The Distributed Leadership Toolbox: Essential Practices for Successful Schools
Strengthen your leadership style and capacity to inspire others toward meaningful change.
Experience and research prove that effective leadership is critical for improving school performance, yet reviewing and applying contemporary data to school leadership can be a complex challenge for busy administrators.
In The Distributed Leadership Toolbox, Mark E. McBeth translates current leadership research into a practical framework to help educational leaders improve their practice and positively influence schoolwide performance. Unlike shared leadership, which focuses on delegating responsibilities, distributed leadership fosters a dialogue between school leaders and teachers to uncover the effectiveness of leadership practices in enhancing instruction and student achievement. The author provides case studies and essential tools to help administrators:
- Increase the ability to evaluate their leadership practice
- Develop a regular reflective practice to motivate staff and support professional growth
- Improve their potential to generate and sustain school reform efforts
This guidebook includes helpful notes for facilitators and a CD-ROM with resources and reproducible templates to help you make a significant difference in your school through distributed leadership practices.
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Reviews
"McBeth's book is a practical multimedia resource that sets new standards in education. While the text is excellent, the support for school leaders that has been placed on CD-Rom is invaluable.
This book is probably the best resource that one could give a school leader, or an aspirant school leader, because it allows the reader to learn skills and acquire knowledge at his/her own pace. In many cases the school leaders' roles are subverted by immediate crises, which then forces them into a survival type of existence. This book provides timely, high quality support, which facilitates continuous professional leadership learning. Support from Spillane and Halvorson ensures that the book is well grounded in the distributed leadership research. The CD-Rom contains reproducible content from the book and it includes over 35 high quality diagrams and charts- the type that school leaders always need. Among the valuable tools are: Leadership Impact Survey; Identified Leadership Practices; Directional Intentions of Leadership Practices; Tally Log; Reflection Worksheet; Shaping Our reflection; Intentions Versus Actions; New Practice Action-Planning Chart; and lots more. For every school leader, this book is well worth purchasing. In the "old days" we carried around a set of ideas and resources that we could use in school and personnel development processes. McBeth's valuable "toolbox" has replaced most of that." -Dr. Neil MacNeill, Western Australia Australia |
"I love this book! Finally, a research-based, practice-tested book of tools to improve leadership, and in doing so, improve school programs and enrich our students! Provides a framework that a leader can use to reach the highest level of practice."
-- Linda D. Brooks, Teacher
Quincy Public Schools, IL
"McBeth provides useful tools to help educators diagnose the distribution of leadership in their schools and shows how these tools can help create powerful leadership for increasing learning capacity in schools."
—Richard Halverson, Assistant Professor
University of Wisconsin–Madison
"The strengths of this book are the examples (two-minute stories, reflections, etc.) and the reproducible tools provided."
—Bruce Deterding, Principal
Wichita Heights High School, KS
"Relevant, clearly written to the intended audience, and useful for individuals looking for a means to self-evaluation."
-- Kim E. Vogel, Principal
Parkdale Elementary School, OR
"Especially appeals to the administrative team. This book forces us to look hard at our leadership styles."
-- Rachel McMillan, School Improvement Specialist
Corporate Landing Middle School, Virginia Beach, VA
"Has a practical tone that seems to appeal to those now leading daily work in schools. The idea that results are in the hands of a thoughtful, creative person who must choose tools from his or her repertoire and make decisions is a positive contribution to the field."
- Steven R. Thompson, Coordinator, School Leadership Program
Miami University, OH
"This is a very important topic and area in our business. Practitioners are seeking materials to help sharpen their leadership skills. The case studies supported the distributed leadership model and provided examples of how the model could have an impact on a school culture."
-- Jerry Vaughn, Principal
Cabot Public Schools, AR
