"Principals at all levels will find this book valuable. It translates espoused theories of climate and culture into practical ideas." -Boyd Dressler, Associate Adjunct Professor, Montana State University "Focused, to the point, and direct-a quick read for a busy principal looking for ideas." -Leslie A. Standerfer, Principal, Estrella Foothills High School, Goodyear, AZ Set the tone for educational success! School culture is one of the most important factors in student and staff performance. Positive climates foster superior achievement, while negative climates discourage learners, educators, and parents alike. Based on thirty years of combined experience as school principals, staff developers, and educational leaders, John F. and Sheila Eller present a wide spectrum of unique, practical, and proven strategies to improve school climate and culture. Divided into chapters that emphasize the main components of school culture, this guide allows busy school leaders to go directly to the section that best addresses their specific needs. The authors provide a clear definition of culture along with diagnostic tools to help readers determine the state of their school's culture. Chapters feature activities and ideas to: - Foster personal rapport and collegiality between staff members - Develop collaborative work relationships - Improve staff meetings - Address issues related to office operations - Deal appropriately with conflict Creative Strategies to Transform School Culture offers fun and inventive ideas for school leaders who are working diligently to create a collaborative teaching and learning environment.

Managing difficult employees is one of the most challenging aspects of a headteacher's job. Working With and Evaluating Difficult School Employees is designed to help educational leaders learn and apply specific techniques and strategies for effectively dealing with difficult school employees. Drawing on their extensive experiences in working productively with marginal, deficient, and downright difficult school employees, John F. Eller and Sheila Eller provide essential information and proven strategies to help administrators improve their leadership skills and competencies in dealing with employees who may have negative attitudes, display a lack of awareness about their behaviour, blame others for problems, or are marginal performers. This resource opens each chapter with an overview of the content, offers a summary with questions for reflection, and presents easy-to-understand concepts, actual stories and vignettes, and abundant templates, bullet points, and key points throughout. A ready reference that allows readers to go to the specific section that meets their immediate needs, the book outlines: - The nature of difficult employees - Skills and tools for confronting the behaviours of difficult employees and achieving successful results - Self-protection techniques for handling emotionally-draining encounters while staying on track with an improvement agenda - Specific strategies for working with teachers, paraprofessionals and teaching assistants, administrative assistants and office staff, and custodians.

Managing difficult employees is one of the most challenging aspects of a headteacher's job. Working With and Evaluating Difficult School Employees is designed to help educational leaders learn and apply specific techniques and strategies for effectively dealing with difficult school employees. Drawing on their extensive experiences in working productively with marginal, deficient, and downright difficult school employees, John F. Eller and Sheila Eller provide essential information and proven strategies to help administrators improve their leadership skills and competencies in dealing with employees who may have negative attitudes, display a lack of awareness about their behaviour, blame others for problems, or are marginal performers. This resource opens each chapter with an overview of the content, offers a summary with questions for reflection, and presents easy-to-understand concepts, actual stories and vignettes, and abundant templates, bullet points, and key points throughout. A ready reference that allows readers to go to the specific section that meets their immediate needs, the book outlines: - The nature of difficult employees - Skills and tools for confronting the behaviours of difficult employees and achieving successful results - Self-protection techniques for handling emotionally-draining encounters while staying on track with an improvement agenda - Specific strategies for working with teachers, paraprofessionals and teaching assistants, administrative assistants and office staff, and custodians.

Could your staff meetings use a zap of energy? Do you want more participation and less reluctance when you gather your team together? Good teachers know that fun, emotion, meaningful connections, and high expectations drive learning and committed attention to a task. This sourcebook overflows with strategies, activities, and resources designed to bring these all-important qualities into the faculty meeting. Teacher leaders will discover the keys to improved collaboration, teamwork, and productivity - and new tools to improve group processes. By modeling best practice at staff meetings, leaders also give their teachers new engagement tools that they can put directly to use in their classrooms. The authors demonstrate how to reduce the "chore" factor of meetings by: * Lightening the atmosphere with creative approaches * Starting with purpose-focused theme music and other energizers * Building relationships within the team that transform the school culture * Overcoming barriers to productivity * Rewarding and appreciating staff in innovative ways * Closing the meeting with a bang--and a plan As the energy from your staff meetings ripples through the school, every teacher and classroom will experience the motivation and focus that you create!

"Principals at all levels will find this book valuable. It translates espoused theories of climate and culture into practical ideas." -Boyd Dressler, Associate Adjunct Professor, Montana State University "Focused, to the point, and direct-a quick read for a busy principal looking for ideas." -Leslie A. Standerfer, Principal, Estrella Foothills High School, Goodyear, AZ Set the tone for educational success! School culture is one of the most important factors in student and staff performance. Positive climates foster superior achievement, while negative climates discourage learners, educators, and parents alike. Based on thirty years of combined experience as school principals, staff developers, and educational leaders, John F. and Sheila Eller present a wide spectrum of unique, practical, and proven strategies to improve school climate and culture. Divided into chapters that emphasize the main components of school culture, this guide allows busy school leaders to go directly to the section that best addresses their specific needs. The authors provide a clear definition of culture along with diagnostic tools to help readers determine the state of their school's culture. Chapters feature activities and ideas to: - Foster personal rapport and collegiality between staff members - Develop collaborative work relationships - Improve staff meetings - Address issues related to office operations - Deal appropriately with conflict Creative Strategies to Transform School Culture offers fun and inventive ideas for school leaders who are working diligently to create a collaborative teaching and learning environment.