Daniel Allen

In England and Wales, the controversial decision was made to add American XL Bully-type dogs to the prohibited breeds list of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. The XL Bully Ban is the first book on this topic that explores the impacts on caregivers and, uniquely, their exempted dogs. Informed by a critical review of breed-specific legislation, the authors highlight the lack of consideration of the impacts of the XL Bully ‘ban’ on caregivers and exempted dogs themselves. By delving into these impacts, which include financial, emotional, practical, and quality-of-life issues, and giving voice to caregivers and companion animals, this book contributes towards building an evidence-base that can be considered in relation to future global debates. Considering alternative methods of reducing dog attacks, the authors draw out the implications of their findings for policymakers as well the wider, international debate on breed-specific legislation. The first book written on this contemporary topic, this is cutting edge reading for scholars interested in human-animal interactions, issues of species justice, sentience and victimology, breed specific legislation, and harm-reduction. It is also of interest to practitioners and advocates working with those affected by the ban, and policymakers as they consider how to respond to continued reports of dog attacks.

The Instructional Leadership Cycle introduces a multifaceted model for continuous school and system improvement, founded on an adaptable set of professional practices for K–12 leaders. Daniel Allen draws on a breadth of education system experience, spanning from classroom to top office, to outline a flexible framework—the Instructional Leadership Cycle—that supports school leaders in advancing equitable, high-quality instruction. In this comprehensive and deeply practical work, Allen mentors leaders through the framework’s cycles of implementation, analysis, reflection, and improvement, which are anchored in the rhythms of the annual school calendar. As Allen counsels readers on the application of the Instructional Leadership Cycle, he also explains the genesis of the framework, which has been successfully implemented in more than sixty California schools, resulting in dramatic annual student achievement gains. With ample real-world examples, Allen demonstrates how leaders can move beyond strategic planning to fulfill the promise of organizational change. Incorporating elements of universal design for learning, multi-tiered systems of support, and key performance indicators, Allen’s approach encourages leaders to develop an instructional vision for their institution and then set it in motion. The work shows how the process circles back to a few key tenets: ensure that all educators have access to a common set of tools to use in support of instructional improvement, effectively measure progress with school data analysis, and leverage organizational learning. This clear-sighted work guides equity-focused school leaders to reliably bring about instructional transformation, moving toward positive learning outcomes for all students.

Although rarely seen in the wild, the otter is admired for its playful character and graceful aquatic agility, which were established in the popular imagination through books and films such as Tarka the Otter and Ring of Bright Water. This, however, is just a small part of their story – throughout history the otter has also been widely hunted for its fur and to prevent it from killing fish. Today the thirteen species of otter face a range of growing challenges, and their survival is by no means certain.