Build a dynamic system for change! From No Child Left Behind to Common Core standards, we are inundated with directives for improving our schools. How can we really create lasting change? By applying the Change Creation system! The Change Creation system produces a creative, collaborative, nurturing school environment—and you can make it happen. The authors use what they have learned over two decades of working with schools implementing Whole Faculty Study Groups to make improvements and refinements that create a more streamlined and effective grass-roots system for measurable and sustainable student growth. Learning community pioneers Dale Lick, Karl Clauset, and Carlene Murphy show teachers, principals, and schools how to: Develop the right vision, relationships, and culture to create and sustain change Create communication networks for sharing that work Model learning-inquiry cycles for action teams for success Build loyalty, trust, and responsibility within your teams and across the school With a free, comprehensive online collection of practical resources including templates, checklists and action team assessment forms, Schools Can Change will become your keystone for school innovation and improved student learning. "Far too many good initiatives fall short due to lack of planning and exclusion of important stakeholders. The authors tell us how to build a sustainable culture over time. They don′t pretend that it is easy, but give the educator confidence that it can be done." —Eddie Ingram, Superintendent Franklin County Schools, Louisburg, NC "This is the most comprehensive book on the topic of school change ever written. The suggested practices and strategies at various stages create a comprehensive, meaningful text. This book helps us gain practical wisdom at all levels in our districts and schools." —Lyne Ssebikindu, Assistant Principal Crump Elementary School, Cordova, TN

Table of Contents:
List of Figures and Tables Online Resources Foreword Preface Purpose and Need Who Should Read and Use This Book? Organization and Contents Acknowledgments About the Authors 1. The Change Creation System School Improvement School Reforms The Roots of the Change Creation System No Silver Bullet, One Brick at a Time Standards for Professional Learning and Practice The Change Creation System Summary Part I. Fundamentals of Effectiveness 2. Fundamentals of Effectiveness for School Improvement Understanding the Culture Culture of Discipline Culture of Change Creation Culture of Relationships and Collaboration Culture of Transformational Leadership Cultural Change Summary 3. Fundamentals of Vision and Successful Change Vision Change Success and Failure of Change Effective Sponsorship in Schools Change and Resistance in Schools Universal Change Principle for Schools Summary 4. Fundamentals for Creating Learning Teams and Professional Learning Communities Collaboration and Teamwork Action Teams and Professional Learning Communities Authentic Teams and Synergy Comentoring Teams Learning Teams Professional Learning Communities Summary Part II. The Process of the Change Creation System 5. Introducing the Decision-Making Cycle Action Teams Decision-Making Cycle Preparing to Start the Decision-Making Cycle Summary 6. Identifying Student Learning Needs and Forming Action Teams Student Learning Needs That Action Teams Address How to Identify Student Learning Needs Form Action Teams and Select Student Needs to Address Selecting Student Needs to Address Support for Identifying Student Needs and Forming Action Teams Summary 7. Introducing Action Teams Action Teams in the Change Creation System The Work of Action Teams Purposes of Action Teams Action Team Principles Action Team Process Guidelines Effective Action Team Meetings Action Teams as a Bundle of Changes Summary 8. Support for Action Teams Keep the Focus on Student Learning Protect Time for Action Team Meetings Establish Routines Provide Regular, Frequent, and Constructive Feedback to Action Teams Understand the Developmental Stages of Action Teams Help Struggling Teams Move Forward Develop Communication Networks and Strategies to Share Action Teams′ Work and Results Form Administrator Action Teams Summary 9. Creating Team Action Plans Team Action Plan Creating Team Action Plans Support for Action Teams on Their Team Action Plans and Logs Summary 10. Implementing Learning and Inquiry Cycles for Innovation and Improving Student Learning: Parts 1 and 2 Implementing Learning and Inquiry Cycles Supporting Learning and Inquiry Cycles for Innovation and Student Learning Summary 11. Implementing Learning and Inquiry Cycles for Innovation and Improving Student Learning: Parts 3 and 4 Implementing Learning and Inquiry Cycles Supporting Learning and Inquiry Cycles for Innovation and Student Learning Summary 12. Assessing the Impact of Action Teams and Sharing Results and Best Practices Assessing the Impact of Action Teams on Teacher Practice and Student Learning Sharing Results and Best Practices and Applying Lessons Learned Repeating the Decision-Making Cycle Each Year Supporting Assessing the Impact of Action Teams and Sharing Results and Best Practices Summary Epilogue References Index