Building Strong School Cultures

A Guide to Leading Change
Sharon Kruse - Washington State University Vancouver
Karen Seashore Louis - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
Building Strong School Cultures
September 2008 | 200 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781452294780
Available from January 0001
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ISBN: 9781412951821
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Description

"Standing on the back of their groundbreaking research on school culture, Kruse and Seashore Louis provide an insightful and very practical guide that should be a must-read for anyone preparing to become a school leader."
—Kenneth Leithwood, Professor
OISE/University of Toronto

"A manageable, well-rehearsed plan for discussion, research, and lots of reflective thought for any school leader willing to develop their own leadership and the culture in which they desire to lead."
—Teresa P. Cunningham, Principal
Laurel Elementary School, TN

Develop an integrated school culture that engages educators with their colleagues and communities!

As a principal, you realize that effecting positive, long-lasting change requires support both within your school and in the wider community. This practical handbook shows school leaders how to build a climate of collaboration with staff, teachers, and parents as well as how to develop connections with foundations, business groups, social service providers, and government agencies.

Sharon D. Kruse and Karen Seashore Louis call on principals to create a viable, sustainable school culture using organizational learning and trust to involve the professional community and to affect teaching and learning. This addition to the Leadership for Learning series presents a leadership approach that integrates teachers, parents, and community members into a coherent team. The authors examine schools that have achieved lasting cultural change and present practical strategies for:

  • Diagnosing and shaping a school culture
  • Revising leadership functions to broaden decision-making processes
  • Rethinking organizational structures
  • Supporting continuous improvement while ensuring stability

Building Strong School Cultures draws from business and psychology research on motivating and organizing people to provide school leaders with the skills they need to promote effective change.

Contents

Series Foreword by E. Joseph Schneider and Willis D. Hawley

Series Foreword by E. Joseph Schneider and Willis D. Hawley

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

  • 1. Changing School Culture: An Introduction and Overview
  • School Cultures: Stable and Fluid or Stable and Fragile
  • Introducing PCOLT: Professional Community, Organizational Learning, and Trust
  • Intensified Leadership: An Introduction
  • Intensification and Beyond "Quick Fixes"
  • Summary and Overview of the Book
  • Recommended Readings and Culture Activities
  • 2. Principals as Cultural Change Agents
  • Cultures and Subcultures in Schools
  • Management and Leadership
  • Paths to Cultural Management and Leadership
  • Conclusion
  • Additional Readings and Activities for Getting Started
  • 3. Diagnosing Your School Culture: Understanding Where You Are
  • The Basics of Cultural Diagnosis
  • Diagnosing Your School Culture
  • Diagnosis and Intensified Leadership for Cultural Change
  • Culture Resources and Activities
  • 4. Linking Leadership and School Culture
  • Leadership and Decision Making
  • Intensifying Leadership at Your School
  • Intensifying Leadership by Building PCOLT
  • Vigilance and Strong School Cultures
  • Conclusion
  • Reflections and Activities for Developing School Culture
  • 5. Networks, Networking, and Cultural Change
  • Webs and Nets
  • Thinking About Networks
  • Cautions
  • Next Steps
  • Reflections and Goal-Setting Activities
  • 6. Intensifying Leadership Through Partnerships With Districts
  • Thinking About District-School Relationships
  • Rethinking Organizational Structures and Cultures
  • Influencing District-School Relationships
  • Moving Forward
  • Conclusion
  • Reflections and Activities
  • 7. Schools and Communities: Working With the Enduring Dilemmas of Time and Accountability
  • Student Learning and Development: A Foundation
  • Schools as Agencies for Democracy
  • Social Capital and Civic Capacity
  • Schools as Moral Agencies
  • Conclusion
  • Web Resources, Activities, and Reflections
  • 8. Bringing It All Together: Concluding Themes and Thoughts
  • The Art of Balance
  • Implications for Action and Growth
  • A PCOLT Planning Guide

References

References

Index

Index

Resources

Supplemental Resources Website

Once you have Building Strong School Cultures in hand, you will have access to the study guides contained in the supplemental resources website. They are designed as easy references to the key ideas and themes in each chapter of Building Strong School Cultures, as well as to explicitly link ideas to practical applications for leaders in school settings. These guides offer the reader materials to enhance understanding and to support group discussion and individual reflection about the ideas in the book.
http://www.corwin.com/schoolcultures

Additional materials

Description

"Standing on the back of their groundbreaking research on school culture, Kruse and Seashore Louis provide an insightful and very practical guide that should be a must-read for anyone preparing to become a school leader."
—Kenneth Leithwood, Professor
OISE/University of Toronto

"A manageable, well-rehearsed plan for discussion, research, and lots of reflective thought for any school leader willing to develop their own leadership and the culture in which they desire to lead."
—Teresa P. Cunningham, Principal
Laurel Elementary School, TN

Develop an integrated school culture that engages educators with their colleagues and communities!

As a principal, you realize that effecting positive, long-lasting change requires support both within your school and in the wider community. This practical handbook shows school leaders how to build a climate of collaboration with staff, teachers, and parents as well as how to develop connections with foundations, business groups, social service providers, and government agencies.

Sharon D. Kruse and Karen Seashore Louis call on principals to create a viable, sustainable school culture using organizational learning and trust to involve the professional community and to affect teaching and learning. This addition to the Leadership for Learning series presents a leadership approach that integrates teachers, parents, and community members into a coherent team. The authors examine schools that have achieved lasting cultural change and present practical strategies for:

  • Diagnosing and shaping a school culture
  • Revising leadership functions to broaden decision-making processes
  • Rethinking organizational structures
  • Supporting continuous improvement while ensuring stability

Building Strong School Cultures draws from business and psychology research on motivating and organizing people to provide school leaders with the skills they need to promote effective change.

Contents

Series Foreword by E. Joseph Schneider and Willis D. Hawley

Series Foreword by E. Joseph Schneider and Willis D. Hawley

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

  • 1. Changing School Culture: An Introduction and Overview
  • School Cultures: Stable and Fluid or Stable and Fragile
  • Introducing PCOLT: Professional Community, Organizational Learning, and Trust
  • Intensified Leadership: An Introduction
  • Intensification and Beyond "Quick Fixes"
  • Summary and Overview of the Book
  • Recommended Readings and Culture Activities
  • 2. Principals as Cultural Change Agents
  • Cultures and Subcultures in Schools
  • Management and Leadership
  • Paths to Cultural Management and Leadership
  • Conclusion
  • Additional Readings and Activities for Getting Started
  • 3. Diagnosing Your School Culture: Understanding Where You Are
  • The Basics of Cultural Diagnosis
  • Diagnosing Your School Culture
  • Diagnosis and Intensified Leadership for Cultural Change
  • Culture Resources and Activities
  • 4. Linking Leadership and School Culture
  • Leadership and Decision Making
  • Intensifying Leadership at Your School
  • Intensifying Leadership by Building PCOLT
  • Vigilance and Strong School Cultures
  • Conclusion
  • Reflections and Activities for Developing School Culture
  • 5. Networks, Networking, and Cultural Change
  • Webs and Nets
  • Thinking About Networks
  • Cautions
  • Next Steps
  • Reflections and Goal-Setting Activities
  • 6. Intensifying Leadership Through Partnerships With Districts
  • Thinking About District-School Relationships
  • Rethinking Organizational Structures and Cultures
  • Influencing District-School Relationships
  • Moving Forward
  • Conclusion
  • Reflections and Activities
  • 7. Schools and Communities: Working With the Enduring Dilemmas of Time and Accountability
  • Student Learning and Development: A Foundation
  • Schools as Agencies for Democracy
  • Social Capital and Civic Capacity
  • Schools as Moral Agencies
  • Conclusion
  • Web Resources, Activities, and Reflections
  • 8. Bringing It All Together: Concluding Themes and Thoughts
  • The Art of Balance
  • Implications for Action and Growth
  • A PCOLT Planning Guide

References

References

Index

Index

Resources

Supplemental Resources Website

Once you have Building Strong School Cultures in hand, you will have access to the study guides contained in the supplemental resources website. They are designed as easy references to the key ideas and themes in each chapter of Building Strong School Cultures, as well as to explicitly link ideas to practical applications for leaders in school settings. These guides offer the reader materials to enhance understanding and to support group discussion and individual reflection about the ideas in the book.
http://www.corwin.com/schoolcultures

Additional materials

SAGE Publishing Logo

Building Strong School Cultures

A Guide to Leading Change


September 2008 | 200 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 27/02/2023 9781412951821 $39.95
Hardcover 27/02/2023 9781412951814 $86.95
Lifetime 30/09/2024 9781452294780 $36.00

"Standing on the back of their groundbreaking research on school culture, Kruse and Seashore Louis provide an insightful and very practical guide that should be a must-read for anyone preparing to become a school leader."
—Kenneth Leithwood, Professor
OISE/University of Toronto

"A manageable, well-rehearsed plan for discussion, research, and lots of reflective thought for any school leader willing to develop their own leadership and the culture in which they desire to lead."
—Teresa P. Cunningham, Principal
Laurel Elementary School, TN

Develop an integrated school culture that engages educators with their colleagues and communities!

As a principal, you realize that effecting positive, long-lasting change requires support both within your school and in the wider community. This practical handbook shows school leaders how to build a climate of collaboration with staff, teachers, and parents as well as how to develop connections with foundations, business groups, social service providers, and government agencies.

Sharon D. Kruse and Karen Seashore Louis call on principals to create a viable, sustainable school culture using organizational learning and trust to involve the professional community and to affect teaching and learning. This addition to the Leadership for Learning series presents a leadership approach that integrates teachers, parents, and community members into a coherent team. The authors examine schools that have achieved lasting cultural change and present practical strategies for:

  • Diagnosing and shaping a school culture
  • Revising leadership functions to broaden decision-making processes
  • Rethinking organizational structures
  • Supporting continuous improvement while ensuring stability

Building Strong School Cultures draws from business and psychology research on motivating and organizing people to provide school leaders with the skills they need to promote effective change.


Table Of Contents:

  • Series Foreword by E. Joseph Schneider and Willis D. Hawley
  • Acknowledgments
  • About the Authors
  • 1. Changing School Culture: An Introduction and Overview
  • School Cultures: Stable and Fluid or Stable and Fragile
  • Introducing PCOLT: Professional Community, Organizational Learning, and Trust
  • Intensified Leadership: An Introduction
  • Intensification and Beyond "Quick Fixes"
  • Summary and Overview of the Book
  • Recommended Readings and Culture Activities
  • 2. Principals as Cultural Change Agents
  • Cultures and Subcultures in Schools
  • Management and Leadership
  • Paths to Cultural Management and Leadership
  • Conclusion
  • Additional Readings and Activities for Getting Started
  • 3. Diagnosing Your School Culture: Understanding Where You Are
  • The Basics of Cultural Diagnosis
  • Diagnosing Your School Culture
  • Diagnosis and Intensified Leadership for Cultural Change
  • Culture Resources and Activities
  • 4. Linking Leadership and School Culture
  • Leadership and Decision Making
  • Intensifying Leadership at Your School
  • Intensifying Leadership by Building PCOLT
  • Vigilance and Strong School Cultures
  • Conclusion
  • Reflections and Activities for Developing School Culture
  • 5. Networks, Networking, and Cultural Change
  • Webs and Nets
  • Thinking About Networks
  • Cautions
  • Next Steps
  • Reflections and Goal-Setting Activities
  • 6. Intensifying Leadership Through Partnerships With Districts
  • Thinking About District-School Relationships
  • Rethinking Organizational Structures and Cultures
  • Influencing District-School Relationships
  • Moving Forward
  • Conclusion
  • Reflections and Activities
  • 7. Schools and Communities: Working With the Enduring Dilemmas of Time and Accountability
  • Student Learning and Development: A Foundation
  • Schools as Agencies for Democracy
  • Social Capital and Civic Capacity
  • Schools as Moral Agencies
  • Conclusion
  • Web Resources, Activities, and Reflections
  • 8. Bringing It All Together: Concluding Themes and Thoughts
  • The Art of Balance
  • Implications for Action and Growth
  • A PCOLT Planning Guide
  • References
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

"Standing on the back of their groundbreaking research on school culture, Kruse and Seashore Louis provide an insightful and very practical guide that should be a must-read for anyone preparing to become a school leader."
Kenneth Leithwood, Professor, OISE/University of Toronto
"This timely book is a delight. It sets a new agenda for leadership and achieves the rare goal of combining practical tools and rich vignettes with analytical reflections based on sound research."
Kathryn Riley, Professor, London Centre for Leadership in Learning, University of London, United Kingdom
"An important companion to current research and good thinking about change. This book presents ideas, research, and great questions not often found in how-to manuals on school change."
Lyman Goding, Visiting Lecturer, Bridgewater State College
"A manageable, well-rehearsed plan for discussion, research, and lots of reflective thought for any school leader willing to go the extra journey to develop their own leadership and the culture in which they desire to lead."
Teresa P. Cunningham, Principal, Laurel Elementary School, TN
"The book is an easy read, yet is on target and to-the-point. It provides a practical means by which to change school culture, often a necessary step to improved student achievement."
James L. Pate, Associate Professor, Valdosta State University

Recommendations