To make a lasting impact, start with your own learning.  What’s better: a rigorous system that emphasizes traditional academics, or an innovative one that prepares students for tomorrow’s world? With McDowell’s new model of educational leadership, you don’t have to choose. You can create an impactful system that ensures growth for all students in both core academic content and 21st-century skills.  The Lead Learner shows you how starting with your own professional learning helps you plan for and meet the unique learning needs of staff and students—while getting the biggest impact from your limited time. You’ll also find ways to:  Ensure clarity in strategic planning Establish coherence throughout the system Enact system-wide capacity-building processes Craft your personal leadership skills   With practical examples, stories from the field, and numerous activities and reflective questions, this insightful book takes you step-by-step through the work of the learning leader—so you can ensure engaged learning for all. The enduring contribution of this book is in the guidance it provides leaders to recognize that they are part, an important part, but just a part, of a networked system.  As such, their decisions and actions send messages throughout the system about what is valued and what is not.  Take heed to McDowell’s advice and you’ll have a healthy, growth-producing system that will be the envy of those around you.  The work is possible, the information is available, and the results are clear.  Douglas Fisher  San Diego State University

Table of Contents:
Foreword Preface: Lead the Learning A Perspective From a Lead Learner Author′s Acknowledgments About the Author Chapter 1. Setting the Stage Are We as Leaders Ready to Prepare All Learners for the 21st Century? The Driving Question: Are Our Decisions Leading the Learning? A New Leadership Focus Ensuring Clarity, Coherence, and Capacity: Crafting Improved Leadership Skills Conclusion Reflection Questions Activities Next Steps Chapter 2. Clarity: Strategic Planning Three Questions That Ensure Clarity in Strategic Planning Conclusion Reflection Questions Activities Next Steps Resource Chapter 3. Coherence (Part I): Learning System Infrastructure Setting the Stage for Coherence Establish Progress and Proficiency Expectations Establish Standardized and Customizable Features Coherence: Bringing It All Together Conclusion Reflection Questions Activities Next Steps Chapter 4. Coherence (Part II): Ensuring Inspired and Passionate Teachers in Schools Linking Learner-Centered Beliefs and Behaviors Unmasking Beliefs and Behaviors Hiring and Developing Educators for Impact Conclusion Reflection Questions Activities Next Steps Chapter 5. Capacity: Community Learning Building Capacity Through Continuous Improvement Standardized Success Criteria Customizable Organizational Routines for Learning Conclusion Reflection Questions Activities Next Steps Chapter 6. Crafting: The Lead Learner Facing Competing Beliefs in Learning Lead Learner Practices That Move Learning Forward Establishing Common Agreements for Learning Leverage Protocols for Dialogue Model Current Initiatives in Daily Practice Conclusion Reflection Questions Activities Next Steps Chapter 7. Conclusion Moving Beyond Stark Differences Influencing Educators Recognizing the Rate of Change Epilogue References Appendix Sample Strategic Plans Protocols Sample Evaluation Tools Sample Unit Plan Demonstration Scenario Index