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Sustaining Extraordinary Student Achievement
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Sustaining Extraordinary Student Achievement



October 2008 | 152 pages | Corwin

"The patterns described in these successful schools both validated and challenged my thinking. I can see opportunities for renewed emphasis in our district and much hope for continuing our progress with students."
—Nancy Skerritt, Assistant Superintendent
Tahoma School District, Maple Valley, WA

Transform your school with best leadership practices that sustain high student achievement year after year!

What are the key elements necessary for creating enduring student success? In the era of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and high-stakes accountability, district leaders, principals, and teachers need to develop core values and practices that will help schools not only meet learning goals, but sustain performance over time.

Sustaining Extraordinary Student Achievement presents "on-the-ground, walking-the-hallways" case studies and analyses of five Title I elementary schools that overcame a myriad of challenges, including high staff turnover and a high percentage of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, to achieve and maintain academic excellence. Drawing from interviews, vignettes, and site visits, the author shows how these schools succeeded through strategies that align with research on effective schools, such as:

  • Creating a school culture that emphasizes high standards and expectations
  • Nurturing collaboration and effective shared leadership
  • Using data to target instruction, intervene with students, and make decisions
  • Focusing on exemplary standards
  • Empowering staff to do their best work

Initiate meaningful change in your school with progressive practices and proven leadership strategies!


 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
1. Introduction
Selection of Five Title 1 Schools

 
Focus Areas for Structured Interviews

 
The Five Sustaining Schools

 
 
2. Sylvan Elementary School, Modesto, California: A Culture of Effective Instruction
Building a High-Achieving Culture

 
Sylvan's Non-Negotiable Core Values

 
Empowering Staff to Do Their Best Work

 
Using Student Data to Guide Curriculum and Instruction

 
Ongoing Improvement of Instruction

 
Strategic Intervention With Students

 
Sylvan’s Sustaining Elements

 
Lessons Learned From Sylvan Elementary School

 
 
3. Camellia Elementary School, Sacramento, California: A Culture of Order and Discipline
Developing a Culture of Order and Discipline

 
The Right Staff Stays at the School

 
Using Student Data to Guide Curriculum and Instruction

 
The Role of the Leadership Team and Governance

 
Camellia’s Non-Negotiable Core Values and Sustaining Elements

 
Lessons Learned From Camellia Elementary School

 
 
4. Jefferson Elementary School, Carlsbad, California: A Culture of Collaboration
Developing a Culture of Collaboration

 
Jefferson’s Non-Negotiable Core Values

 
Using Benchmark Data to Target Instruction

 
Using Data to Intervene With Students

 
Jefferson’s Sustaining Elements

 
Lessons Learned From Jefferson Elementary School

 
 
5. Rosita Elementary School, Garden Grove, California: A Culture of Clarity
Building a High-Achieving Culture

 
Empowering Staff to Do Their Best Work

 
Rosita's Non-Negotiable Core Values

 
Advice to Principals

 
Sustaining Processes at Rosita

 
Lessons Learned From Rosita Elementary School

 
 
6. Baldwin Elementary School, Alhambra, California: A Culture of High Expectations
Building a High-Achieving Culture

 
Baldwin’s Non-Negotiable Core Values

 
Empowering the Right People

 
Mastery of Standards

 
Using Student Achievement Data

 
Baldwin’s Sustaining Elements

 
Lessons Learned From Baldwin Elementary School

 
 
7. Five Schools That Got the Job Done
A Crisis Point Forces Change

 
Developing a High-Achieving Culture

 
Non-Negotiable Core Values

 
The Essential Sustaining Elements

 
A Final Word

 
 
References
 
Index

"The patterns described in these successful schools both validated and challenged my thinking. I can see opportunities for renewed emphasis in our district and much hope for continuing our progress with students."

Nancy Skerritt, Assistant Superintendent
Tahoma School District, Maple Valley, WA

"Reksten has utilized research by education gurus and data from the studied school sites to provide the foundation for educators to begin the challenging, but achievable path of collaboration and high expectations for successful sustainability. Kudos to the author and the school communities!"

Lori Grossman, Manager of Mentoring Services
Houston Independent School District, TX

"This book led me to think and reflect on my leadership as a principal. It also led to introspection and reflection of practices in my school, which is sustaining high achievement."

Steve Knobl, Principal
Gulf High School, New Port Richey, FL
Key features
  • Best leadership practices from practicing successful school leaders
  • Strategies for effective shared leadership, data-based decision-making, standards mastery, utilizing benchmark assessments, and sustaining high achivement
  • Case studies of schools that have improved and sustained outstanding student achievement

Sample Materials & Chapters

Preface

Chapter 1


For instructors

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ISBN: 9781452296760

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