In this book, award-winning educator Cathie West teaches readers how to confidently prepare for and respond to the challenges that come with being a school leader. Derived from professional experience and extensive research, the strategies can be put to work exactly as described or adapted to fit the unique situations that educators face in their schools. With more than thirty years of experience as a school principal, West provides tips for teacher leaders striving to expand their skills, brand new administrators looking for guidance, and experienced principals confronting the unfamiliar or looking for fresh problem-solving ideas.

First Published in 2011. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Effective problem solving contributes to school leaders' ability to create lasting improvement in classroom and organizational practice. By addressing the practice of school leaders as a first concern, this book focuses on the skills required for smart, effective problem solving. Kruse first focuses on the tasks of problem solving (identifying problems, initiating actions, and evaluating results) and describes three areas (employing effective communication, designing constructive policies, and developing supportive systems ) on which school leaders should concentrate. By linking the tasks of problem solving to the work leaders do, the book provides strategies for school leaders to accomplish their goals.

This book presents a series of related empirical studies about the thinking and problem solving processes of expert educational leaders. It describes the nature of expert thinking and provides substantial explanations for the cognitive processes associated with expert thinking. Differences in the thinking and problem solving of male and female; novice and experienced; elementary, secondary, district administrators are all explored. In addition, the book provides a glimpse of the school administrator's world from a problem solving perspective and clarifies the kinds of experiences that give rise to expert thinking.

Explore four key analytic processes that will help you make choices, implement changes or plans, fgure out why something went wrong, and resolve a complex or confusing issue. Numerous examples of typical school and classroom problems make the processes clear, understandable, and easy to use.

Engage your school communities in collaboratively solving your biggest problems Schools are complex places where problems come in all shapes and sizes, and where decisions impact students’ lives. Leading groups in solving these problems sometimes can be a daunting task. Collaborative Problem-Solving outlines a process to help veteran and new leaders alike to create thoughtful, organized, and collaborative solutions for the simple to the most difficult problems they face. Rooted in theory, this comprehensive guide presents a seven-step process that addresses all types of problems. Each chapter outlines the tasks and procedures required to successfully navigate each step, while providing helpful analogies and illustrations, alongside common foibles and fumbles leaders should avoid. Additional features include: An explanation of participatory problem-solving Prerequisites for successful collaboration and rules for collaborative leaders "Task Cue Cards" that offer facilitation lesson plans to approach each step in the process A "Problem Solver’s Toolbox" that covers meeting designs, roles, communication strategies, and more An annotated guide for further reading, providing a wealth of additional information and resources Practical and relevant, this book is a user-friendly manual for school leaders seeking to employ a problem-solving process that works so that they and their teams can feel confident their efforts will result in a successful resolution.

Parents, lawmakers, supervisors, and unions are among the many constituencies that demand influence, if not control, of the educational process. How does the school administrator balance all the needs of the various groups and still remain true to the ultimate, though most powerless constituency: the students? Through case studies and anecdotes based on real-life experiences, the authors share the ups and downs of the educational world, seeking to find the balance that is most effective in ensuring success. School Leadership:Case Studies Solving School Problems details decision making and actions taken that dramatically affect the success of students and schools as well as school systems. This second edition continues and improves on the first edition with a series of new and timely school leadership case studies that require the reader to reflect on the variety of issues that cross the principal's desk every day. The reader will find the case studies and anecdotes highly absorbing. They are so real, fraught with complexity, and will require the reader to use a sophisticated decision-making process.

Conflict is both a timely and a timeless challenge in schools, stymying school reform initiatives and elevating administrators’ job stress. If “school is a family,” as many claim, it is often a dysfunctional one. Relationships between and among staff, parents, community and school boards may be destructively divisive, or alternatively, schools may avoid addressing controversial issues like inequity, fearful of tensions that would be unleashed. From Conflict to Collaboration: A School Leader’s Guide to Unleashing Conflict’s Problem Solving Power offers a novel perspective. Rather than impeding school reform, school leaders may harness conflict to spark organizational vitality and growth. Honoring diverse viewpoints enables savvy school leaders to engage stakeholders in meaningful collaboration that builds capacity, enshrines productive dialogue and group problem-solving as cornerstones of school culture, and energizes the school community. Drawing on knowledge from the fields of education, engineering, psychology and business, the book offers an on-the-job guide for present and future school leaders. Dozens of actionable leadership strategies are highlighted; case studies illustrate key concepts; and probing questions for school leaders and school improvement teams follow each chapter. In a step-by-step process, the book demonstrates how the techniques of design thinking may be applied to build a school’s “conflict agility.”

With the right approach, no problem is unsolvable. Persistent problems in education--numeracy, reading ability, equity, grading, and teacher retention--can only be solved if we approach them as the crises they are. This practical guide introduces seven mindshifts to help leaders chart an innovative course of school improvement, becoming empowered to not just deal with perennial complex issues, but extinguish them altogether so students and teachers can thrive. Features include: Seven adaptable models for finding solutions to perennial problems Stories highlighting successful implementation of each mindshift Discussions to help match mindshifts to particular problems Technical tips and reflection questions

Maximize the effectiveness of your professional activities through the use of wikis, and raise student achievement in turn! With strategies from online educator and technology expert Stephanie Sandifer, this book provides how-to advice on the way in which wikis result in a more efficient use of time, better communication, and increased adult learning for the members of your school community. Inside, you'll find out how to promote collaboration and productivity in your school, all while contributing to improved student learning. Topics include: The Dos and Don'ts of Wikis Social Networking Tools and Wikis Wikis for Leadership and Administration Wikis in the Classroom Wikis for Home-to-School Communications Implement each of these practical, innovative ideas and "wikify" your school today!