"Be a CHANGEMASTER" is a practical guide for school and district leaders that provides 12 strategies for overcoming resistance to change. Unlike more theoretical books, this text shows how to adopt a coaching style of leadership as a systemic change strategy. Numerous examples demonstrate how the strategies used in this book have led to…

States are in various stages of reforming how they evaluate their educators, all striving for a new system that can assess a range of abilities and practices over long periods of time and capture the full nature of an educator's performance. The strongest systems look at teaching in a more comprehensive way than evaluations have done in the past,…

For instructional coaches, no two days are ever the same. This unique companion melds theory and practice to show how coaches can seamlessly integrate themselves into the fabric of the school and help teachers improve their practice from day one. Dean Spaulding and Gail Smith address common challenges of coaches and instructional leadership teams,…

Offers steps for adapting the change process to institutional culture: align leadership style with organizational culture, don't overuse change missionaries, protect change agents, define the problem, maintain focus when the project drifts, identify and remove barriers before implementing action plans, assign responsibilities to individuals,…

One part of a leader's job is to create commitment to their organization's vision. In order to do this, the leader must communicate the vision effectively. This guidebook suggests many ways to communicate a vision. It also discusses how to deal with a resistant audience and what to do in the event that one as a leader finds themselves resistant.…

Notes full inclusion has become a reality in many schools. Discusses four basic types of resistance to such educational reforms. Suggests that a functional approach can help educators deal with resistance. Suggests learning to recognize resistance and to deal with it effectively facilitates the creation of alternatives for students with special…

Describes a typology of change drawn from conceptualizing conflict as cognitive or affective, and organizational formalization in terms of enabling or coercive procedures. The framework can predict the impact of change, from situations that catalyze and facilitate change to those that frustrate and inhibit it. Summarizes key factors for school…

Introduces a new, comprehensive planning and change concept for universities, "change creation," that encompasses both strategic planning and a transition process for the organization from "what is" to "what should be." After exploring change, why it often fails, and the tenets of change creation, presents its steps. A few are: leadership team…

Discusses factors that help or hinder progress in institutional change and the important role of governing boards in managing change. The advice is based on work by the American Council on Education with a diverse group of 23 colleges and universities on a range of large-scale institutional change initiatives as part of the Project on Leadership…

The Secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education asks colleges and universities to become more accountable to the public, more accessible to students from the broad spectrum of society, more proactive in responding to international competition, and more purposeful in reducing their costs. This report is the latest in a…

Discussion of the role of implementation mediators in implementing computer technology in schools focuses on the role of WCET Television in helping schools in Cincinnati, Ohio, to adopt computer technology. Guidelines for successful implementation are suggested which emphasize the need to understand and address resistance to change. (21…

Discusses reasons for and methods to defuse classroom teachers' resistance to change in the workplace. Suggestions include planning for resistance, acknowledging peoples' concerns and addressing them specifically, avoiding criticism of current methods, individualizing resistance reduction, and providing ongoing support. (JKP)

How different are the generations, really? Everybody knows that the "generation gap" between younger and older people causes stress and frustration at work. Are the differences people complain about just a big misunderstanding, or are they real? And most important, how can one use similarities and differences among the generations to be more…

Going through the building process could take up to five years--five of the toughest and most satisfying years of an administrator's career. In going through this process, one can learn a great deal about the community and staff involved, and about onself. But even when the building project is completed, there is still work to be done: now is the…

As educators embark on the crucial mission of education reform, examining and learning from the shortcomings of past reform efforts can be the critical element that determines the success or failure of future efforts. This guide provides a unique insider's look into the various causes for ineffectual efforts, shedding new light on the obstacles to…