"If we can get adult development right, we can change the world!" Adult development . . . in schools? Yes. In fact, understanding and sharing ideas-and implementing practices-that help adults explore experiences and assumptions is a powerful driver of school change. Eleanor Drago-Severson and Jessica Blum-DeStefano share expertise that has evolved from their many decades of research and work with educators and show you how to: Deepen your understanding of adult development and its role in systemic and schoolwide change and educational improvement. Connect theory to practice with developmentally oriented structures and strategies that enhance collaboration, communication, and feedback. Support individual and organizational growth with a differentiated approach to leadership and capacity building. Build trust, capacity, collegiality, and sustainability with developmental practices that meet adult needs. Whether you work in a school, district, university, educational institution, or other learning organization, you'll learn how to infuse leadership, collaboration, communication, and capacity building with a deep understanding of individuals' experiences and capacities-and how they influence our day-to-day work. Leading Change Together explains how you and other adult learners can effect tremendous change in schools and systems.

In Tell Me So I Can Hear You, Eleanor Drago-Severson and Jessica Blum-DeStefano show how education leaders can learn to deliver feedback in a way that strengthens relationships as well as performance and builds the capacity for growth. Drawing on constructive-developmental theory, the authors describe four stages of adult growth and development and explain how to differentiate feedback for colleagues with different "ways of knowing," which include: Instrumental knowers, who tend to see things in black and white ("Did I do it right or wrong?") and may need to develop the capacity for reflection. Socializing knowers, who are concerned with maintaining relationships ("What do you want me to do?") and may need support developing their own ideas. Self-authoring knowers, who have strong ideologies and values ("How does this fit with my goals and vision?") and may need help with perspective taking. Self-transformative knowers, who are able to examine issues from multiple points of view ("How can I understand this more deeply?") and may need guidance in resolving tensions and contradictions. The authors show how leaders can provide feedback in ways that "meet people where they are" while expanding the developmental capacities educators bring to their work. Drago-Severson and Blum-DeStefano provide real-life examples with practical strategies for creating a safe space for feedback, finding the right words, and bridging feedback and action. Tell Me So I Can Hear You offers invaluable guidance to help educators support a culture of learning in classrooms, schools, and districts.

Prepare education leaders to support adult professional growth with this comprehensive guide Supporting adult professional development-or capacity building-is a challenge in today's high-accountability atmosphere, especially with new teacher and principal evaluations. Help prepare leaders to nurture human potential and build internal capacities with this one-of-a-kind resource. Through the authors' practical advice, you'll learn to Employ practices that support leadership development in your schools and districts Teach on-the-ground applications for effective professional learning initiatives Design and implement action plans based on Four Pillar Practices for Growth that comprise a learning-oriented model of school leadership: Teaming, Providing Leadership Roles, Collegial Inquiry, and Mentoring with Developmental Intentionality Help leaders bridge theory and practice with first-hand case study analyses If you want to improve student achievement, then make schools and districts havens for learning for both students and educators with this comprehensive, highly adaptable, and accessible resource

Be the leader you want to see in the world. Educators committed to social justice enter into the work in markedly different ways. Drawing from research with 50 educational leaders from across the United States, Growing for Justice explores how leaders committed to social justice support the growth of others while also developing their own capacities to engage, connect, and lead for change. This groundbreaking book, informed by adult developmental theory and based on a first-of-its-kind study, helps school leaders assess their own strengths and areas for growth—and then take concrete steps toward improvement. Features include: Exploration of meaning-making systems and how they affect leaders’ understandings of diversity, equity, and social justice A research-based, developmental model of justice-centering educational leadership capacities and practices Leaders’ personal stories of growth and development as advocates Planning activities and reflective exercises to drive decision-making, action, and internal capacity-building Wherever you are in your social justice journey, wanting to do better is the first step toward actually doing better. With this book’s help, you’ll outline the supports, stretches, and scaffoldings you need to continually grow for justice.

In Tell Me So I Can Hear You, Eleanor Drago-Severson and Jessica Blum-DeStefano show how education leaders can learn to deliver feedback in a way that strengthens relationships as well as performance and builds the capacity for growth. Drawing on constructive-developmental theory, the authors describe four stages of adult growth and development and explain how to differentiate feedback for colleagues with different "ways of knowing," which include: Instrumental knowers, who tend to see things in black and white ("Did I do it right or wrong?") and may need to develop the capacity for reflection. Socializing knowers, who are concerned with maintaining relationships ("What do you want me to do?") and may need support developing their own ideas. Self-authoring knowers, who have strong ideologies and values ("How does this fit with my goals and vision?") and may need help with perspective taking. Self-transformative knowers, who are able to examine issues from multiple points of view ("How can I understand this more deeply?") and may need guidance in resolving tensions and contradictions. The authors show how leaders can provide feedback in ways that "meet people where they are" while expanding the developmental capacities educators bring to their work. Drago-Severson and Blum-DeStefano provide real-life examples with practical strategies for creating a safe space for feedback, finding the right words, and bridging feedback and action. Tell Me So I Can Hear You offers invaluable guidance to help educators support a culture of learning in classrooms, schools, and districts.