Sustaining Extraordinary Student Achievement

Linda E. Reksten - Point Loma Nazarene University, USA
Sustaining Extraordinary Student Achievement
October 2008 | 152 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781452293202
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ISBN: 9781412917537
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Description

"The patterns described in these successful schools both validated and challenged my thinking. I can see opportunities for renewed emphasis in our district and much hope for continuing our progress with students."
—Nancy Skerritt, Assistant Superintendent
Tahoma School District, Maple Valley, WA

Transform your school with best leadership practices that sustain high student achievement year after year!

What are the key elements necessary for creating enduring student success? In the era of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and high-stakes accountability, district leaders, principals, and teachers need to develop core values and practices that will help schools not only meet learning goals, but sustain performance over time.

Sustaining Extraordinary Student Achievement presents "on-the-ground, walking-the-hallways" case studies and analyses of five Title I elementary schools that overcame a myriad of challenges, including high staff turnover and a high percentage of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, to achieve and maintain academic excellence. Drawing from interviews, vignettes, and site visits, the author shows how these schools succeeded through strategies that align with research on effective schools, such as:

  • Creating a school culture that emphasizes high standards and expectations
  • Nurturing collaboration and effective shared leadership
  • Using data to target instruction, intervene with students, and make decisions
  • Focusing on exemplary standards
  • Empowering staff to do their best work

Initiate meaningful change in your school with progressive practices and proven leadership strategies!

Contents

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Author

About the Author

1. Introduction

  • Selection of Five Title 1 Schools
  • Focus Areas for Structured Interviews
  • The Five Sustaining Schools

2. Sylvan Elementary School, Modesto, California: A Culture of Effective Instruction

  • Building a High-Achieving Culture
  • Sylvan's Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • Empowering Staff to Do Their Best Work
  • Using Student Data to Guide Curriculum and Instruction
  • Ongoing Improvement of Instruction
  • Strategic Intervention With Students
  • Sylvan’s Sustaining Elements
  • Lessons Learned From Sylvan Elementary School

3. Camellia Elementary School, Sacramento, California: A Culture of Order and Discipline

  • Developing a Culture of Order and Discipline
  • The Right Staff Stays at the School
  • Using Student Data to Guide Curriculum and Instruction
  • The Role of the Leadership Team and Governance
  • Camellia’s Non-Negotiable Core Values and Sustaining Elements
  • Lessons Learned From Camellia Elementary School

4. Jefferson Elementary School, Carlsbad, California: A Culture of Collaboration

  • Developing a Culture of Collaboration
  • Jefferson’s Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • Using Benchmark Data to Target Instruction
  • Using Data to Intervene With Students
  • Jefferson’s Sustaining Elements
  • Lessons Learned From Jefferson Elementary School

5. Rosita Elementary School, Garden Grove, California: A Culture of Clarity

  • Building a High-Achieving Culture
  • Empowering Staff to Do Their Best Work
  • Rosita's Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • Advice to Principals
  • Sustaining Processes at Rosita
  • Lessons Learned From Rosita Elementary School

6. Baldwin Elementary School, Alhambra, California: A Culture of High Expectations

  • Building a High-Achieving Culture
  • Baldwin’s Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • Empowering the Right People
  • Mastery of Standards
  • Using Student Achievement Data
  • Baldwin’s Sustaining Elements
  • Lessons Learned From Baldwin Elementary School

7. Five Schools That Got the Job Done

  • A Crisis Point Forces Change
  • Developing a High-Achieving Culture
  • Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • The Essential Sustaining Elements
  • A Final Word

References

References

Index

Index

Additional materials

Description

"The patterns described in these successful schools both validated and challenged my thinking. I can see opportunities for renewed emphasis in our district and much hope for continuing our progress with students."
—Nancy Skerritt, Assistant Superintendent
Tahoma School District, Maple Valley, WA

Transform your school with best leadership practices that sustain high student achievement year after year!

What are the key elements necessary for creating enduring student success? In the era of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and high-stakes accountability, district leaders, principals, and teachers need to develop core values and practices that will help schools not only meet learning goals, but sustain performance over time.

Sustaining Extraordinary Student Achievement presents "on-the-ground, walking-the-hallways" case studies and analyses of five Title I elementary schools that overcame a myriad of challenges, including high staff turnover and a high percentage of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, to achieve and maintain academic excellence. Drawing from interviews, vignettes, and site visits, the author shows how these schools succeeded through strategies that align with research on effective schools, such as:

  • Creating a school culture that emphasizes high standards and expectations
  • Nurturing collaboration and effective shared leadership
  • Using data to target instruction, intervene with students, and make decisions
  • Focusing on exemplary standards
  • Empowering staff to do their best work

Initiate meaningful change in your school with progressive practices and proven leadership strategies!

Contents

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Author

About the Author

1. Introduction

  • Selection of Five Title 1 Schools
  • Focus Areas for Structured Interviews
  • The Five Sustaining Schools

2. Sylvan Elementary School, Modesto, California: A Culture of Effective Instruction

  • Building a High-Achieving Culture
  • Sylvan's Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • Empowering Staff to Do Their Best Work
  • Using Student Data to Guide Curriculum and Instruction
  • Ongoing Improvement of Instruction
  • Strategic Intervention With Students
  • Sylvan’s Sustaining Elements
  • Lessons Learned From Sylvan Elementary School

3. Camellia Elementary School, Sacramento, California: A Culture of Order and Discipline

  • Developing a Culture of Order and Discipline
  • The Right Staff Stays at the School
  • Using Student Data to Guide Curriculum and Instruction
  • The Role of the Leadership Team and Governance
  • Camellia’s Non-Negotiable Core Values and Sustaining Elements
  • Lessons Learned From Camellia Elementary School

4. Jefferson Elementary School, Carlsbad, California: A Culture of Collaboration

  • Developing a Culture of Collaboration
  • Jefferson’s Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • Using Benchmark Data to Target Instruction
  • Using Data to Intervene With Students
  • Jefferson’s Sustaining Elements
  • Lessons Learned From Jefferson Elementary School

5. Rosita Elementary School, Garden Grove, California: A Culture of Clarity

  • Building a High-Achieving Culture
  • Empowering Staff to Do Their Best Work
  • Rosita's Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • Advice to Principals
  • Sustaining Processes at Rosita
  • Lessons Learned From Rosita Elementary School

6. Baldwin Elementary School, Alhambra, California: A Culture of High Expectations

  • Building a High-Achieving Culture
  • Baldwin’s Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • Empowering the Right People
  • Mastery of Standards
  • Using Student Achievement Data
  • Baldwin’s Sustaining Elements
  • Lessons Learned From Baldwin Elementary School

7. Five Schools That Got the Job Done

  • A Crisis Point Forces Change
  • Developing a High-Achieving Culture
  • Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • The Essential Sustaining Elements
  • A Final Word

References

References

Index

Index

Additional materials

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Sustaining Extraordinary Student Achievement


October 2008 | 152 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 27/02/2023 9781412917537 $28.95
Lifetime 30/09/2024 9781452293202 $26.00

"The patterns described in these successful schools both validated and challenged my thinking. I can see opportunities for renewed emphasis in our district and much hope for continuing our progress with students."
—Nancy Skerritt, Assistant Superintendent
Tahoma School District, Maple Valley, WA

Transform your school with best leadership practices that sustain high student achievement year after year!

What are the key elements necessary for creating enduring student success? In the era of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and high-stakes accountability, district leaders, principals, and teachers need to develop core values and practices that will help schools not only meet learning goals, but sustain performance over time.

Sustaining Extraordinary Student Achievement presents "on-the-ground, walking-the-hallways" case studies and analyses of five Title I elementary schools that overcame a myriad of challenges, including high staff turnover and a high percentage of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, to achieve and maintain academic excellence. Drawing from interviews, vignettes, and site visits, the author shows how these schools succeeded through strategies that align with research on effective schools, such as:

  • Creating a school culture that emphasizes high standards and expectations
  • Nurturing collaboration and effective shared leadership
  • Using data to target instruction, intervene with students, and make decisions
  • Focusing on exemplary standards
  • Empowering staff to do their best work

Initiate meaningful change in your school with progressive practices and proven leadership strategies!


Table Of Contents:

  • Preface
  • Acknowledgments
  • About the Author
  • 1. Introduction
  • Selection of Five Title 1 Schools
  • Focus Areas for Structured Interviews
  • The Five Sustaining Schools
  • 2. Sylvan Elementary School, Modesto, California: A Culture of Effective Instruction
  • Building a High-Achieving Culture
  • Sylvan's Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • Empowering Staff to Do Their Best Work
  • Using Student Data to Guide Curriculum and Instruction
  • Ongoing Improvement of Instruction
  • Strategic Intervention With Students
  • Sylvan’s Sustaining Elements
  • Lessons Learned From Sylvan Elementary School
  • 3. Camellia Elementary School, Sacramento, California: A Culture of Order and Discipline
  • Developing a Culture of Order and Discipline
  • The Right Staff Stays at the School
  • Using Student Data to Guide Curriculum and Instruction
  • The Role of the Leadership Team and Governance
  • Camellia’s Non-Negotiable Core Values and Sustaining Elements
  • Lessons Learned From Camellia Elementary School
  • 4. Jefferson Elementary School, Carlsbad, California: A Culture of Collaboration
  • Developing a Culture of Collaboration
  • Jefferson’s Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • Using Benchmark Data to Target Instruction
  • Using Data to Intervene With Students
  • Jefferson’s Sustaining Elements
  • Lessons Learned From Jefferson Elementary School
  • 5. Rosita Elementary School, Garden Grove, California: A Culture of Clarity
  • Building a High-Achieving Culture
  • Empowering Staff to Do Their Best Work
  • Rosita's Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • Advice to Principals
  • Sustaining Processes at Rosita
  • Lessons Learned From Rosita Elementary School
  • 6. Baldwin Elementary School, Alhambra, California: A Culture of High Expectations
  • Building a High-Achieving Culture
  • Baldwin’s Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • Empowering the Right People
  • Mastery of Standards
  • Using Student Achievement Data
  • Baldwin’s Sustaining Elements
  • Lessons Learned From Baldwin Elementary School
  • 7. Five Schools That Got the Job Done
  • A Crisis Point Forces Change
  • Developing a High-Achieving Culture
  • Non-Negotiable Core Values
  • The Essential Sustaining Elements
  • A Final Word
  • References
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

"The patterns described in these successful schools both validated and challenged my thinking. I can see opportunities for renewed emphasis in our district and much hope for continuing our progress with students."
Nancy Skerritt, Assistant Superintendent, Tahoma School District, Maple Valley, WA
"Reksten has utilized research by education gurus and data from the studied school sites to provide the foundation for educators to begin the challenging, but achievable path of collaboration and high expectations for successful sustainability. Kudos to the author and the school communities!"
Lori Grossman, Manager of Mentoring Services, Houston Independent School District, TX
"This book led me to think and reflect on my leadership as a principal. It also led to introspection and reflection of practices in my school, which is sustaining high achievement."
Steve Knobl, Principal, Gulf High School, New Port Richey, FL

Recommendations