Introduction STAGE 1: How to Build a Leadership Paradigm for Outstanding Schools Chapter 1: School Leadership: Finding the Space to do the Job Effectively Chapter 2: Negotiating the Inverted Triangle of Influence Chapter 3: Leading to Create a Game Plan for Success Chapter 4: Leading a Renewed Purpose of Education STAGE 2: What Are the Most Influential Elements for Collective Success? Chapter 5: Leading Students Chapter 6: Leading Teachers and Other Players in Schools STAGE 3: How to Avoid the Pitfalls That Prevent Success Chapter 7: Leading through Formative Accountability: Shifting the Locus of Control Chapter 8: Leading for Sustainability: Embracing Disruption and Crisis
As schools grapple with an array of social, economic, and political challenges, education leaders must hone their focus on important tasks and learn how to navigate bureaucratic constraints, policies, and parental concerns while fostering change. This essential guide proposes that school leaders become "brave and focused," not by abandoning structures or making changes recklessly, but by understanding their influence and maximizing positive change with evidence-based decisions. Divided into three stages, Focused addresses building a leadership paradigm for outstanding schools, discusses the most influential elements for collective success, and offers solutions to the pitfalls that frequently hinder success. Other features include: Illustrative vignettes, practical examples, and stories Research-based action steps to become a more focused leader Focus points at the close of each chapter to support implementing a new leadership approach Focused provides a practical guide for school leaders to successfully navigate today's complex educational systems and develop the change-makers, artisans, innovators, inventors, and civic leaders of tomorrow.