Michael Brick takes us inside the high-pressure world of a school on the brink. Compelling, character-driven narrative journalism, Saving the School pays overdue tribute to the great American high school, and to the people inside.




What Great Teachers Do Differently


Book Description

Book In the second edition of this renowned book, you will find pearls of wisdom, heartfelt advice, and inspiration from one of the nation’s leading authorities on staff motivation, teacher leadership, and principal effectiveness. With wit and understanding, Todd Whitaker describes the beliefs, behaviors, attitudes, and interactions of great teachers and explains what they do differently. New features include: Meaning what you say Focusing on students first Putting yourself in their position DVD Bundle This bundle includes a DVD featuring Todd Whitaker speaking about what great teachers do differently. It runs for approximately two hours and is the perfect addition to teacher training events and professional development meetings/workshops. Filled with pearls of wisdom, humor, and practical strategies, the video will motivate your staff and inspire them to be the best they can, each and every day. The DVD comes with a free copy of What Great Teachers Do Differently as well as a Facilitator's Guide.




Leading Student-Centered Coaching


Book Description

Essential leadership moves for supporting instructional coaching in your school Strong leadership is essential in any successful instructional coaching effort. This action-oriented guide provides principals and district leaders with the background, practices, and tools required for leading coaching efforts that have a measurable impact on student and teacher learning. Filled with ideas that school leaders can easily apply, this book includes: Tools and techniques for preparing a school for coaching, launching a coaching culture, and supporting coaches Leadership moves and lessons from the field that provide strategies for building principal and coach partnerships Recommendations for coaches to use as they strive to increase their impact