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Bridge the gap between managing well and leading for impact.In this must-read guide for education leaders, Alan C. Jones expertly distinguishes between Administrators Good at their Jobs (AGJs) and Standout School Leaders (SSLs) by exploring the qualities that make select leaders truly exceptional. While AGJs focus on maintaining effective school operations, SSLs address the gaps within institutional systems to create environments that foster genuine learning and growth, balance institutional demands with innovative educational approaches, and align day-to-day operations with the deeper mission of schooling.
You'll find chapter openers that contrast how SSLs and AGJs approach fundamental administrative functions and closing questions to support personal reflection and application of the concept at your school site. Additional features include:
- Vignettes that illustrate daily challenges faced by administrators and contrasting leadership responses
- SSL Tips to offer insights into how SSLs think differently about schooling goals
- End-of-Chapter Resources to deepen understanding of key concepts
Jones empowers education leaders with the knowledge and tools to integrate innovative practices into their roles. Whether yoüre a principal, department head, or district leader, this book provides the guidance needed to transition from managing to leading by fostering environments where both educators and students can thrive.
List of contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Being Good at the Job
Chapter 2: Friendly Enemies
Chapter 3: What is a Good School?
Chapter 4: The Academic Mind
Chapter 5: Beyond Managerial Truths
Chapter 6: Self-Authoring
Chapter 7: Connecting the Dots
Chapter 8: Disciplined Talent
Chapter 9: Controlling Narratives
Chapter 10: Cracks in the Systems
Chapter 11: Tools
Chapter 12: Views From the Balcony
Chapter 13: The Realities of Schooling
Chapter 14: Standout School Leadership: The Hope of Schooling
References
About the author
Dr. Alan C. Jones is an educational consultant specializing in curriculum, instruction, and instructional leadership. His teaching career includes teaching English at DuSable Upper Grade Center in Chicago, Illinois; social studies at Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois; and school administration at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. He began his administrative career as an activity’s director at Thornton Township High School and went in to become assistant principal at Bremen Township High School and served as principal of Community High School District 94 in West Chicago, Illinois, for seventeen years. Under his leadership, Community High School was awarded the Blue-Ribbon School of Excellence in 1993 and was recognized as a 1995 School of Excellence by HISPANIC magazine.
His publications include articles in educational journals on instructional leadership and school reform, and five books: Students? Do not Push your Teacher Down the Stairs on Friday: A Teacher’s Notebook (Quadrangle Books, 1972), Becoming a Strong Instructional Leader; Saying No to Business as Usual (Teachers College Press, 2012), Teaching Matters Most: A School Leader’s Guide to Improving Classroom Instruction (Corwin Books, 2012), The First 100 Days in the Main Office: Transforming a School Culture (Information Age Press, 2018); Living Up to Your School Mission Statement: Reforming Schools from the Inside Out (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021).
