Creating a culture for high-performing schools : a comprehensive approach to school reform and dropout prevention / Cletus R. Bulach, Frederick C. Lunenburg and Les Potter

Includes bibliographical references.

Part 1. School reform processes -- 1. A four-step process for identifying and reshaping the culture of a school: phase 1 -- 2. Implementing a plan to improve the climate and culture of the school: phase 1 continued -- 3. Power and authority: nine techniques for motivating faculty and students -- 4. Four types of school culture -- 5. A character education program that is the foundation of a high-performing school: phase 4 -- Part 2. Enhancing a school's culture and climate -- 6. Six strategies for enhancing a school's culture and climate -- Part 3. Leadership skills needed -- 7. Cultivating community, culture, and learning -- 8. Professional development -- 9. Management of the program -- Part 4. Intergroup processes -- 10. Developing interpersonal relations -- 11. Self-disclosure -- 12. Developing trust -- 13. Values clarification -- 14. Improving communication skills -- 15. Resolving conflicts -- Part 5. Program planning -- 16. Design for learning -- 17. Assessing student's interests and attitudes -- Part 6. Assessment -- 18. Conferencing: reporting student progress -- 19. Program evaluation.

The well researched contents of this book are absolutely on target. It provides a practitioner's map for effectively creating high performing schools. Dr. Bulach and his colleagues have tackled the big picture in education, school climate, that subtle source of the learning that shapes our whole society. But they do not stop there, they go on to demonstrate how positive school climate enhances academic achievement. Their book provides excellent guidance and practical suggestions for professional educators who want to change school dynamics and achievement. This book offers an extensive look at comprehensive school reform and emphasizes how an organizational approach to school reform creates a distinctly different school culture and climate that addresses the needs of school administrators, teachers, and students. This topic is crucial when creating a clear vision based on appropriate strategies and diagnostic tools. It will reach beyond current educational processes and provide insight and a novel approach to culture and climate as we work together to address comprehensive school reform. Faced with the outcry of accountability and school reform, this book offers a practical, easy approach, which includes simple strategies to reduce resistance to school reform and increase the caring learning environment. Much has been written about school reform recently but most fall short when one is looking for a complete package. Comprehensive school reform requires a positive climate, culture, clear mission, vision and personal learning environment. This manuscript contains all the ingredients necessary to build and maintain a high performing school that is demanded in today's schools