"Leading Change in Your School"

"Leading Change in Your School" by Douglas B. Reeves is a must read for teachers wanting to move into a leadership role in the field of education.   It's a powerful read!

Part 1: Creating Conditions for Change

Part 2: Planning Change

Part 3: Implementing Change

Part 4: Sustaining Change

At this time, our group has discussed parts one and two.  Looking forward to our group discussion over parts 3 and 4 in the next few days.

I'm going to end with these direct words from part 3:

"Make the case for change compelling, and associate it with moral imperatives rather than compliance with external authority."
An announcement that "We have to do this to comply with state and federal requirements" will never arouse the emotional engagement of the school staff.  Instead of citing administrative requirements, inspire staff members with a call for their best: "Student literacy is a civil right.  Faculty collaboration is the foundation of fairness.  Learning communities are the essence of respect."

"You won't close the implementation gap with another set of three-ring binders or announcements about the latest initiative.  Close the gap with immediate wins, visible recognition of what works, a focus on effectiveness rather than popularity, and a direct appeal to the values that brought us all into this profession in the first place."