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No Challenge Left Behind
Transforming American Education Through Heart and Soul

Foreword by Terrence E. Deal



May 2008 | 192 pages | Corwin

"A brilliant distillation of the best thinking from one of the great minds in our field. This funny, uplifting page-turner inspires profound 'aha' moments necessary for being a 'hope-pusher' internally while effectively advocating for children in the larger community."
—Alan M. Blankstein, President
HOPE Foundation

"Paul Houston thinks like a man of action and acts like a man of thought. His writings are packed with the wisdom, grace, and innovation that have made him one of the true leaders in American public education today."
—Daniel H. Pink, Author
A Whole New Mind

"This book translates the real issues in public education into sublime teachings for life."
—Anne L. Bryant, Executive Director
National School Boards Association

"Paul Houston is a crusader for American public education. His fresh ideas provide answers to some of the toughest challenges our schools and school leaders face today."
—Richard Riley, Former U.S. Secretary of Education

"In these timeless essays, Houston opens our minds with his powerful thoughts, touches our hearts with his understanding and passion, and invites us to see public schools and the children we serve in a new light."
—Gail Connelly, Executive Director
National Association of Elementary School Principals

"Paul Houston's extensive knowledge of the issues facing today's busy school administrators is unparalleled. This collection is indeed a testament to Houston's legacy and his deep love for and commitment to public education."
—Gerald N. Tirozzi, Executive Director
National Association of Secondary School Principals

A collection of influential, insightful, and inspiring articles from an educational leadership expert!

In this resource, retiring executive director of the American Association of School Administrators, former superintendent, and best-selling author Paul D. Houston examines the growing complexity of the educational process and the challenge of transforming learning into an engaging, meaningful—and even joyful—experience.

Houston offers enlightening perspectives on global competition, the widening economic gulf between social classes, the explosion of information, and a landscape of competing expectations. This provocative book views education as "soul work" touching the deepest part of the human spirit and covers:

  • What it means to be a leader 
  • The challenges of transforming public education
  • How leaders can champion learning and education
  • Lessons from the field

 
Foreword by Terrence E. Deal
 
Introduction
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
1. The Building Blocks of Leadership
So?...But Not So What!

 
Finding Our Voice

 
Breaking Away

 
Risking Our Significance

 
Daily Blessings

 
Living in a Jerry Springer World

 
The Samurai Superintendent

 
The Axis of Evil

 
On Becoming a Hope Pusher

 
A View From the Top

 
Life's Lessons From My Dog Holly

 
 
2. New Role: Superintendent of Education
Getting It Right

 
Revenge of the Blob

 
Nearly Famous

 
A Critical Position in Critical Condition

 
On the Penguin March Through Life

 
Who You Gonna Call?

 
Building Fields of Dreams

 
To Lead My Trek, I Pick Scotty

 
 
3. Transforming Public Education: Challenges and Solutions
Lessons From Room 411

 
Burning Thoughts on a Snowy Day

 
The Seven Deadly Sins of No Child Left Behind

 
Authentic Accountability

 
Barking Up the Right Tree

 
Intelligent Redesign: Reframing the Discussion on High School Reform

 
Einstein's Brain

 
Advancing System Leadership

 
Making Great Time on a Lost Highway

 
Diverse Learners

 
Butchers or Tailors

 
The Bigotry of Expectations

 
Running Schools Like Business

 
NCLB: Dreams and Nightmares

 
 
4. Lessons From the Road
Bagpipes and a Spot of Grace

 
Finding the Right Words

 
Snow Blind

 
Is Possible?

 
A Pint of Good Sense

 
The Road to Hana

 
Water and Ice

 
Seeing the Forest and the Trees

 
Ode to Joy

 
Negotiating the Past and the Future

 
The Fantasy and Flow of Vietnam

 
A Worthy Import From Singapore

 
Digging My Way to China

 
 
Index

“This brilliant distillation of the best thinking from one of the great minds in our field reconnects the reader to his moral purpose while providing the passion, clarity, and pithy language to act on it. This funny, uplifting page-turner inspires profound ‘aha’ moments needed to be a ‘hope-pusher’ internally while effectively advocating for children in the larger community.”

Alan M. Blankstein, President
HOPE Foundation

“To say that Paul Houston has a way with words is the understatement of all times. Readers will not only enjoy this engaging book, they will keep reflecting on the lessons learned from someone who translates the real issues in public education into sublime teachings for life.”

Anne L. Bryant, Executive Director
National School Boards Association

“Paul Houston thinks like a man of action and acts like a man of thought. His writings are packed with the wisdom, grace, and innovation that have made him one of the true leaders in American public education today.”

Daniel H. Pink, Author of A Whole New Mind

“Paul Houston is a crusader for American public education. The articles in this book demonstrate Houston’s commitment to public schools and the students they serve. His fresh ideas provide answers to some of the toughest challenges our schools and school leaders face today.”

Richard Riley, Former U.S. Secretary of Education

"These timeless essays invite us to see public schools and the children we serve in a new light. Houston opens our minds with his powerful thoughts and touches our hearts with his understanding and passion.”

Gail Connelly, Executive Director
National Association of Elementary School Principals

“Paul Houston’s extensive knowledge and expertise of the issues facing today’s busy school administrators is unparalleled. He has been at the forefront of the debate on transforming American education, and he always speaks from the heart and soul. This collection of writings is indeed a testament to Houston's legacy and his deep love and commitment to public education.”

Gerald N. Tirozzi, Executive Director
National Association of Secondary School Principals

Sample Materials & Chapters

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1


For instructors

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