On Purpose

How Great School Cultures Form Strong Character
Samuel Casey Carter - Center for Education Reform
On Purpose
November 2010 | 208 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781452237879
Available from January 0001
Paperback
ISBN: 9781412986724
Available from January 0001

Description

"This book reminds us that there is more to education than preparing students for high-stakes tests. It is our responsibility to intentionally develop the whole child."
—Irwin Kurz, Former Director of School Quality
Heritage Academies, Grand Rapids, MI

"Samuel Casey Carter shows how great cultures—not big bucks, smaller class sizes, different curriculums, or better buildings—are what we need to save our education system."
—Jay Mathews, Columnist and Author
The Washington Post

Discover how 12 ordinary schools achieved extraordinary results

Bestselling author Samuel Casey Carter showcases a dozen extraordinary K–12 public and charter schools where confident children joyfully strive to accomplish worthy goals in concert with their friends. These mainstream American institutions focus on a culture of character as their foundation and demonstrate scalable, sustainable, and replicable models for your school to emulate. The results are undeniable:

  • Students who are encouraged to build lasting personal character and a strong sense of purpose
  • Motivated teachers who feel rewarded for their hard work
  • Improved student achievement in multiple subject areas

Strategies for creating a healthy school culture, including intentionality and hands-on guidance by the principal, come to life through case studies. These compelling examples will help educators and parents focus on strong personal character as the desired result of genuine learning.

Contents

About the Author

About the Author

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Preface

Preface

I.

  • 1. Four Common Traits of Great School Cultures
  • A Strong Belief That Culture Determines Outcome
  • A Nurturing but Demanding Culture
  • A Culture Committed to Student Success
  • 2. Creating a Great School Culture
  • How School Cultures Are Made
  • How School Cultures Form Character
  • How Great School Cultures Drive Achievement

II.

  • 3. Harvest Park Middle School, Pleasanton, CA
  • 4. Veritas Academy, Phoenix, AZ
  • 5. Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale, IL
  • 6. P.S. 124 New York, NY
  • 7. Providence St. Mel, Chicago, IL
  • 8. Arlington Traditional School, Arlington, VA
  • 9. HOPE Prima, Milwaukee, WI
  • 10. Cotswold Elementary, Charlotte, NC
  • 11. Atlantis Elementary, Port St. John, FL
  • 12. Grayhawk Elementary, Scottsdale, AZ
  • 13. An Achievable Dream Middle and High, Newport News, VA
  • 14. Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School, Franklin, MA

III.

  • 15. How Communities Can Help Form Great School Cultures

Endnotes

Endnotes

Selected Bibliography

Selected Bibliography

Index

Index

Description

"This book reminds us that there is more to education than preparing students for high-stakes tests. It is our responsibility to intentionally develop the whole child."
—Irwin Kurz, Former Director of School Quality
Heritage Academies, Grand Rapids, MI

"Samuel Casey Carter shows how great cultures—not big bucks, smaller class sizes, different curriculums, or better buildings—are what we need to save our education system."
—Jay Mathews, Columnist and Author
The Washington Post

Discover how 12 ordinary schools achieved extraordinary results

Bestselling author Samuel Casey Carter showcases a dozen extraordinary K–12 public and charter schools where confident children joyfully strive to accomplish worthy goals in concert with their friends. These mainstream American institutions focus on a culture of character as their foundation and demonstrate scalable, sustainable, and replicable models for your school to emulate. The results are undeniable:

  • Students who are encouraged to build lasting personal character and a strong sense of purpose
  • Motivated teachers who feel rewarded for their hard work
  • Improved student achievement in multiple subject areas

Strategies for creating a healthy school culture, including intentionality and hands-on guidance by the principal, come to life through case studies. These compelling examples will help educators and parents focus on strong personal character as the desired result of genuine learning.

Contents

About the Author

About the Author

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

Preface

Preface

I.

  • 1. Four Common Traits of Great School Cultures
  • A Strong Belief That Culture Determines Outcome
  • A Nurturing but Demanding Culture
  • A Culture Committed to Student Success
  • 2. Creating a Great School Culture
  • How School Cultures Are Made
  • How School Cultures Form Character
  • How Great School Cultures Drive Achievement

II.

  • 3. Harvest Park Middle School, Pleasanton, CA
  • 4. Veritas Academy, Phoenix, AZ
  • 5. Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale, IL
  • 6. P.S. 124 New York, NY
  • 7. Providence St. Mel, Chicago, IL
  • 8. Arlington Traditional School, Arlington, VA
  • 9. HOPE Prima, Milwaukee, WI
  • 10. Cotswold Elementary, Charlotte, NC
  • 11. Atlantis Elementary, Port St. John, FL
  • 12. Grayhawk Elementary, Scottsdale, AZ
  • 13. An Achievable Dream Middle and High, Newport News, VA
  • 14. Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School, Franklin, MA

III.

  • 15. How Communities Can Help Form Great School Cultures

Endnotes

Endnotes

Selected Bibliography

Selected Bibliography

Index

Index

SAGE Publishing Logo

On Purpose

How Great School Cultures Form Strong Character


November 2010 | 208 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 28/04/2023 9781412986724 $39.95
Lifetime 28/04/2023 9781452237879 $36.00

"This book reminds us that there is more to education than preparing students for high-stakes tests. It is our responsibility to intentionally develop the whole child."
—Irwin Kurz, Former Director of School Quality
Heritage Academies, Grand Rapids, MI

"Samuel Casey Carter shows how great cultures—not big bucks, smaller class sizes, different curriculums, or better buildings—are what we need to save our education system."
—Jay Mathews, Columnist and Author
The Washington Post

Discover how 12 ordinary schools achieved extraordinary results

Bestselling author Samuel Casey Carter showcases a dozen extraordinary K–12 public and charter schools where confident children joyfully strive to accomplish worthy goals in concert with their friends. These mainstream American institutions focus on a culture of character as their foundation and demonstrate scalable, sustainable, and replicable models for your school to emulate. The results are undeniable:

  • Students who are encouraged to build lasting personal character and a strong sense of purpose
  • Motivated teachers who feel rewarded for their hard work
  • Improved student achievement in multiple subject areas

Strategies for creating a healthy school culture, including intentionality and hands-on guidance by the principal, come to life through case studies. These compelling examples will help educators and parents focus on strong personal character as the desired result of genuine learning.


Table Of Contents:

  • About the Author
  • Acknowledgements
  • Preface
  • I.
  • 1. Four Common Traits of Great School Cultures
  • A Strong Belief That Culture Determines Outcome
  • A Nurturing but Demanding Culture
  • A Culture Committed to Student Success
  • 2. Creating a Great School Culture
  • How School Cultures Are Made
  • How School Cultures Form Character
  • How Great School Cultures Drive Achievement
  • II.
  • 3. Harvest Park Middle School, Pleasanton, CA
  • 4. Veritas Academy, Phoenix, AZ
  • 5. Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale, IL
  • 6. P.S. 124 New York, NY
  • 7. Providence St. Mel, Chicago, IL
  • 8. Arlington Traditional School, Arlington, VA
  • 9. HOPE Prima, Milwaukee, WI
  • 10. Cotswold Elementary, Charlotte, NC
  • 11. Atlantis Elementary, Port St. John, FL
  • 12. Grayhawk Elementary, Scottsdale, AZ
  • 13. An Achievable Dream Middle and High, Newport News, VA
  • 14. Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School, Franklin, MA
  • III.
  • 15. How Communities Can Help Form Great School Cultures
  • Endnotes
  • Selected Bibliography
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

"Samuel Casey Carter shows how great cultures—not big bucks, smaller class sizes, different curriculums, or better buildings—are what we need to save our education system."
Jay Mathews, Columnist and Author, Washington Post
"At the heart of this intriguing volume are well written profiles of twelve different schools that are quite proactively shaping their cultures to educate both the minds and hearts of their students."
Mary Beth Klee, Educational Consultant in History and Character Education, President, Content and Character Educational Resources, LLC, author of Core Virtues
"This wonderful book shares a broad range of school successes that are evident, easy to report on, and site-specific."
William H. Wibel, Educational Consultant, SchoolWorks, LLC, Beverly, MA
"This book reminds us that there is more to education than preparing students for high-stakes tests. It is our responsibility to be 'intentional' with the development of the whole child."
Irwin Kurz, Former Director of School Quality, Heritage Academies, Grand Rapids, MI
"This volume reinforces the need to address character development in children throughout their days in school."
Steven Miletto, Principal, R. L. Osborne High School, Marietta, GA

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