Excellence

Every Classroom, Every Lesson, Every Day

Michael Horton

Excellence: Every Classroom, Every Lesson, Every Day is the story of the transformation of a principal from new and inexperienced but good-hearted to a highly effective leader and motivator. The realistic fiction story is based upon the author’s experience coaching administrators and working with both underperforming schools and high-achieving schools while weaving in lessons from foundational leadership books from both business and education. The principal, Dr. Esposito, demonstrates throughout how she uses these lessons to solve common problems in schools as she gradually changes her leadership philosophy and style. Her lessons come from a variety of leadership books including Drive, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Practice Perfect, The Art of Influence, Radical Candor, and many others.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 142 • Trim: 6 x 8¾

978-1-4758-5546-3 • Hardback • December 2019 • $50.00 • (£38.00)

978-1-4758-5547-0 • Paperback • December 2019 • $25.00 • (£18.95)

978-1-4758-5548-7 • eBook • December 2019 • $23.50 • (£17.95)

Subjects: Education / Leadership, Education / Administration / General, Education / Professional Development, Education / Administration / School Superintendents & Principals

Excellence

Every Classroom, Every Lesson, Every Day

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

Excellence: Every Classroom, Every Lesson, Every Day is the story of the transformation of a principal from new and inexperienced but good-hearted to a highly effective leader and motivator. The realistic fiction story is based upon the author’s experience coaching administrators and working with both underperforming schools and high-achieving schools while weaving in lessons from foundational leadership books from both business and education. The principal, Dr. Esposito, demonstrates throughout how she uses these lessons to solve common problems in schools as she gradually changes her leadership philosophy and style. Her lessons come from a variety of leadership books including Drive, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Practice Perfect, The Art of Influence, Radical Candor, and many others.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 142 • Trim: 6 x 8¾

978-1-4758-5546-3 • Hardback • December 2019 • $50.00 • (£38.00)

978-1-4758-5547-0 • Paperback • December 2019 • $25.00 • (£18.95)

978-1-4758-5548-7 • eBook • December 2019 • $23.50 • (£17.95)

Subjects: Education / Leadership, Education / Administration / General, Education / Professional Development, Education / Administration / School Superintendents & Principals

Author

Michael Horton is the Assistant Principal of a highly-acclaimed charter school in an impoverished area of Southern California and a School Ambassador Fellow with the U.S. Department of Education. Previously, he has been a coordinator and administrator at two county offices where he coached administrators and worked with more than 200 schools.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1. The Beginning of the End

Leadership Reference: Good to Great

Reflection Questions

Chapter 2. Professor Scaffale

Leadership Reference: Good to Great Part II

Reflection Questions

Chapter 3. Driving the Flywheel

Leadership Reference: Drive

Reflection Questions

Chapter 4. Turned Inside Out

Leadership Reference: Drive Part 2 and InsideOut Coaching

Reflection Questions

Chapter 5. The Way Forward

Leadership Reference: Tribes

Reflection Questions

Chapter 6. Seeing Through New Eyes

Leadership Reference: Visible Learning

Reflection Questions

Chapter 7. Influence of Gold

Leadership Reference: The Art of Influence

Reflection Questions

Chapter 8. The Breakthrough

Leadership Reference: The Breakthrough Coach

Reflection Questions

Chapter 9. Taking a Walk

Leadership Reference: Instructional Rounds

Reflection Questions

Chapter 10. Getting REAL

Reflection Questions

Chapter 11. Flipping 360 Degrees

Leadership Reference: 360^o Leadership

Reflection Questions

Chapter 12. A Simple Plan

Leadership Reference: Learning by Doing

Reflection Questions

Chapter 13. Positive Deviance

Leadership Reference: Influencer

Reflection Questions

Chapter 14. By Name and By Need

Leadership Reference: Mentoring 101

Reflection Questions

Chapter 15. Bottom Up When Possible, Top Down When Necessary

Leadership Reference: How Did That Happen? and What Great Principals do Differently

Reflection Questions

Chapter 16. Perfect Practice

Leadership Reference: Practice Perfect

Reflection Questions

Chapter 17. Thank You

Leadership Reference: Crucial Conversations

Reflection Questions

Chapter 18. Vital Behaviors

Leadership Reference: How to Win Friends and Influence People

Reflection Questions

Chapter 19. Love and Trust

Leadership Reference: The Speed of Trust

Reflection Questions

Chapter 20. El Niño

Leadership Reference: Servant Leadership

Reflection Questions

Chapter 21. The Surprise

Leadership Reference: The Motivation Breakthrough

Reflection Questions

Chapter 22. You Raise Me Up

Reflection Questions

Chapter 23. The Shallow Pool

Reflection Questions

Chapter 24. The Matrix

Leadership Reference: Radical Candor

Reflection Questions

Chapter 25. Epilogue and Discussion

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Reviews

So many times we read leadership books but aren't sure of the impact or how they might influence our practice. This book addresses that mystery in an engaging and easy-to-read format. Using the reflective journey of a high-impact retiring superintendent as the basis, impactful professional reading is referenced and applied. This is the perfect read for any school administrator who is looking to broaden their horizons and learn to apply leadership literature to their profession.
— Dr. Lori A. Katz, Director of Secondary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation, Greenfield, Indiana

Loved it! The real, compelling narrative keeps me turning the pages looking for more. The way leadership advice is intertwined and anchored in the story gives it the perfect context to make learning relatable and relevant.
— Joel Leal, Teacher, Houston, TX

A must-read for every school leader or anyone considering a career in school leadership. Excellence: Every Classroom, Every Lesson, Every Day is masterfully written, providing us with meaningful, engaging and relevant stories linking school-related issues with practical solutions from some of the greatest leaderships books written in our modern era. Through a creatively crafted story, Michael provides clear actions and responses that every school leader can benefit from.
— Ryan Mitchell, Vice Principal, Fonthill, Ontario, Canada

Education is poised for a renaissance and it’s long overdue. Teacher professional development and classroom instruction have changed little since the dawn of public education. In Excellence: Every Classroom, Every Lesson, Every Day Michael Horton shows how school administrators and teachers can benefit from the vast material available in the areas of motivation, leadership, networking, and continuous improvement. John Dewey pointed out more than a hundred years ago that “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself”. Mr. Horton shows how an educational leader can use timeless leadership literature to truly be a lifelong learner and a better leader.
— Jim Gammill, Hans Christensen Middle School Teacher, California

Excellence

Every Classroom, Every Lesson, Every Day

Michael Horton

Excellence

Every Classroom, Every Lesson, Every Day

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