You Don’t Need Superpowers to Be a Kid’s Hero

Leading a Hero-Building School Culture
First Edition
You Don’t Need Superpowers to Be a Kid’s Hero
February 2020 | 208 pages | Corwin
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eBook
ISBN: 9781544355115
Available from January 0001
Paperback
ISBN: 9781544355085
Available from January 0001

Description

Create a culture and climate that produces real heroes

The future of our schools depends on leaders who can foster every day heroism in others. This doesn’t require supernatural powers. It requires a willingness to be intentional in building heroes in our communities who are ready to get things done and take on the demands of the future.   

You Don’t Need Superpowers to Be a Kid’s Hero will help you create the climate that produces these heroes. Hero-building work will help you look deeply into your school culture and see yourself and your students and staff in a fresh, powerful way. Readers will find:

·         Training ideas for leadership teams

·         Instruments for gauging progress

·         Practical steps for building courage into practices

·         Practical strategies to help navigate the complexities of creating an extraordinary school

·         Hero-building stories from the field

Written with an inspiring tone, this book will empower school leaders to lead in a way that unleashes staff and students to be superheroes in their communities. 

Contents

Foreword

Foreword

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

  • Chapter 1—Heroes in the Hallways
  • Introduction
  • Principal Makes House Calls
  • Manufacturing Our Future
  • Telling Your School’s Story
  • Leading By Example
  • Culture Wins Out!
  • Authentic Leadership
  • Heroes Are Built
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 2—Look Deep Inside: See What Students and Staff Really Bring to School
  • The Invisible Backpack
  • A Culture Of Relationships
  • A Culture Of Resources
  • A Culture Of Interventions
  • A Culture Of Wisdom
  • Seeing The Invisible
  • Super Hearing And Dangerous Thoughts
  • Gap Kids
  • Hidden Strength
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 3—True to Life Leadership and Learning
  • Lies We Tell Ourselves And Believe
  • High Risk Means High Rewards
  • Growth Challenge on FORWARD Rubric
  • Failure Is An Option
  • Hide Your Mistakes And Weaknesses
  • Front Runners Win
  • Settling
  • Sustainability
  • Consensus
  • Innovation Is For Crazy People
  • Leaders Must Be The Loudest Voice
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 4—Unleash the Voice and Choice of Students
  • Is Your Hearing Good?
  • School Reform Through Student Voice
  • Social Media And Student Voice
  • Letting Students Lead
  • Gauge Your Student Voice Level
  • Student Choice
  • School Showcase
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 5—Lead Like an Alien: Out of This World Ideas to Produce Hero Students
  • Break Down Historical Barriers
  • Procrastinators Produce
  • Bells Are Barriers
  • Grades Matter Most
  • Repetition Is Wrong
  • Tradition Holds Us Down
  • Homework Helps
  • Think Differently
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 6—Build Resilience: Raise Your Grit Score
  • WHADITW
  • Perfection Before Action?
  • Public Praiser
  • This Too Will Pass
  • The Distractor
  • The Overbearing Octopus
  • Passive Resistance
  • Negative Self-talk
  • Hero Solutions For Students
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 7—Go Big or Go Home: Empower Students to Be Global Game Changers!
  • Shoes For Esperanza
  • Give A Hand
  • Kangaroo Cup
  • Saddle Innovation
  • Rain Garden
  • Ocean Cleanup
  • Think Big, Act Big
  • Expand Your View
  • Leading Big
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 8—Be Courageous: Risk It All for What’s Right
  • Origin Stories
  • Super Courageous Fortitude
  • Courage To Be Authentic
  • Courage To Ask For Help
  • Courage To Be True
  • Courageous Conversations
  • Courage To Shatter The Status Quo
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training

References

References

Additional materials

Description

Create a culture and climate that produces real heroes

The future of our schools depends on leaders who can foster every day heroism in others. This doesn’t require supernatural powers. It requires a willingness to be intentional in building heroes in our communities who are ready to get things done and take on the demands of the future.   

You Don’t Need Superpowers to Be a Kid’s Hero will help you create the climate that produces these heroes. Hero-building work will help you look deeply into your school culture and see yourself and your students and staff in a fresh, powerful way. Readers will find:

·         Training ideas for leadership teams

·         Instruments for gauging progress

·         Practical steps for building courage into practices

·         Practical strategies to help navigate the complexities of creating an extraordinary school

·         Hero-building stories from the field

Written with an inspiring tone, this book will empower school leaders to lead in a way that unleashes staff and students to be superheroes in their communities. 

Contents

Foreword

Foreword

Preface

Preface

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

  • Chapter 1—Heroes in the Hallways
  • Introduction
  • Principal Makes House Calls
  • Manufacturing Our Future
  • Telling Your School’s Story
  • Leading By Example
  • Culture Wins Out!
  • Authentic Leadership
  • Heroes Are Built
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 2—Look Deep Inside: See What Students and Staff Really Bring to School
  • The Invisible Backpack
  • A Culture Of Relationships
  • A Culture Of Resources
  • A Culture Of Interventions
  • A Culture Of Wisdom
  • Seeing The Invisible
  • Super Hearing And Dangerous Thoughts
  • Gap Kids
  • Hidden Strength
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 3—True to Life Leadership and Learning
  • Lies We Tell Ourselves And Believe
  • High Risk Means High Rewards
  • Growth Challenge on FORWARD Rubric
  • Failure Is An Option
  • Hide Your Mistakes And Weaknesses
  • Front Runners Win
  • Settling
  • Sustainability
  • Consensus
  • Innovation Is For Crazy People
  • Leaders Must Be The Loudest Voice
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 4—Unleash the Voice and Choice of Students
  • Is Your Hearing Good?
  • School Reform Through Student Voice
  • Social Media And Student Voice
  • Letting Students Lead
  • Gauge Your Student Voice Level
  • Student Choice
  • School Showcase
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 5—Lead Like an Alien: Out of This World Ideas to Produce Hero Students
  • Break Down Historical Barriers
  • Procrastinators Produce
  • Bells Are Barriers
  • Grades Matter Most
  • Repetition Is Wrong
  • Tradition Holds Us Down
  • Homework Helps
  • Think Differently
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 6—Build Resilience: Raise Your Grit Score
  • WHADITW
  • Perfection Before Action?
  • Public Praiser
  • This Too Will Pass
  • The Distractor
  • The Overbearing Octopus
  • Passive Resistance
  • Negative Self-talk
  • Hero Solutions For Students
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 7—Go Big or Go Home: Empower Students to Be Global Game Changers!
  • Shoes For Esperanza
  • Give A Hand
  • Kangaroo Cup
  • Saddle Innovation
  • Rain Garden
  • Ocean Cleanup
  • Think Big, Act Big
  • Expand Your View
  • Leading Big
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 8—Be Courageous: Risk It All for What’s Right
  • Origin Stories
  • Super Courageous Fortitude
  • Courage To Be Authentic
  • Courage To Ask For Help
  • Courage To Be True
  • Courageous Conversations
  • Courage To Shatter The Status Quo
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training

References

References

Additional materials

SAGE Publishing Logo

You Don’t Need Superpowers to Be a Kid’s Hero

Leading a Hero-Building School Culture


February 2020 | 208 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 01/02/2026 9781544355085 $37.95
Lifetime 01/02/2026 9781544355115 $35.00

Create a culture and climate that produces real heroes

The future of our schools depends on leaders who can foster every day heroism in others. This doesn’t require supernatural powers. It requires a willingness to be intentional in building heroes in our communities who are ready to get things done and take on the demands of the future.   

You Don’t Need Superpowers to Be a Kid’s Hero will help you create the climate that produces these heroes. Hero-building work will help you look deeply into your school culture and see yourself and your students and staff in a fresh, powerful way. Readers will find:

·         Training ideas for leadership teams

·         Instruments for gauging progress

·         Practical steps for building courage into practices

·         Practical strategies to help navigate the complexities of creating an extraordinary school

·         Hero-building stories from the field

Written with an inspiring tone, this book will empower school leaders to lead in a way that unleashes staff and students to be superheroes in their communities. 


Table Of Contents:

  • Foreword
  • Preface
  • Acknowledgments
  • About the Authors
  • Chapter 1—Heroes in the Hallways
  • Introduction
  • Principal Makes House Calls
  • Manufacturing Our Future
  • Telling Your School’s Story
  • Leading By Example
  • Culture Wins Out!
  • Authentic Leadership
  • Heroes Are Built
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 2—Look Deep Inside: See What Students and Staff Really Bring to School
  • The Invisible Backpack
  • A Culture Of Relationships
  • A Culture Of Resources
  • A Culture Of Interventions
  • A Culture Of Wisdom
  • Seeing The Invisible
  • Super Hearing And Dangerous Thoughts
  • Gap Kids
  • Hidden Strength
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 3—True to Life Leadership and Learning
  • Lies We Tell Ourselves And Believe
  • High Risk Means High Rewards
  • Growth Challenge on FORWARD Rubric
  • Failure Is An Option
  • Hide Your Mistakes And Weaknesses
  • Front Runners Win
  • Settling
  • Sustainability
  • Consensus
  • Innovation Is For Crazy People
  • Leaders Must Be The Loudest Voice
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 4—Unleash the Voice and Choice of Students
  • Is Your Hearing Good?
  • School Reform Through Student Voice
  • Social Media And Student Voice
  • Letting Students Lead
  • Gauge Your Student Voice Level
  • Student Choice
  • School Showcase
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 5—Lead Like an Alien: Out of This World Ideas to Produce Hero Students
  • Break Down Historical Barriers
  • Procrastinators Produce
  • Bells Are Barriers
  • Grades Matter Most
  • Repetition Is Wrong
  • Tradition Holds Us Down
  • Homework Helps
  • Think Differently
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 6—Build Resilience: Raise Your Grit Score
  • WHADITW
  • Perfection Before Action?
  • Public Praiser
  • This Too Will Pass
  • The Distractor
  • The Overbearing Octopus
  • Passive Resistance
  • Negative Self-talk
  • Hero Solutions For Students
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 7—Go Big or Go Home: Empower Students to Be Global Game Changers!
  • Shoes For Esperanza
  • Give A Hand
  • Kangaroo Cup
  • Saddle Innovation
  • Rain Garden
  • Ocean Cleanup
  • Think Big, Act Big
  • Expand Your View
  • Leading Big
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • Chapter 8—Be Courageous: Risk It All for What’s Right
  • Origin Stories
  • Super Courageous Fortitude
  • Courage To Be Authentic
  • Courage To Ask For Help
  • Courage To Be True
  • Courageous Conversations
  • Courage To Shatter The Status Quo
  • Hero Sighting
  • Hero Training
  • References

Recent Product Reviews:

What an innovative approach to highlighting and demystifying the work we do as school leaders at all levels! If you’ve every dreamed of flying, having super strength, or being invisible, and you engage in the worthy work of building up young minds, this is the book for your. Bill Ziegler and Dave Ramage provide great examples and models for the best “super-hero” traits we have and use to make bold differences. Excelsior!
Derek McCoy
Once again, Bill Ziegler and Dave Ramage have nourished the profession with a fearless and compelling compilation of anecdotes, strategies, rubrics, and inspiration that will benefit any school leader. Every child needs a hero and every child can be a hero. This work highlights real-life heroes in our schools and how to build heroes in students and teachers. Read these stories and engage these heroes on your social networks to build your encouragement network. I am most excited to take away and use their tools for increasing student voice and choice to make my school even better!
Carrie Jackson, Northwest High School, Justin, TX
In this deeply inspiring book, Ziegler and Ramage show educators how they can have a positive impact on all of the students in their schools. Superheroes are no longer just for movies; they are real people and have real stories illustrated in this book.
Peter DeWitt
Bill Ziegler and Dave Ramage have written a must-read book for today’s school leaders! Their commitment and dedication to creating positive cultures will inspire school leaders to make real life changes in their practice that impact staff, students, and the entire school community. They equip and empower you to build heroes in your schools to change our world for the better.
Matt Moyer, Rupert Elementary School
Bill Ziegler and Dave Ramage remind us of what’s most important—our students. And they remind us of our ultimate purpose—inspiring and empowering those students to thrive. As Gandhi challenged us to “be the change we wish to see,” Ziegler and Ramage challenge us with the reality that “leadership carries a moral purpose.” We are changing lives! We are shaping the future! You Don’t Need Superpowers to Be a Kid’s Hero is immensely practical. It features the stories of school leaders who are doing the great work now! It is a handbook for school leaders everywhere who are committed to building cultures in their schools that allow their students to soar.
Danny Steele, University of Montevallo

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