The Handbook of School Improvement: How High-Performing Principals Create High-Performing Schools book focuses on how principals develop the leadership qualities and school contexts that support school-wide achievement.
It is written by Jo R. Blase and Joseph Blase, who recently retired from the College of Education as professors in the department of workforce education, leadership and social foundations, and Dana Phillips, a 2004 graduate of the doctoral program in educational leadership and a middle school administrator.
The handbook includes perspectives from 20 successful principals, representing a range of urban and rural schools. Intended for school and district administrators, staff developers and university faculty teaching courses in school improvement, the book provides real-life strategies and best practices of principals who use a systems-development approach to integrate administrative and instructional leadership activities to build empowered teams and productive schools.
In this comprehensive resource for school improvement, the authors describe the key characteristics of extraordinary principals and high-performing schools, including nine crucial actions that drive positive change.