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Professional Development for School Improvement: Empowering Learning Communities
Stephen P. Gordon, Texas State University

ISBN-10: 0205268315
ISBN-13: 9780205268313

Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
Copyright: 2004
Format: Paper; 312 pp
Published: 09/11/2003

Suggested retail price: $57.40
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This book integrates knowledge from professional development and school improvement to describe frameworks that increase the capacity of individuals, teams, and organizations to grow and develop.

The text argues that both professional development and school improvement should have as their primary purpose the improvement of teaching and learning. Eleven frameworks for professional development are presented, along with strategies for integrating multiple frameworks in comprehensive programs. School leader development is addressed as a prerequisite for professional and school development.

  • Covers and integrates the eleven core frameworks of successful professional development programs: training, peer coaching, collaborative work teams, co-teaching, study groups, action research, teacher writing, teacher leadership, partnerships, networks, and teacher centers (Chs. 2-6).
  • Integrates themes of empowerment, characteristics of successful professional development, and principles of adult learning throughout the text.
  • Reviews the characteristics of school cultures that promote continuous improvement, as well as the key aspects of successful innovation so those outcomes can be replicated (Ch. 8).
  • Views team development as the cornerstone of school improvement and includes discussion of forming teams, team development, characteristics of effective teams, team communication, team decisionmaking, and managing team conflict (Ch. 9).
  • Includes numerous examples of outstanding K-12 professional development and school improvement programs to drive analysis and discussion.
  • Needs assessments for specific professional development frameworks and functions are provided throughout the text so that readers can readily transfer information from the text.
  • Ample learning tools such as Case Studies, Chapter Problems, Discussion Questions, Charts, and Summaries in every chapter assist the learning process.
  • TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGE—Instructor resources including PowerPoint overheads, small-group discussion questions, and hands-on, small-group activities for each chapter in the text. Available through Supplement Central.

Each chapter concludes with “Summary,” “Assignments,” “References,” and “Resources.”

First Foreword.


Second Foreword.


Preface.

I. INTRODUCTION.

1. The Emerging Field of Professional Development.

What Do We Mean by Successful Professional Development?

The Increasing Need for Professional Development.

A Need Not Yet Met.

The Focus of This Book.

Clarifying Empowerment.

Characteristics of Effective Professional Development Programs.

Principles of Adult Learning.

A Comprehensive Model for Professional Development.

Review of Professional Development Model, Part I.

II. FRAMEWORKS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

2. Training.

Training for Empowerment: An Oxymoron?

Characteristics of Training That Empowers.

The Long Range View: Levels of Competence.

Delivering Effective Training.

Follow-Up: Key to Applying New Skills.

3. Collegial Support Frameworks.

Peer Coaching.

Collaborative Work Teams.

Co-Teaching.

4. Reflective Inquiry Frameworks.

Study Groups.

Action Research.

Teacher Writing.

Combining Reflective Inquiry Frameworks.

5. Teacher Leadership.

Models of Teacher Leadership.

Training and Support for Teachers Who Lead.

Focus on Mentoring.

6. External Support Frameworks.

Partnerships.

Networks.

Teacher Centers.

Review of Professional Development Model, Part II.

III. CAPACITY-BUILDING FUNCTIONS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

7. School Leader Development.

New Roles for the Principal.

New Proficiencies for New Roles.

Principal Assessment: Basis for Professional Growth.

Applying Professional Development Frameworks to Principal Development.

The Principal and Time Management.

New Roles for the Central Office.

8. Improvement of School Culture.

School Culture.

Toward a Culture of Continuous Improvement.

Facilitating Innovation.

Connecting Cultural Development with Professional Development.

Frameworks.

9. Team Development.

The Power of Teams.

Barriers to Effective Teams.

Forming Teams.

Team Skills.

Stages of Team Development.

Characteristics of Effective Teams.

Communication Within Teams.

Team Decision Making.

Team Conflict.

Team Learning.

Connections of Team Development with Professional Development Frameworks.

10. Individual Teacher Development.

Developing the Whole Teacher.

Adult Learning Styles.

Assisting Beginning Teachers.

Individualized Professional Development.

Teacher Portfolios.

Review of Professional Development Model, Part III.

IV. CONCLUSION.

11. Core Function of Professional Development: Improvement of Teaching and Learning.

Curriculum Development.

Restructuring.

Instructional Development.

Improvement of Student Assessment.

Improvement of School-Parent Collaboration.

12. Program Development.

A Program Development Model.

Putting It All Together.

Conclusion.

Name Index.

Subject Index.

“This is excellent material. It is easy to read and comprehend and it is arranged in a useful manner.”
Dr. Sandra Lowery
Stephen F. Austin State University

Professional Development for School Improvement: Empowering Learning Communities, First Edition integrates knowledge from professional development and school improvement to describe frameworks that can increase the capacity of individuals, teams, and organizations to grow and develop.

The book argues that both professional development and school improvement should have as their primary purpose the improvement of teaching and learning. Eleven frameworks for professional development are presented, along with strategies for integrating multiple frameworks in comprehensive programs. These frameworks of successful professional development programs include: training, peer coaching, collaborative work teams, co-teaching, study groups, action research, teacher writing, teacher leadership, partnerships, networks, and teacher centers. School leader development is addressed as a prerequisite for professional and school development. Leader, cultural, team, and teacher development are described as capacity building functions of professional development. Abundant learning tools such as Case Studies, Chapter Problems, Discussion Questions, Charts, and Summaries in every chapter help reinforce chapter concepts.

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