A Charter School Principal’s Story : : A View from the Inside / / by Barbara Smith.

• VerfasserIn: Smith, Barbara J., 1956-
• Place / Publishing House: Rotterdam : : SensePublishers :, Imprint: SensePublishers,, 2017.
• Year of Publication: 2017
• Edition: 1st ed. 2017.
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (CCXVI, 20 p.)

What happens when a Canadian principal, guided by the teachings of Fullan and Hargreaves, takes on the role of school leader in an inner-city charter school in the United States? This inside story of a principal in the DC charter school system, reveals much about the desire for educators and students to experience more than a life of multiple-choice testing that tends to be so commonplace in these schools. While such a case adds to the mound of research that supports the ‘change takes time’ findings, it nevertheless demonstrates the reality, on a day-to-day basis, of what’s worth fighting for in schools. Student and teacher engagement and empowerment matter, and to get to such ends, a school must fiercely focus on targets well beyond test scores. This book speaks about how a budget reveals school values, and by shifting resources to support staff and student development, a school, coping with regular turnover, can be filled with more confident and capable community members. A school crawling with leaders emerged as more student, teacher and non-instructional staff were supported in new roles, aimed at building an inspired culture, with the talent and capacity to move others to action. The old ways of ‘doing school’ do not address the needs of the 21st century learner, and while many forces with limited views of education were at play, this story does provide an example of what promising things can and should happen to increase engagement and learning in more charter schools across America. “Dr. Barbara Smith’s narrative of her times in public charter schools offers all of us insights into the struggle to create schools of high academic quality and compassionate care, worthy of her educational mandate and mission.” – David Booth, Professor Emeritus, The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto “Dr. Smith’s message inspires me to be an advocate for education and her work will inspire you as well!” – Jalen Rose, Chair of Board of Directors, Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, Detroit, Michigan, ESPN Commentator “This inside look provides an opportunity for innovation in a field that has held to aging standards for far too long!” – Diane C. Manica, Former Director, Leadership and Accreditation, University of Detroit Mercy.

Table of Contents

Preliminary Material / Barbara Smith -- Beginning Sketches / Barbara Smith -- Trust / Barbara Smith -- Day 1 / Barbara Smith -- Ten Days of Preparations / Barbara Smith -- The First Reach – WEDJ Parents / Barbara Smith -- First Week of School / Barbara Smith -- Parent Communications / Barbara Smith -- Connecting with Staff / Barbara Smith -- Initial Board of Trustees Communications / Barbara Smith -- Arts to the Core / Barbara Smith -- Learning That Sticks / Barbara Smith -- Building Relationships / Barbara Smith -- Safety, Supervision, and Discipline / Barbara Smith -- Bodies in Their Seats / Barbara Smith -- Student and Staff Performance Reviews / Barbara Smith -- Learning Communities for Staff and Parents / Barbara Smith -- November 2012 Qualitative Site Review / Barbara Smith -- Investing Time to Recognize Others / Barbara Smith -- Welcomed Visitors / Barbara Smith -- Tears in Heaven / Barbara Smith -- Arts on Fire / Barbara Smith -- Other People’s Money / Barbara Smith -- Never-Ending Talent Search / Barbara Smith -- The DCCAS Experience / Barbara Smith -- Middle States Candidacy / Barbara Smith -- First Spring Rising / Barbara Smith -- Summer Highs and Lows / Barbara Smith -- Year 2 – Welcome Back Wolves / Barbara Smith -- The Sting of the 2013 Qualitative Site Review / Barbara Smith -- Response to the Charter Board Qualitative Site Review / Barbara Smith -- Board Retreat / Barbara Smith -- WEDJ through the Eyes of TenSquare / Barbara Smith -- Dismantling Leadership / Barbara Smith -- Catching Fire / Barbara Smith -- The Chill of January / Barbara Smith -- The Ambush… “And So It Begins” / Barbara Smith -- Valentine Bundle – February 14 / Barbara Smith -- Leadership Performance Review / Barbara Smith -- Cracks in the Foundation / Barbara Smith -- Apology Accepted; Opportunity Denied / Barbara Smith -- Built to Last / Barbara Smith -- Annotated Toolbox / Barbara Smith -- References / Barbara Smith.