Ryan Donlan

Every student deserves a high-impact, well-qualified, and governance-driven school board. In this helpful book, bestselling authors Ryan Donlan and Todd Whitaker show you as a school board member how to make smart, worthwhile decisions that will lead to positive change in your district. The School Board Member’s Guidebook addresses the challenges of making realistic choices that will truly benefit the school and have a lasting impact. Topics include: • How to work and communicate effectively with the superintendent during the year; How to rise above contentious issues, while still showing you care about people’s viewpoints; • How to represent the interests and needs of the community at large; • How to keep your constituencies focused and informed through strategic planning and structured committee participation; and • How to host constructive and cordial school board meetings. Each chapter offers strategies, tips, and sample scenarios. In addition, this timely second edition features a new chapter on the roles and challenges of the board president. With the resources and the practical advice throughout the book, you’ll be able to make a lasting difference in the lives of every student in your district.

Every student deserves a high-impact, well-qualified, and governance-driven school board. In this helpful book, bestselling authors Ryan Donlan and Todd Whitaker show you as a school board member how to make smart, worthwhile decisions that will lead to positive change in your district. The School Board Member’s Guidebook addresses the challenges of making realistic choices that will truly benefit the school and have a lasting impact. Topics include: • How to work and communicate effectively with the superintendent during the year; How to rise above contentious issues, while still showing you care about people’s viewpoints; • How to represent the interests and needs of the community at large; • How to keep your constituencies focused and informed through strategic planning and structured committee participation; and • How to host constructive and cordial school board meetings. Each chapter offers strategies, tips, and sample scenarios. In addition, this timely second edition features a new chapter on the roles and challenges of the board president. With the resources and the practical advice throughout the book, you’ll be able to make a lasting difference in the lives of every student in your district.

Learn how to turn your school board members into heroes by helping them make smart, worthwhile decisions they will deserve to brag about. In this much-needed book, Ryan Donlan and Todd Whitaker offer practical strategies to help superintendents develop better working relationships with their boards. You’ll discover how to: · Reconnect board members to the real purpose of education, despite their personal agendas; · Work with your board more effectively during meetings and at times in between; · Guide board members into more productive roles when they overreach beyond policymaking; and · Connect and communicate with board members regardless of personal disposition. Each chapter contains hero-making tips to help you get started. In addition, this timely second edition features a new chapter on navigating the superintendent/Board President relationship. With this practical book, you’ll be able to overcome the challenges of the superintendent–board relationship so that your board can make better decisions for those who matter most—the students.

Learn how to turn your school board members into heroes by helping them make smart, worthwhile decisions they will deserve to brag about. In this much-needed book, Ryan Donlan and Todd Whitaker offer practical strategies to help superintendents develop better working relationships with their boards. You’ll discover how to: · Reconnect board members to the real purpose of education, despite their personal agendas; · Work with your board more effectively during meetings and at times in between; · Guide board members into more productive roles when they overreach beyond policymaking; and · Connect and communicate with board members regardless of personal disposition. Each chapter contains hero-making tips to help you get started. In addition, this timely second edition features a new chapter on navigating the superintendent/Board President relationship. With this practical book, you’ll be able to overcome the challenges of the superintendent–board relationship so that your board can make better decisions for those who matter most—the students.

Teachers are critical to student success, but the profession of teaching is in crisis. When teachers feel a sense of purpose or meaningful significance, it leads to better student achievement, less burnout, and higher job satisfaction. Drawing from original research, this practical resource introduces eight essential elements of mattering that schools need to have for teachers to feel they matter. This book will help K–12 teachers: Learn how to integrate less pleasant aspects of the job with one’s values to achieve a goal Use the foundational elements of mattering survey and other tools to effect substantive school change Make smaller-scale changes to the work environment to meet individual needs Understand the purpose and importance of each element of mattering Learn about leaders’ obligations when it comes to mattering and what teachers should expect from them Explore the implications of all eight elements of mattering for teachers and leaders Contents: Introduction: A Blinding Flash of the Obvious—The What and Why of Mattering Chapter 1: Celebrating the Team, Not Just the Score—Community Chapter 2: Embracing What You See, and That’s a Whole Lot of Me—Authenticity Chapter 3: Getting Lost in the Moment, With a Good Crowd Around—Flow Chapter 4: Staying the Course, En Route to My Why—Purpose Chapter 5: Seeing the Downside as a Necessary Upside—Assimilation Chapter 6: Getting Real With How We Stack Up—Compensation Chapter 7: Taking Care to Take Care—Stability Chapter 8: Letting Things Be Loose–Tight—Job Crafting Chapter 9: Putting It All Together—Smarter Stuff That Matters Epilogue: A Fair Adieu References and Resources Index

Explore the wide range of duties inherent in being an assistant principal and gain strategies to achieve success and happiness in this position, whether for a single year or for a career. Written with compassion and accountability and informed by research, this is your complete guide for stepping into your critical role as an opportunity maker striving to foster student success. Ambitious K-12 assistant principals will: Delve into the role of an assistant principal and the wide variety of duties and responsibilities it encompasses Learn how to develop positive, equitable environments for student learning and educator achievement Develop an understanding of the importance of managerial strategies and compassionate leadership Benefit from the variety of reproducible professional development activities Encourage learning and growth through strong leadership Contents Introduction Chapter 1: Deciding You Want to Be an Assistant Principal Chapter 2: Making Time for Management Chapter 3: Fostering a Positive School Culture and Climate Chapter 4: Developing Relationships Chapter 5: Protecting and Promoting Priorities and People Chapter 6: Leveraging Firm and Fair Discipline Chapter 7: Capitalizing on Teachable Moments Chapter 8: Safeguarding an Equitable Education for All Chapter 9: Taking Time for Teaching and Learning Chapter 10: Supporting School Improvement and Accountability Conclusion: All Other Duties as Assigned Appendix: Quick Reference--Strategies References and Resources Index

Every student deserves a high-impact, well-qualified, and governance-driven school board. In this helpful book, best-selling authors Ryan Donlan and Todd Whitaker show you as a school board member how to make smart, worthwhile decisions that will lead to positive change in your district. The School Board Member’s Guidebook addresses the challenges of making realistic choices that will truly benefit the school and have a lasting impact. Topics include: How to work and communicate effectively with the superintendent during the year; How to find common ground with colleagues; How to represent the interests and needs of the community at large; How to keep your constituencies focused and informed through strategic planning and structured committee participation; How to host constructive and cordial school board meetings; How to capitalize on individual talents and strengths; And more! Each chapter offers strategies, tips, and sample scenarios. With these resources and the practical advice throughout the book, you’ll be able to make a lasting difference in the lives of every student in your district. You’ll be a Difference Maker.

Every student deserves a high-impact, well-qualified, and governance-driven school board. In this helpful book, best-selling authors Ryan Donlan and Todd Whitaker show you as a school board member how to make smart, worthwhile decisions that will lead to positive change in your district. The School Board Member’s Guidebook addresses the challenges of making realistic choices that will truly benefit the school and have a lasting impact. Topics include: How to work and communicate effectively with the superintendent during the year; How to find common ground with colleagues; How to represent the interests and needs of the community at large; How to keep your constituencies focused and informed through strategic planning and structured committee participation; How to host constructive and cordial school board meetings; How to capitalize on individual talents and strengths; And more! Each chapter offers strategies, tips, and sample scenarios. With these resources and the practical advice throughout the book, you’ll be able to make a lasting difference in the lives of every student in your district. You’ll be a Difference Maker.

What is the secret to school leadership? The Secret Solution follows the journey of Roger Rookie, a new principal, in his quest to become a fair and effective leader. Through the ups and downs of his first few years, Roger learns what works and what doesn't when it comes to leading people well. This engaging parable also brings to light many of the real-life characters in schools today--from naysayers and bullies to superstars and newbies--and reveals the best (and worst) ways to work with them. By using a narrative to explore four common leadership styles, the authors provide an effective, non-threatening way to discuss problematic attitudes and approaches with colleagues. This updated edition of The Secret Solution includes a reader's guide that delves into each of the four leadership personality styles to help you identify habits and traits that can help you and your team succeed. Authors and experienced leaders Todd Whitaker, Sam Miller, and Ryan Donlan serve as the guides to help you find your path to leadership success. "The Secret Solution is a great read that perfectly blends What Great Principals Do Differently and an enjoyable fiction novel. This book is a must-read for any aspiring new or veteran principals."--Jessica Johnson, principal/district assessment coordinator, Dodgeland Elementary School, Dodgeland, Wisconsin and coauthor ofThe Coach Approach to School Leadership and Breaking Out of Isolation "Anyone who is venturing down a path of campus management will benefit from the mistakes and lessons learned from The Secret Solution."--Amber Teamann, principal, Whitt Elementary, Wylie, Texas "Whitaker, Miller, and Donlan hit a home run with The Secret Solution. The parables within depict mistakes and lessons learned in a quick and easy, weekend-reading format." --Matt Townsley, director of instruction, Solon Community Schools, Solon, Iowa "With its amusing dialogue and thought-provoking graphics, The Secret Solution is a must-have for anyone entering into or new to the principalship. For veteran administrators, this book offers a valuable reflection on roads traveled, pitfalls to avoid, and practices to cultivate for continued success."--Mike Pinto, principal, James Cole Elementary School, Lafayette, Indiana

Learn how to turn your school board members into heroes by helping them make smart, worthwhile decisions that they will deserve to brag about. In this much-needed book, Ryan Donlan and Todd Whitaker offer practical strategies to help superintendents develop better working relationships with their boards. You‘ll discover how to: reconnect board members to the real purpose of education, despite their agendas work with your board more effectively during meetings and at times in between guide board members into more productive roles when they overreach beyond policymaking connect and communicate with board members regardless of personality encourage board members to play to their strengths start each school year undefeated and know when it is time to move on. Each chapter contains hero-making tips to help you get started. The book also includes a special feature on board personalities and the Process Communication Model (PCM), a method that will make it easier to avoid miscommunication with board members. With this practical book, you'll be able to overcome the challenges of the superintendent board relationship so that your board can make better decisions for those who matter most the students.

Learn how to turn your school board members into heroes by helping them make smart, worthwhile decisions that they will deserve to brag about. In this much-needed book, Ryan Donlan and Todd Whitaker offer practical strategies to help superintendents develop better working relationships with their boards. You’ll discover how to:reconnect board members to the real purpose of education, despite their agendaswork with your board more effectively during meetings and at times in betweenguide board members into more productive roles when they overreach beyond policymakingconnect and communicate with board members regardless of personalityencourage board members to play to their strengthsstart each school year undefeated and know when it is time to move on. Each chapter contains hero-making tips to help you get started. The book also includes a special feature on board personalities and the Process Communication Model® (PCM), a method that will make it easier to avoid miscommunication with board members. With this practical book, you'll be able to overcome the challenges of the superintendent–board relationship so that your board can make better decisions for those who matter most—the students.