Literacy Leadership in Changing Schools: 10 Keys to Successful Professional Development

Shelley B. Wepner · Diane W. Gómez · Katie Egan Cunningham · Kristin N. Rainville · Courtney Kelly

Jan 2015 · Teachers College Press

About this ebook

Literacy Leadership in Changing Schools will help literacy leaders improve teachers’ professional development in grades K–6. The authors use literacy basics to suggest concrete approaches that leaders and coaches can use to help teachers improve their instruction with culturally and linguistically diverse students. Based on firsthand experiences, research, and a school-university-community collaborative (Changing Suburbs Institute in New York), this practical book homes in on what literacy leaders need to do in today’s rapidly changing schools. With vignettes, strategies, and guidelines, each chapter is devoted to one essential component of serving as an effective literacy leader. Throughout, the book addresses typical issues leaders and teachers face, such as high-stakes testing, increasing failure rates, rigorous teacher and principal evaluations, family engagement, shrinking resources, and teachers’ inexperience with instructing diverse students.

“Today’s educators are faced with the challenge of meeting the increased expectations associated with a high quality education for all children. The contributors provide an excellent resource of relevant information along with a wealth of concrete suggestions for meeting that challenge through effective leadership and ongoing, embedded professional development. The result is a road map for enriched learning experiences for the professionals involved and ultimately for the students they teach.”
—Dorothy S. Strickland, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Professor of Education Emerita, Rutgers

“This book encourages and supports leaders as they create bold, thoughtful and empowering pathways for professional development. It is a recipe that has the power to highlight the joy of professional growth and learning for leaders, teachers and students alike. To me, that is truly fabulous.”
—Jennifer Scoggin, Director of LitLife, Connecticut

“The authors address important aspects of the decision-making process, namely how to really know someone or something well before making a choice. Too many of our educational choices are based on outdated or misinformation and this book clearly shows school leaders how to obtain accurate information when creating a cohesive literacy model. This book also takes complex aspects of literacy professional development, such as standards and instructional techniques and breaks them down in clear and applicable ways so that decisions can not just be made but also be implemented.”
—Gravity Goldberg, Literacy Consultant, Director, Gravity Goldberg LLC