Leading for Professional Learning - What Successful Principals Do to Support Teaching Practice

Support teachers with more effective instructional leadership
 
Leading for Professional Learning offers field-tested guidance to help school leaders more effectively support teachers' professional development. Leadership is crucial to professional learning, providing the necessary systems and structures that enable teachers to improve their own practice and in turn, improve student learning. With an illustrative case study, this book provides invaluable guidance, packed with practical tools, processes, and expert advice.
 
Because each school differs in terms of strengths and needs, this book steers away from prescriptivism and shows you how to construct a support plan tailored to your unique context. Specific teaching and leadership frameworks guide you through the process of examination, discovery, and execution, equipping you with the necessary tools and insight you need to make positive changes for your teachers - and ultimately, your students. A must-read resource for principals, administrators, and other school and district leadership, this book helps you set your school on the path to continuous improvement.
* Determine your school's professional learning needs
* Leverage existing support structures for the greatest effect
* Understand the role of leadership in sponsoring and following up on professional learning
* Ensure intentional changes in teacher practice and student learning
 
Empowering teachers to improve their craft goes beyond merely offering opportunity; it requires collaboration with teachers every step of the way, a deep understanding of how best to support professional learning, a clear set of goals for both individual sessions and an overarching mission, and the necessary technical and relational support required to see these opportunities through. Written by experts from the University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership, Leading for Professional Learning provides real-world advice that has been proven effective in school districts across the nation.

List of contents

List of Figures ix
 
List of Tables xi
 
About the Authors xiii
 
Acknowledgments xv
 
Foreword
by Dr. Stephanie Hirsh, Learning Forward xvii
 
Introduction xxi
 
ONE Focusing Teacher Learning 1
 
TWO Toward a Broader Definition of Instructional Leadership 9
 
THREE The Role of Observation in Supporting Teachers' Learning 27
 
FOUR Planning for Focused Professional Learning 49
 
FIVE Sponsoring Professional Learning 73
 
SIX A Process for Following Up 85
 
SEVEN A Call for System Action to Support Principals as Instructional Leaders 105
 
EIGHT Conclusion 125
 
Appendix One: Gathering Evidence for 4 Dimensions of Principal Instructional Leadership 131
 
Appendix Two: Inquiry Cycle Tool 149
 
References 167
 
Index 169

About the author

ANNEKE MARKHOLT is the associate director with the University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership. JOANNA MICHELSON is a project director at the University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership. STEPHEN FINK is the former executive director of the University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership.

Summary

Support teachers with more effective instructional leadership

Leading for Professional Learning offers field-tested guidance to help school leaders more effectively support teachers' professional development. Leadership is crucial to professional learning, providing the necessary systems and structures that enable teachers to improve their own practice and in turn, improve student learning. With an illustrative case study, this book provides invaluable guidance, packed with practical tools, processes, and expert advice.

Because each school differs in terms of strengths and needs, this book steers away from prescriptivism and shows you how to construct a support plan tailored to your unique context. Specific teaching and leadership frameworks guide you through the process of examination, discovery, and execution, equipping you with the necessary tools and insight you need to make positive changes for your teachers - and ultimately, your students. A must-read resource for principals, administrators, and other school and district leadership, this book helps you set your school on the path to continuous improvement.
* Determine your school's professional learning needs
* Leverage existing support structures for the greatest effect
* Understand the role of leadership in sponsoring and following up on professional learning
* Ensure intentional changes in teacher practice and student learning

Empowering teachers to improve their craft goes beyond merely offering opportunity; it requires collaboration with teachers every step of the way, a deep understanding of how best to support professional learning, a clear set of goals for both individual sessions and an overarching mission, and the necessary technical and relational support required to see these opportunities through. Written by experts from the University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership, Leading for Professional Learning provides real-world advice that has been proven effective in school districts across the nation.

Product details

• Authors: Stephen Fink, Fink Stephen, Annek Markholt, Anneke Markholt, Anneke Michelson Markholt, Joann Michelson, Joanna Michelson, Joanna Markholt Michelson, Michelson Joanna
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.09.2018
• EAN: 9781119440444
• ISBN: 978-1-119-44044-4
• No. of pages: 208
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Education > Education system; Education, Bildungswesen, K-12, K-12 / Leitung u. Verwaltung, Leadership & Administration (K-12)