James A. Vornberg

Harnessing the Dynamics of Public Education: Preparing for a Return to Greatness is a comprehensive look at the American public education system. Building on the current system, the book takes on the War on Education in an effort to rethink, redesign and develop a new state-of-the-art system of learning that will regain international competiveness and be the “best choice” for parents in a growing system of choice. The authors provide critical analysis of the current system while also offering specific solutions and hope for one of the greatest institutions in America…..as it Return’s to Greatness!

Harnessing the Dynamics of Public Education: Planning for a Return to Greatness is a comprehensive look at the American public education system. Building on the current system, the book takes on the War on Education in an effort to rethink, redesign and develop a new state-of-the-art system of learning that will regain international competiveness and be the “best choice” for parents in a growing system of choice. The authors provide critical analysis of the current system while also offering specific solutions and hope for one of the greatest institutions in America…..as it Return’s to Greatness!

Addressing the six standards created by the Interstate School Leaders Consortium (ISLLIC), Seifert and Vornberg employ case studies to discuss those issues faced by practicing elementary and secondary principals. Each chapter concludes with student activities that address the concepts discussed in the chapter. An instructor's manual is also available as a separate purchase.

Veteran educators Seifert and Vornberg utilize the six standards created by the Interstate School Leaders Consortium (ISLLIC) and used in developing and redesigning preparation programs and state certification examinations to discuss those issues faced by practicing elementary and secondary school principals. Each chapter begins with a short case study emanating from a fictitious school district and culminates with student activities that address the concepts discussed in the chapter. Questions and activities follow and provide the reader with an opportunity to apply the concepts discussed. This design makes it an ideal text for use with principal certification programs offered by higher education units and other alternative certification programs. The practice of the principalship is viewed by the authors as a systematic process that addresses the operation of a school as a set of interrelated parts and skills that work together to create a self-correcting model of student learning, teaching, and stakeholder participation. An instructor's manual is available as a separate publication.