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The New School Management by Wandering Around
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The New School Management by Wandering Around

Foreword by Fenwick W. English

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April 2012 | 336 pages | Corwin

Achieve success step by step

The topic of management by wandering around is not new, but the authors' approach is fresh and timely. This current rendition based on the original work by Frase and Hetzel gives new and seasoned administrators smart, practical advice about how to "wander around" with purpose and develop a more interactive leadership style. This text cites more than 20 well-constructed research studies that show how management by wandering around produces desirable outcomes, including:

  • Higher student achievement
  • Improved school culture
  • Higher teacher efficacy

Management by wandering around is not a rigid, linear process: it is a combination of proven methods and a flexible, organic approach to the whole of leadership. Topics covered include developing meeting agendas, supervising instruction, dealing with marginal teachers, and creating safe campuses. The bottom line? If you want to accomplish more, start by getting out more—and this book shows you how to make it count.


 
List of Figures and Tables
 
Foreword by Fenwick W. English
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
1. Defining the MBWA Leader
Personal Attributes and Beliefs of MBWA Leaders

 
Examples of MBWA From History

 
Examples of MBWA From Industrial and Educational Leaders

 
The Research Base

 
 
2. School Leadership: What Matters Most
"Great Man" Theory of Leadership

 
The Trait Theory

 
Modern Leadership Theories

 
Assessing Your Leadership Style

 
 
3. Why Teachers Teach and Why They Leave
Why Teachers Teach

 
Why Teachers Leave

 
 
4. Why Teachers Stay
Supportive Leadership of the MBWA Principal

 
The Improvement Ethic

 
 
5. Promoting Quality Curriculum Through MBWA
Quality of Curriculum Content

 
Ensuring High-Quality Instruction

 
Monitoring the Curriculum

 
Caveats on Research

 
 
6. Getting Into Classrooms
Research Supporting Frequent Principal Classroom Observations

 
Conducting Informal Classroom Observations

 
Informal Classroom Observation Protocols

 
 
7. Finding Time for MBWA
The Research on How Principals Spend Their Time

 
How MBWA Administrators Find the Time

 
Time Management Myths

 
Finding Time at Work for MBWA

 
Meetings: Wasting Time Versus Making Progress

 
Planning a Productive Meeting

 
 
8. Promoting Good Student Discipline and a Safe Campus
Plan a Team Approach to Schoolwide Student Discipline

 
Know the Board's Policies and Regulations

 
Create a Student Discipline Plan

 
Make the Campus Safe

 
Supervise Adequately

 
Establish Lines of Communication With the Police

 
 
9. Dealing With Unmet Expectations: Marginal and Incompetent Teachers
The Day of Reckoning

 
Analyzing Teacher Performance

 
Dealing With Unsatisfactory Teachers: A Four-Phase Process

 
Avoiding or Dealing Effectively With Grievances

 
 
10. Ensuring Due Process and Building the File
Why Tenure?

 
Due Process

 
Documentation and File Building

 
The Formal Disciplinary Memo

 
Alternatives to the Dismissal Process

 
 
Epilogue
 
Resources
Resource A: Elementary School Parent Survey

 
Resource B: Secondary School Parent Survey

 
Resource C: Summative Teacher Performance Evaluation

 
Resource D: Teacher Self-Assessment Inventory of Skills and Interests

 
 
References
 
Index

Supplements

"From my perspective, it is not so much the wandering and the gathering of information that is important, rather it is how the supervisor or mentor uses this information to provide reflective dialogue with the person supervised. This book focuses on wandering with a purpose and engaging people in dialogue."

Carolyn J. Downey, President
Palo Verde Associates, San Diego, CA

“This well written book captures the simple but essential truth for effective leaders of ‘see and be seen’.” The authors’ work in this area is grounded in research and the wisdom of successful practice, making this a valuable addition for courses on general leadership.”

Todd A. DeMitchell, Professor, Justice Studies Program
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH

"Streshly and Gray have placed school leaders’ wandering in perspective, concentrating on the day-to-day practices of the concept. This is a book for everyone concerned about the never-ending search for practices that enrich teacher and student experiences leading to enhanced student achievement."

Margaret R. Basom, Professor of Educational Leadership
San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

"Hits the nail on the head with a detailed exploration of how our best school leaders manage their schools. Moreover, the authors have done it in an up-to-date, practical, and authoritative way. This book will have an impact on school leaders for years to come."

Bob Avant, Principal, El Capitan High School
La Mesa, CA
Key features
Each major topic provides an opportunity for the readers to reflect on critical aspects of the problem areas targeted. 

The authors describe the relevant research and its implications for school management and administrative strategies to address the topic.

The text outlines real school scenarios through the lens of key leadership strategies giving the readers an opportunity to practice the administrative strategies.

Through such activities as individual reflection and onsite interviews of effective principals, readers develop unique strategies and activities to address the problems presented.

Includes a Resources section that contains student and parent surveys, self-assessment inventories, teacher evaluation criteria, and performance indicators.

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ISBN: 9781452283623

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