Michael Fullan

Big cities have mostly failed in their efforts to reform public schools. This book shows why - and offers a framework for achieving future success. Fullan and Boyle, internationally renowned thinkers on school change, demonstrate that while the educational challenges of big cities can be overwhelming, they are not insurmountable. They identify six essential “push” and “pull” actions that can enable big school systems to improve student achievement. Leaders need to push to challenge the status quo, convey a high sense of urgency, and have the courage needed to intervene. But they need to also pull together to create a commonly owned strategy, develop a professional power of capital, and attend to sustainability. Examining three major cities - New York, Toronto, and London - through the decade of 2002–2012, this book weaves case studies with careful analysis and recommendations to hone in on which policies and strategies generate quality implementation that in turn raise the bar for all students and reduce the gap for the disadvantaged. Big-City School Reforms offers invaluable advice to those leading the next phase of school reform in cities around the world.

Building on the authors’ celebrated work in cognitive coaching, this important book provides teachers, schools, and policy leaders with the rationale and new direction for enhancing the development of the intellectual capacity of educators, their performance and ultimate effects on student learning. The authors focus on assisting teachers in developing awareness in their own ability to make effective judgments based on all their capabilities and experiences. When teachers weave internal expertise and external criteria together into the exquisite tapestry of teaching and learning, they gain confidence in their ability to make a difference for all students. Rather than spending time becoming better inspectors and enforcers, Cognitive Capital calls for skilful leaders to engage educators’ thought processes which promote practices that have high impacts on their students.

This collection features original essays from international superstars in the field of educational change. Each “think piece” draws on the latest knowledge from research, policy, and practice to provide important insights for creating systemic, meaningful reform. The authors directly address contemporary challenges, misconceptions, and failed strategies, while also offering solutions, ideas, and guiding questions for examination. Unique in its breadth of ideas and diversity of voices, Leading Educational Change is must-reading for education decision makers on all levels, frontline practitioners, and everyone involved with children and adolescent learning. Together with the online companion Instructor’s Guide, this is also a perfect text for educational leadership and policy courses.

Simplify your approach to change and move educators to action! Do your attempts at education reform seem to stall? In this indispensable sequel to the bestseller Motion Leadership, Michael Fullan shares the strategies, experience, and results of educators who have put motion leadership into practice. This book weaves time-tested theory with new stories of successful educational change from the US and around the world. Focusing on maintaining momentum in your change process, Fullan addresses: Creating and leading movement in the right direction Implementing a "ready-fire-aim" mindset Emphasizing the importance of collaboration Establishing relationships while handling resistance

Take your professional learning community to the next level Discover a systemwide approach for re-envisioning your PLC while sustaining growth and continuing momentum on your journey. You'll move beyond isolated pockets of excellence while allowing every person in your school system--from teachers and administrators to students--the opportunity to be an instrument of lasting cultural change.

The future of learning depends absolutely on the future of teaching. In this latest and most important collaboration, Andy Hargreaves and Michael Fullan show how the quality of teaching is captured in a compelling new idea: the professional capital of every teacher working together in every school. Speaking out against policies that result in a teaching force that is inexperienced, inexpensive, and exhausted in short order, these two world authorities - who know teaching and leadership inside out - set out a groundbreaking new agenda to transform the future of teaching and public education. Ideas-driven, evidence-based, and strategically powerful, Professional Capital combats the tired arguments and stereotypes of teachers and teaching and shows us how to change them by demanding more of the teaching profession and more from the systems that support it. This is a book that no one connected with schools can afford to ignore.

The future of learning depends absolutely on the future of teaching. In this latest and most important collaboration, Andy Hargreaves and Michael Fullan show how the quality of teaching is captured in a compelling new idea: the professional capital of every teacher working together in every school. Speaking out against policies that result in a teaching force that is inexperienced, inexpensive, and exhausted in short order, these two world authorities—who know teaching and leadership inside out—set out a groundbreaking new agenda to transform the future of teaching and public education. Ideas-driven, evidence-based, and strategically powerful, Professional Capital combats the tired arguments and stereotypes of teachers and teaching and shows us how to change them by demanding more of the teaching profession and more from the systems that support it. This is a book that no one connected with schools can afford to ignore. Book Features:A powerful and practical solution to what ails American schools. Action guidelines for all groups—individual teachers, administrators, schools and districts, state and federal leaders. A next-generation update of core themes from the authors’ bestselling book, What’s Worth Fighting for in Your School?

From bestselling author Michael Fullan, wisdom for thriving in today's complex environment Successful organizations adjust quickly and intelligently to shifts in consumer tastes, political climate, and economic opportunity. How do they do it? The Six Secrets of Change explores essential lessons for business and public sector leaders for thriving in today's complex environment. Fullan draws on his acclaimed work in bringing about large-scale and substantial change in education reform in both public school systems and universities, as well as engaging in major change initiatives internationally. This book is filled with lessons that are insightful, actionable, and concisely communicable. "Fullan has an uncanny ability to produce what is needed at the time it is needed. The six secrets are based in theory, grounded in practice, powerful in their relationship to each other, and described in ways that enable deep understanding. It is a refreshing change from the surface lists of leadership and change ideas that all too often permeate education and business literature." —Vicki Phillips, director of education, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Includes so-called leadership "secrets" that are decoded to be accessible and usefulOffers illustrative examples from a variety of businesses, health organizations, and public education systemsLays out the six factors to organizational success: collegiality, long-range plans allow for the unknown, nurture employees, learning, leadership at all levels, and positive pressure must be inescapableMichael Fullan is the author of the acclaimed best-seller Leading in a Culture of Change Fullan convinces us that a leader who attends to all six key factors will have an organization that is constantly learning, growing, and thriving.

We live in a challenging, complex, inter-connected and unpredictable world beset by a range of seemingly insoluble problems. But, says Michael Fullan—an internationally acclaimed authority on organizational change—we have an increasing understanding of how to tackle complex change. This involves developing a new kind of leader: one who recognizes what is needed to bring about deep and lasting changes in living systems at all levels. These leaders need a deep understanding of what motivates us as human beings and how we tap into and influence other people's self-motivation. In his previous best-selling books The Six Secrets of Change, Leading in a Culture of Change, and Turnaround Leadership, Michael Fullan examined the concepts and processes of change. In Change Leader he turns his focus to the core practices of leadership that are so vital for leading in today's complex world. He reveals seven core practices for today's leaders, all of which appear to be deceptively simple but actually get to the essence of what differentiates a powerful leader from one who is merely competent: Practice Drives TheoryBe ResoluteMotivate the MassesCollaborate to CompeteLearn ConfidentlyKnow Your ImpactSustain Simplexity Throughout the book Fullan argues that powerful leaders have built bedrocks of credibility, have learned how to identify the few things that matter most, and know how to leverage their skills in ways that benefit their entire organization. The author shows leaders how to avoid policies and strategies that focus on shallow and short-term goals and develop leadership skills for long-term success. With a wealth of illustrative examples from business, education, nonprofit, and government sectors Change Leader provides a much-needed leadership guide for today's turbulent climate.

'Like all of Fullan's work, this is a must read. He offers such precise strategies for implementation that inaction is no longer an option for educators who are committed to high levels of learning for all students.'ùRichard DuFour, AuthorSuccessful school leadership in actionAchieving excellence begins with hard work at the ground level. There is no question that the stakes have been raised and that school leaders have more pressureùand more opportunityùto make a bigger difference than ever before. Award-winning author and educational reform expert Michael Fullan takes the subject of moral leadership to the next level by showing how to put change into practice at the local and systemic levels. He explains how the combined forces of shared leadership make the difference, and outlines proven ways to:Create a culture of moral leadershipDrive change with school leadersAchieve systemwide progressAvoid educational blind alleysSchool leaders and principals must answer the call to drive the change our children deserve. This invaluable resource will inspire, educate, and provide a map for blazing the trail to success.

In his new book, author and international keynoter Douglas Reeves addresses a major challenge faced by today’s school leaders: an ever-growing load of programs and initiatives. Reeves contends that program overload not only taxes leadership resources, but actually hurts rather than improves student performance. Drawing on recent research findings, this book shows how leaders can pare down from a proliferation of initiatives to determine what is truly most important based on their local concerns, challenges, populations, and other school factors. Identifying a specific set of leadership practices that are more strongly associated with improvements in student achievement, Reeves provides explicit guidelines for how school leaders can improve their most critical leadership decisions by simultaneously engaging in three essential strategies: monitoring teaching and leadership practices, building high degrees of efficacy among staff members, and focusing on a smaller number of priorities. Finding Your Leadership Focus is essential reading for new and veteran principals, teacher leaders, and PLC book study groups. Book Features: Practical guidance to help school leaders at every level to focus on what is most important and to assess their progress. Analysis correlating three years of student achievement data and specific school leadership practices. Online video conference support by Douglas Reeves for book study groups and graduate classes who use this book. Online downloads.

A key concern for educators, administrators, professional support services personnel, parents and policy makers are barriers to learning, particularly student mental health. Statistics reveal that up to 20 percent of children and youth have mental health issues and up to 80 percent do not receive proper intervention. Barriers to Learning enables readers to gain valuable insight into the challenges presented in classrooms today. This book presents a unique classification and review of various mental health and learning issues. The authors link current education and child and youth mental health reforms to make the case for improving services to address barriers to learning. This book includes a unique School-based Integrated Student Support Model (SISSM), which, within the context of exceptional school leadership and instruction, provides a framework for timely and evidence-based integrated and collaborative services to reduce, manage, and prevent barriers to learning for all students.

A key concern for educators, administrators, professional support services personnel, parents and policy makers are barriers to learning, particularly student mental health. Statistics reveal that up to 20 percent of children and youth have mental health issues and up to 80 percent do not receive proper intervention. Barriers to Learning enables readers to gain valuable insight into the challenges presented in classrooms today. This book presents a unique classification and review of various mental health and learning issues. The authors link current education and child and youth mental health reforms to make the case for improving services to address barriers to learning. This book includes a unique School-based Integrated Student Support Model (SISSM), which, within the context of exceptional school leadership and instruction, provides a framework for timely and evidence-based integrated and collaborative services to reduce, manage, and prevent barriers to learning for all students.

Changing whole education systems for the better as measured by student achievement requires coordinated leadership at school, community, county, and government levels. Based on the author's work with Canadian, UK, and U. S. districts and large systems, this resource lays out a comprehensive action plan for achieving whole-system reform. The book examines:- Successful reform initiatives in the U. S. and abroad- Actions and conditions that have insured traction and sustainability- Ways to avoid common errors of action, funding, and policy- New reforms at the national level that can impact learning right now

Over the last few years, state accountability systems across the country have directed an increasingly bright light at the problem of chronically underperforming schools. The problem is hardly new, but the sheer number of failing schools facing takeover and restructuring is unprecedented. This crisis is rapidly becoming the leading concern of the accountability movement. Improving Struggling Schools draws on a blend of case studies and the emerging body of research on failing schools to identify patterns in the challenges they face. Arguing that school improvement is a developmental process, Stephens points out that “struggling schools look very different and need very different kinds of support as they move from stage to stage.” He outlines a new approach that takes into account the patterns of growth and change in troubled schools, the foundational dilemmas schools face as they navigate this trajectory, and the overarching need to overcome the isolation and confusion that so often thwart schools’ efforts to move forward.

Over the last few years, state accountability systems across the country have directed an increasingly bright light at the problem of chronically underperforming schools. The problem is hardly new, but the sheer number of failing schools facing takeover and restructuring is unprecedented. This crisis is rapidly becoming the leading concern of the accountability movement. Improving Struggling Schools draws on a blend of case studies and the emerging body of research on failing schools to identify patterns in the challenges they face. Arguing that school improvement is a developmental process, Stephens points out that “struggling schools look very different and need very different kinds of support as they move from stage to stage.” He outlines a new approach that takes into account the patterns of growth and change in troubled schools, the foundational dilemmas schools face as they navigate this trajectory, and the overarching need to overcome the isolation and confusion that so often thwart schools’ efforts to move forward.

With practical insights, powerful observations, and critical analysis, this collection makes the widely discussed topic of school change accessible to all readers. Editor Michael Fullan, author of The New Meaning of Educational Change, brings together articles and essays that explore the theories, leadership, and implementation strategies behind the never-ending journey of educational reform. Contributors address the problems that have led to the school change movement and offer solutions and proposals for reform. The articles provide not only practical implementation examples involving schools and communities, but also a look at the essential role hope and emotion play in the change process. Each essay provides fresh insights, such as the importance of establishing collaborative work cultures and the need for professional learning communities, that, when taken as a whole, introduce a new mindset for understanding change. The Challenge of School Change: A Collection of Articles sheds new light on educational reform and offers important ideas about how change happens and how it is sustained. Fullan's collection confronts a complex issue with clarity and thoughtfulness and reminds teachers, administrators, principals, and parents that if they are up to the challenge, successful change efforts are possible in any school environment.

In the exciting new edition of this bestselling book, Michael Fullan looks at how much has changed in the world of headship and school improvement in recent decades, and offers key guidelines for being a successful head teacher in the 21st century. Policymakers and school reformers have increasingly pointed to the headteacher as the most important agent for change in our schools. The first edition argued that there was little point waiting for the system to improve, and urged headteachers to take charge and to assume that on any given day the system may not know what it is doing. Since then the situation has become even more complex. The good news is that finally the role of head teacher is being recognized by politicians and policymakers as key, but the bad news is that they are overloaded with initiatives and expectations that serve only to fetter deep action. The irony is that as the head teacher is elevated as critical to success, the headship is sinking - overloaded and pulled down at the same time. In this completely rewritten and updated new edition, Fullan furnishes six action guidelines for heads, and six for systems to enable them to make dramatic improvements in schools. He seeks a way out of the current dilemma, helping incumbent and would-be head teachers in leveraging action that will positively change the system in both small and large ways.

World-renowned for his expert advice on school change, Michael Fullan has completely revised and updated this classic work written directly to principals. In the years since publication of the first edition, policymakers and school reformers have pointed increasingly to the school principal as the most important agent of needed change in our schools. Along with this recognition, principals are now expected to do even more within their already overloaded schedules. With a sense of urgency that will spur principals into action, this second edition is more targeted, more specific, and provides more concrete examples from the field to reveal a new agenda for school leaders. Michael Fullan incisively characterizes the current state of the principalship and furnishes updated Action Guidelines to help school and district leaders work for meaningful change. This much-awaited, fully revised edition will help principals fight for: Deep and creative learning for all students—not just minimum competency in tested achievement. Professional learning communities that respect and engage teachers in the quest to improve learning. Sustainable leadership that creates lasting improvement rather than quick fixes that fade all too fast after early promise. Relationships beyond their schools that will improve the school system as a whole.

'This timely book is exactly what modern schools need, blending Fullan's theoretical genius about change with practical strategies that can work in any school. Readers will discover that it is practical, easy to use, and empowering for educators, with lots of room for personal choices at the school level' - Lyn Sharratt, Superintendent of Curriculum and Instructional Services, York Region District School Board, North Toronto, ON, Canada 'This book is an easy read and provides a well developed idea of framing the school context for student achievement. The author provides excellent resources, worksheets, templates, walk-through and reflection ideas, and additional support materials' - Rosemarie Young, Past President, National Association of Elementary School Principals, USA Need an inspiring approach to school change? Need staying power for school improvement initiatives? Organized to make learning contagious throughout the school, this user-friendly guide helps create a culture of learning that promotes the simultaneous development of students, teachers, and parents - addressing specific ways to maximize study groups, student data, classroom walk-throughs, and more. The interactive self-assessment procedures focus on: o achieving a sense of purpose o facilitating program coherence o invigorating classroom teaching o supporting the professional development of teachers o developing wider circles of leadership Issuing a call to action for all educational communities, this easy-to-use manual offers a visionary yet grounded approach to revitalize educators and reenergize their efforts for meaningful, lasting reform.