Why do some schools succeed while others struggle? Why do policies and programs often fail to deliver what they promise? In this follow-up to their insightful School Culture Rewired: How to Define, Assess, and Transform It, authors Steve Gruenert and Todd Whitaker offer practical advice and strategies that help you build positive energy to reinvigorate your school's culture and staff. Written as a standalone guide, School Culture Recharged clarifies the difference between culture and climate and zeroes in on key school improvement efforts, including: Moving from the culture you have to the culture you want. Using the school's culture to improve teaching, job satisfaction, and morale. Maximizing the intentions of professional learning communities. Developing organizational habits-rules and rituals-that can contribute to positive change. For education leaders at all levels, this book delivers a compelling message: Understanding and harnessing the transformative power of school culture can propel your school into the kind of place where teachers want to work, administrators can focus on what matters most, and students can thrive.

Everyone has responsibilities, obligations, and problems to deal with in the workplace and in life. Some people, however, have mastered the art of shifting those "monkeys" onto the backs of others. They claim they don't know how to solve a problem or do the task, they say they don't have time, they complain, they perform poorly, they find any and every way to avoid the work and yet somehow, they're never held accountable. Instead, hardworking, loyal employees who care about results end up shouldering those burdens for their lazy or unmotivated colleagues. The slackers get just what they want less work while the best employees become alienated and overworked.

Who is to blame for those misplaced monkeys? In Shifting the Monkey, author Todd Whitaker suggests it is the responsibility of leaders and managers to protect their best employees by putting the monkeys right back where they belong on the backs of those people who were supposed to do the task, solve the problem, or manage the project in the first place. Too often when monkeys shift, leaders think it will be "easier" or faster to just reassign the work or worse, do it themselves. Over time, this misguided leadership can damage a workplace, alienate employees and customers, and otherwise make life annoying, even miserable, for lots of people. Shifting the Monkey shows how to shift an organization's focus from compensating for, excusing, and working around problem people to cultivating and rewarding the best employees. Rather than allowing liars, criars, and other slackers to dominate organizational culture and workflow, strong leaders build a culture that supports, defends, and cultivates the hardworking, responsible employees who are the backbone of any business.

Whitaker describes three tiers of leadership:

Tier One The self-focused leader who goes in the back office and closes the door

Tier Two The team-focused leader who goes out front to make sure the mean employees don't abuse the others when he or she is looking

Tier Three The organization-focused leader who deals with the ineffectual people and gives them back the monkey, or at least some of it, so they won't behave badly again

The Tier Three leader constantly asks the following questions:

1. Where is the monkey?

2. Where should the monkey be?

3. How do I shift the monkey to its proper place?

This leader doesn't avoid the troublesome employees or instruct others to pick up their slack, but rather faces the monkey head on. He or she doesn't penalize all employees to control the behavior of a few bad apples, but rather makes decisions based on the best employees and confronts the troublesome ones individually.

Whitaker explains how to spot the top nine "monkey" techniques used to shift responsibilities by both employees and leaders and gives spot-on advice for putting monkeys back in their place. Readers will instantly recognize the "monkey business" Whitaker describes and benefit from his strategies to tackle pesky monkeys and return them to their rightful owners.

Support, celebrate, and grow your best teachers so that they stay in your school and continue to have maximum impact. Burnout and teacher turnover are on the rise, yet we often spend more of our energy on the underperformers. In this powerful book from bestselling authors Todd Whitaker, Connie Hamilton, T.J. Vari, and Joseph Jones, you'll learn why it’s crucial to recognize your best teachers, going beyond superficial gestures of appreciation and investing in them in deeper ways. The authors show school leaders how to identify your best teachers and then reveal strategies for supporting them, including recognizing the value-cost of teachers’ time; prioritizing appreciation; controlling the narrative; tailoring professional learning; helping teachers grow through peer observations as we as beyond the school; applying data informed feedback; and nurturing self- and collective-efficacy. Each chapter begins with a powerful story, an overview of our blind spots, strategies on what we should invest in, and how to ensure that the whole school profits from your efforts. There’s also an Initial Deposits feature that provides a quick, tangible way to get started with each idea. With the helpful models, tips, and tricks in this book, you won’t just be inspired to make a change but will be well-equipped to take action. As your best teachers get better-and-better, your students and the entire school culture will benefit!

Learn all the essentials for making your first year of teaching a success! In this bestselling book, renowned educators Todd Whitaker, Madeline Whitaker Good, and Katherine Whitaker offer step-by-step guidance to thriving in your new role, developing classroom management skills, and overcoming the challenges that many beginning teachers face. In a practical, reader-friendly style, the Whitakers help you learn how to establish procedures and rules, build relationships, maintain high expectations and consistency, and manage your own emotions in the classroom. They also show how to plan effective lessons and how to work with peers, administrators, and parents to foster collaboration. Each chapter offers specific examples and vignettes from different grade levels. This updated edition contains additional guidance on classroom management and dealing with challenging student behavior, two areas that can affect job satisfaction. Importantly, you'll learn how to make tweaks or hit the "reset" button when something isn't going as planned. In addition, there is also a special new feature called "Think About...," which helps you reflect on how you will consider topics such as representation and inclusion as they pertain to your classroom. You can use these reflection questions independently or with a mentor or new-teacher colleague. New teachers are special and needed, and the practical advice in this book will provide valuable support for your professional and personal journey.

Learn how to turn your school board members into heroes by helping them make smart, worthwhile decisions that they will deserve to brag about. In this much-needed book, Ryan Donlan and Todd Whitaker offer practical strategies to help superintendents develop better working relationships with their boards. You'll discover how to: reconnect board members to the real purpose of education, despite their agendas work with your board more effectively during meetings and at times in between guide board members into more productive roles when they overreach beyond policymaking connect and communicate with board members regardless of personality encourage board members to play to their strengths start each school year undefeated and know when it is time to move on. Each chapter contains hero-making tips to help you get started. The book also includes a special feature on board personalities and the Process Communication Model (R) (PCM), a method that will make it easier to avoid miscommunication with board members. With this practical book, you'll be able to overcome the challenges of the superintendent-board relationship so that your board can make better decisions for those who matter most-the students.

A Trimester Schedule that Works is a guidebook for secondary educators who want to maximize teaching and learning opportunities in their schools. The book begins with research that supports a trimester schedule and then begins to help readers understand the change efforts and challenges associated with the redesign of the school day. Several planning tools are included to lead readers through the steps necessary to build the capacity for change and a culture of collaboration. The benefits of the improved schedule are then quickly divulged by the authors - increased time for core content classes, a bonus period for intervention and acceleration activities, opportunities for dual college/vocational education credit, to name a few. Several case studies illustrate how middle and high schools have transformed traditional settings into thriving, high-performing schools, with collaborative teachers and engaged students.

A Trimester Schedule that Works is a guidebook for secondary educators who want to maximize teaching and learning opportunities in their schools. The book begins with research that supports a trimester schedule and then begins to help readers understand the change efforts and challenges associated with the redesign of the school day. Several planning tools are included to lead readers through the steps necessary to build the capacity for change and a culture of collaboration. The benefits of the improved schedule are then quickly divulged by the authors - increased time for core content classes, a bonus period for intervention and acceleration activities, opportunities for dual college/vocational education credit, to name a few. Several case studies illustrate how middle and high schools have transformed traditional settings into thriving, high-performing schools, with collaborative teachers and engaged students.

The best educators never stop learning about their students or their craft. In this second volume of the Routledge Great Educators Series, ten of education's most inspiring thought-leaders come together to bring you their top suggestions for improving your students' learning in the classroom and your own professional learning as an educator. You'll gain fresh insights on learning how to... * Influence others and make a greater impact as a leader. (Todd Whitaker) * "Unlearn" traditional practices that no longer serve our students. (Jeffrey Zoul) * Be vulnerable and willing to learn from and with colleagues. (Jimmy Casas) * Master your emotional intelligence to improve people skills. (Sanee Bell) * Shift the focus from grading to standards-based learning. (Garnet Hillman) * Create student-centered learning environments with flexible seating. (Kayla Dornfeld) * Balance the role of technology in your life and plug in more intentionally. (Jessica Cabeen) * Focus on the non-negotiables for success with the hardest-to-reach kids. (Brian Mendler) * Apply a cross-curricular, design-thinking approach to your curriculum. (Erin Klein) * Connect with colleagues and students for true collaboration. (Derek McCoy) The book's practical strategies and stories will inspire you on your journey to make a difference in students' lives.

The best educators never stop learning about their students or their craft. In this second volume of the Routledge Great Educators Series, ten of education's most inspiring thought-leaders come together to bring you their top suggestions for improving your students' learning in the classroom and your own professional learning as an educator. You'll gain fresh insights on learning how to... * Influence others and make a greater impact as a leader. (Todd Whitaker) * "Unlearn" traditional practices that no longer serve our students. (Jeffrey Zoul) * Be vulnerable and willing to learn from and with colleagues. (Jimmy Casas) * Master your emotional intelligence to improve people skills. (Sanee Bell) * Shift the focus from grading to standards-based learning. (Garnet Hillman) * Create student-centered learning environments with flexible seating. (Kayla Dornfeld) * Balance the role of technology in your life and plug in more intentionally. (Jessica Cabeen) * Focus on the non-negotiables for success with the hardest-to-reach kids. (Brian Mendler) * Apply a cross-curricular, design-thinking approach to your curriculum. (Erin Klein) * Connect with colleagues and students for true collaboration. (Derek McCoy) The book's practical strategies and stories will inspire you on your journey to make a difference in students' lives.

How do great educators bring about real change to make a difference in students' lives? In this first volume of the Routledge Great Educators Series, 10 of education's most inspiring thought-leaders come together to share their top suggestions you need right now to innovate in your school or classroom. You will gain fresh insights and practical strategies on these essential topics: Personalizing professional learning (Jeffrey Zoul) Promoting a positive school culture (Todd Whitaker) Improving our hiring practices (Jimmy Casas) Designing spaces that maximize learning (Thomas C. Murray) Empowering students in their learning and assessments (Starr Sackstein) Flipping the classroom to reach each student (Kirk Humphreys) Positioning libraries as learning hubs (Shannon McClintock Miller) Helping others embrace technology changes (Katrina Keene) Developing personal, not just professional, skills (Dwight Carter) Embracing each student's passions and strengths (LaVonna Roth) Filled with inspiring stories throughout, the book will leave you feeling motivated to take risks and try new things in your own school or classroom. As the authors say, if we want to make a real difference, it's not enough to do the things we do better; we must also do new and better things!

Learn all the essentials for making your first year of teaching a success! In this bestselling book, renowned educators Todd Whitaker, Madeline Whitaker Good, and Katherine Whitaker offer step-by-step guidance to thriving in your new role, developing classroom management skills, and overcoming the challenges that many beginning teachers face. In a practical, reader-friendly style, the Whitakers help you learn how to establish procedures and rules, build relationships, maintain high expectations and consistency, and manage your own emotions in the classroom. They also show how to plan effective lessons and how to work with peers, administrators, and parents to foster collaboration. Each chapter offers specific examples and vignettes from different grade levels. This updated edition contains additional guidance on classroom management and dealing with challenging student behavior, two areas that can affect job satisfaction. Importantly, you'll learn how to make tweaks or hit the "reset" button when something isn't going as planned. In addition, there is also a special new feature called "Think About...," which helps you reflect on how you will consider topics such as representation and inclusion as they pertain to your classroom. You can use these reflection questions independently or with a mentor or new-teacher colleague. New teachers are special and needed, and the practical advice in this book will provide valuable support for your professional and personal journey.

Parents and Schools Together shows administrators, teachers, and parents how to work together to produce high achieving students in urban school districts. We all know that in this fast-paced world of standards and commitments, it's easy to forget what schools and parents are all about. There are things that schools can do to show parents the way to raise successful students. Parents have to help in order for schools to be high performing. Schools, especially schools of poverty and low achievement, have to have parent help if they are going to make it. Parents can't use the excuse that they don't know what to do or I'm not going to do that anymore. When schools enlist the help of parents, schools can begin to harness the full effect of all adults tag teaming together to raise students up to the levels they are capable of. Parents and School Together shows that it's not just the school's job to raise kids and it's not just the parent's job to raise kids. It takes both working together to raise successful students and kids.

Parents and Schools Together shows administrators, teachers, and parents how to work together to produce high achieving students in urban school districts. We all know that in this fast-paced world of standards and commitments, it's easy to forget what schools and parents are all about. There are things that schools can do to show parents the way to raise successful students. Parents have to help in order for schools to be high performing. Schools, especially schools of poverty and low achievement, have to have parent help if they are going to make it. Parents can't use the excuse that they don't know what to do or I'm not going to do that anymore. When schools enlist the help of parents, schools can begin to harness the full effect of all adults tag teaming together to raise students up to the levels they are capable of. Parents and School Together shows that it's not just the school's job to raise kids and it's not just the parent's job to raise kids. It takes both working together to raise successful students and kids.

This book describes the beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes of great athletic coaches. Where do they focus their attention? How do they spend their time and energy? And how can others gain the same advantages? Here, Rob Haworth and Todd Whitaker describe the qualities of champion athletes, coaches, and parents. Applying and extending the concepts presented in Whitaker's What Great Teachers Do Differently and What Great Principals Do Differently, this book demonstrates how effective coaching calls for "people skills" that the best coaches practice every day. Perfect for the coaches of your favorite school sports teams! "Plenty of real sports examples! The authors present a positive approach to understanding what great coaches do differently." -- Gene Shelkett, Principal, Eisenhower High School, Lawton, OK

Recharge your batteries and rekindle your excitement about teaching! This new, updated edition of the best-selling book, Teaching Matters: Motivating and Inspiring Yourself, offers practical advice on working with colleagues for inspiration, using social media to connect to other professionals, and adding fresh new appeal to your lessons. The practical ideas and inspirational examples in this book will help you keep your passion for education alive and thriving in your classroom. Get use-now tips on everything from creating a positive atmosphere in the classroom to dealing with difficult peers. This is truly a must-have motivational resource for all educators!

Todd Whitaker, Jeffrey Zoul, and Jimmy Casas are widely acclaimed experts on teaching and leading and are pioneers in the education twitterverse, and now they are sharing their best practices! In What Connected Educators Do Differently, they show how being a connected educator-by using social media to connect with peers across the country and even across the globe-will greatly enhance your own learning and your success in a school or classroom. You'll find out how to create a personal and professional learning network to share resources and ideas, gain support, and make an impact on others. By customizing your professional development in this way, you'll be able to learn what you want, how you want, when you want. Best of all, you'll become energized and inspired by all the great ideas out there and how you can contribute, benefiting both you and your students. Whether you are a teacher or school leader, you will come away from this book with step-by-step advice and fresh ideas to try immediately. Being a connected educator has never been easier or more important than it is right now!

Transform your classroom from teacher-centered to learner-centered! This book shows you how with eleven easy-to-implement strategies you can use immediately to put students at the center! Get your students geared up for success and high achievement with great ideas for providing a roadmap; giving the work back; differentiating daily instruction; communicating for your audience, not to your audience; giving students choices; planning intentional engagement; asking better questions, and so much more! For each strategy, you get a clear example of what it looks like in action, as well as a breakdown of how to make it work in your classroom!

Like the best-selling first edition, this book is filled with strategies to motivate your staff and maintain a high level of energy at your school. This guide will help all educators approach work every day in an enthusiastic, focused, and positive state of mind. This book will help you: -Motivate your faculty with the Friday Focus--a staff memo that works! -Understand the power of praise and how to best utilize it every day -Make sure staff meetings, teacher evaluation, and daily activities raise the energy level in your school -Maximize the holidays, open house nights, and other special events the make your staff feel special

Support, celebrate, and grow your best teachers so that they stay in your school and continue to have maximum impact. Burnout and teacher turnover are on the rise, yet we often spend more of our energy on the underperformers. In this powerful book from bestselling authors Todd Whitaker, Connie Hamilton, T.J. Vari, and Joseph Jones, you'll learn why it’s crucial to recognize your best teachers, going beyond superficial gestures of appreciation and investing in them in deeper ways. The authors show school leaders how to identify your best teachers and then reveal strategies for supporting them, including recognizing the value-cost of teachers’ time; prioritizing appreciation; controlling the narrative; tailoring professional learning; helping teachers grow through peer observations as we as beyond the school; applying data informed feedback; and nurturing self- and collective-efficacy. Each chapter begins with a powerful story, an overview of our blind spots, strategies on what we should invest in, and how to ensure that the whole school profits from your efforts. There’s also an Initial Deposits feature that provides a quick, tangible way to get started with each idea. With the helpful models, tips, and tricks in this book, you won’t just be inspired to make a change but will be well-equipped to take action. As your best teachers get better-and-better, your students and the entire school culture will benefit!

Written by bestselling author Todd Whitaker. Helps groups of educators work on What Great Teachers Do Differently during teacher training sessions, book study groups, and professional learning communities.

Written to accompany 50 Ways to Improve Student Behavior: Simple Solutions to Complex Challenges by Annette Breaux and Todd Whitaker, this Study Guide was written for the participants of seminars, book study groups, and other professional development events. This Study Guide serves as a roadmap to help you organize and work with your faculty study group. It provides assistance to staff developers, principals, team leaders, college professors, and other educational leaders who are working with teachers as they develop their professional skills.

Teachers deal with change on a regular basis, but there are some principles at the core of teaching that remain constant and that have the biggest impact on student achievement. In this inspiring book from Danny Steele, creator of the popular Steele Thoughts blog, and Todd Whitaker, bestselling author and speaker, you'll learn how to focus on the most important things in the classroom, not just the "current" things. The authors reveal essential truths that will make you a more effective educator in areas such as student relationships, classroom management, and classroom culture. The strategies are presented in digestible chunks, perfect for book studies, in-service sessions, mentorship meetings, and other learning formats. With the inspiring anecdotes and insights in this book, you'll be reminded of your greater purpose - making a difference in students' lives.

School principals are constantly being pulled in different directions. How do you focus on the things that matter most? In this inspiring book from Danny Steele, creator of the popular Steele Thoughts blog, and Todd Whitaker, bestselling author and speaker, you'll learn how to center your leadership on your core values and the practices that have the biggest impact. The authors reveal essential truths that will make you a more effective principal in areas such as school culture, appreciating teachers, and empowering your staff. The strategies are presented in digestible chunks, perfect for book studies, professional development sessions, and other learning formats. With the inspiring anecdotes and insights in this book, you'll be reminded of your greater purpose - making a difference in students' lives.

Written by bestselling author Todd Whitaker. Helps groups of educators work on What Great Principals Do Differently during teacher training sessions, book study groups, and professional learning communities.

This book clarifies the core values which all great educators have in common and contribute to school success. For all those who want to create better schools, these factors are at the center of behaviors which lead to results. The 4 CORE Factors are Communication, Observation, Relationships, and Expectations.