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Passionate Leadership
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Passionate Leadership
Creating a Culture of Success in Every School

First Edition
  • Salome Thomas-EL - Head of School, Thomas Edison Charter School
  • Joseph Jones - Superintendent, New Castle County Vocational Technical School District
  • T.J. Vari - Assistant Superintendent, Appoquinimink School District

Foreword by Todd Whitaker



June 2019 | 216 pages | Corwin

Watch the video!

Reignite your passion for serving children!

Have you fallen into a rut? Has your position become simply a “role” or a “job?” The authors of this book will remind you why education, the most important profession in our society, demands passionate leadership.

Passionate Leadership is an aspiring call to action for teachers and principals around the world to recommit to passionately serving children, building the communities children deserve, and celebrating our successes. Take ownership, push to new heights, and break old boundaries by following the strategies in this book. Discover

  • Practical ideas and suggestions for how to serve as a beacon of hope in the field
  • First-hand experiences from enthusiastic leaders modeling what passionate leadership looks like
  • Charts and graphs that will help you assess your strong points and identify areas you can improve on

Student success and growth begin with leaders who commit to taking courageous action!

 

 
Foreword
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments and Dedication
 
About the Authors
 
Introduction: Fueling the Passion in Our Schools
 
PART I: INSPIRING TO GROW: A CULTURE OF STRONG RELATIONSHIPS
 
Chapter 1: A Learning Culture, Not a Teaching Culture
Everyone Works to Learn

 
Unintended Consequences

 
An Aligned System of Improvement

 
Growth From the Inside Out

 
Quality Levels of Support

 
Support and Growth Through Feedback

 
Leadership: Choosing Your Direction

 
Charting the Difference

 
Fueling Passion Through Opportunity

 
A Culture of Joy and Fulfillment

 
Creating A Learning Culture by Design: Commitment and Desire

 
 
Chapter 2: Developing the Desire for Change to Grow Faster
Speeding Up the Process

 
Feedback Faster: Creating Systems of Improvement

 
Systematizing PD and Feedback

 
Defining the Outcomes

 
Something for Everyone

 
Technical Tip #1: Everyone Gets a Personal Growth Plan

 
Technical Tip #2: Hire for a Growth Mindset

 
 
PART II: EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES: NO PASSENGERS ALLOWED
 
Chapter 3: The Wonder of a Work Ethic
Everyone Contributes

 
Everyone Means Everyone

 
Break the Cycle of Failure

 
Embrace an I Believe Attitude

 
Leadership: Choosing Your Direction

 
Charting the Difference

 
Empower Student Ownership by Creating New Opportunities

 
A Culture Where Everyone Is Connected and Leadership Matters

 
Creating a Community of Support by Design: Networking and Storytelling

 
 
Chapter 4: Stronger Backs, Not Lighter Loads
A Contribution is Mandatory

 
Making a Mark: The Best Ways to Make an Impact

 
Systematizing Strengths

 
Defining the Roles and Naming the Positions

 
Everybody Makes a Difference

 
Technical Tip #1: Survey for Strengths, Hobbies, and Fun Projects

 
Technical Tip #2: Hiring Contributors

 
 
PART III: POSITIVITY FUELED BY CELEBRATIONS: BEYOND THE BASICS
 
Chapter 5: Committing to a Culture of Celebration
The Power of Connection

 
The Revolving Door

 
You Can’t Lift Anything Up While You’re Pushing It Down

 
There’s More Than One Way to Define Success

 
Leadership: Choosing Your Direction

 
Charting the Difference

 
Know Where You’re Going, How to Get There, and if You’re in the Right Vehicle

 
A Culture of Celebration

 
Creating a Positive Culture by Design: Recognition and Understanding

 
 
Chapter 6: Positive Educators Ignite the System
Celebrate Like You Mean It

 
Two Data Treasure Troves: Create Short-Term Wins Through Goal-Setting

 
Systematizing Celebrations

 
Defining What and Why We Celebrate

 
Diversifying the Who

 
Technical Tip #1: Building the Budget to Celebrate

 
Technical Tip #2: Hiring Positive People

 
 
Conclusion: A Blueprint for Sustaining Passion in Our Schools
 
References
 
Index

“In an era of high stakes testing and accountability as the key measures of school and student success, the authors provide a powerful blueprint for leaders to rethink what’s important in our schools. Passionate Leadership offers practical strategies, real stories and “how to” guidance that will inspire every educator to do great things for all students. After more than forty-five years in education, I know firsthand about the power of creating a positive and supportive culture with passionate educators and engaged students. The authors have found a solutionsoriented formula that makes schools inviting learning environments students and teachers deserve. Passionate Leadership is a must read!”

Steven H. Godowsky, EdD

“All school communities need passionate leaders who are committed to meeting the needs of ALL students! Such leaders must be committed, inquisitive, and reflection and action oriented. They must desire to grow and improve. This book takes that into account as it pushes the reader to consider how they think about their leadership, their ability to motivate themselves and others, and the steps and actions needed to be the leader others desire to follow and support. The takeaways and tips are invaluable as they provide direct instruction through the stories of other strong and successful leaders. If one wishes to be a relationship-builder who moves the needle through passion and influence rather than title and authority, this is indeed a worthwhile read!”

Mark Holodick, EdD, Superintendent, Brandywine School District
Brandywine School District

“Three exceptional administrators shed new light on why passion is so important in education. The vivid stories in this timely book go beyond exhortations to show in detail how inspired leaders transform schools, empower teachers, and enrich students.”

Robert L. Hampel
University of Delware

“As the Delaware State Teacher of the Year, I traveled around to a number of schools and heard from teachers and leaders from across the country. It was evident to me at the time that the real difference maker for what distinguishes a great teacher or a great school can be summed up in one word: passion. In reading Passionate Leadership, I was simply reminded that we must come together with a growth mindset, more will than ever, and the celebratory attitude that our schools need for us to be our best every single day. Don’t read this book once or twice, read it once or twice every year.”

Dr. Lea Wainwright

“Education is the most critical aspect of our society. Principals and schools have the responsibility to educate children to be thoughtful and enterprising citizens for the greater good of the world in which we live. All students can learn in an environment that is caring with adults who nurture the “whole” student, including mind, body, and spirit. A principal’s task is to create that environment by developing a vision and strategically cultivating other leaders in the school to stand behind it. Great principals recognize that everyone in the school must be held accountable for real success to become a reality. Leadership is a shared responsibility, and it’s only passionate leaders who inspire others to greatness by being the change that we wish to see in the world. As the principal of the Early College High School at Delaware State University, my mission is to prepare students to do college-level work by the time they are 15 years old. That simply cannot happen without passion. This book, Passionate Leadership, offers a how-to manual on having passion in whatever area you’re leading. Read it, and you’ll be ready to take your school to the next level.”

Dr. Evelyn Edney
Delaware State University
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Key features
  • The authors have identified the most common obstacles to passionate leadership (Trip Traps) and how to avoid them
  • Mantras to Live By – guides for a passionate start to every morning
  • The book is written by practitioners for practitioners with examples from the field including 3 inspirational stories and 6 vignettes with key takeaways
  • The authors divide passionate culture into three distinct features and provide easy-to-use charts to identify where cultures are lacking so you can work to improve them.
  • How-To’s that reveal the practical next steps for leaders
  • Tips for hiring practices so that your passionate leadership efforts are sustainable for the future
  • Every chapter ends with Reflection Questions so that you can take inventory and take action right away
  • The authors conclude the book with an action-oriented reflection activity and self-assessment to be used by individuals or teams.

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