The Distributed Leadership Toolbox

Mark E. McBeth is the director of learning and leading with Keystone Learning Services, a service center in Kansas. He has served as a classroom teacher in Grades 7-12; school counselor in Grades 4-6; a high school principal in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and Guatemala; and educational program consultant in the Learning Service Division at the Kansas State Department of Education. His experience at the postsecondary level includes serving as director for a leadership educational and development program, director for a non-profit leadership development program, and has taught numerous leadership courses. He designed and directed the Kansas Distributed Leadership Academy, a high-quality professional development program for district-level leadership. He has chaired and served on numerous statewide leadership committees, and has presented at national and statewide conferences on his cutting-edge leadership perspective. In addition, he has presented on a number of other topics, including instinctual talents, student engagement, high-quality professional development, effective synergistic teams, classroom instruction that works, school-related student resiliency, and leadership facilitation. McBeth received his master's degree in Educational Administration and Supervision and his educational specialist degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Western Illinois University.

Preface Purpose of This Book Adopting and Creating a Repertoire of Practices Do Not Fear About the Book Distributed Leadership Tools for School Improvement Acknowledgments About the Author 1. Traditional Thinking/New Opportunities Have You Heard the News? Hot Lights! Center Stage "How" Do You Know "Who's" on First? Growing Up a Superhero Without a Doubt Who Leads and What They Lead 25/75: Impact of School-Related Factors 2. A Distributed Perspective on Leadership Leadership Practice From A Distributed Perspective (Spillane) The Often Overlooked "Follower" Situation and Leadership Practice Two-Minute Story Systems of Practice (Halverson) Not Shared Leadership Connecting Classroom Practice With Leadership Practice 3. The Impact of Leadership on Successful Schools More Than One Way to Lead No Noticeable Leadership Leader Superhero Aspect Leadership-Plus Aspect Leadership Practice Aspect Core Leadership Functions Application to Our Practice 4. The Framework of Success: A Model for Leadership Inquiry The Distributed Leadership Improvement Framework A Framework for Systematic Leadership Enhancement Conclusion 5. Information Cycle: Effective-Efficiency Process Section A: Dimension of Practice Section B: Identify Advice Network Section C: Diagnose Practice: Routine Section D: Diagnose Practice: People and Direction Section E: Diagnosis: Practice and Content Section F: Bridging the Gap Between Diagnosis and Design Section G: Design Leadership Practice Modifications 6. Practice Cycle: Practice Improvement Process Section A: Bridging the Gap Between Design and New Practice Section B: New Practice - Work Designed Differently Section C: Leadership Practice Data and Data Results 7. Tools for Reflective Practice Processing Purpose Forms of Processing Reproducible Blank Templates Reproducible Resources References Index

"McBeth provides a series of useful tools to help educators diagnose the distribution of leadership in their schools, and shows how these tools can be used to create powerful leadership for increasing learning capacity in schools." -- Richard Halverson, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis "The strengths of this book are the examples (two-minute stories, reflections, etc.) and the reproducible tools provided." -- Bruce Deterding, Principal "This is a very important topic and area in our business. Practitioners are seeking materials to help sharpen their leadership skills. The case studies support the distributed leadership model and provide examples of how the model can impact a school culture." -- Jerry Vaughn, Principal "Especially appeals to the administrative team. This book forces us to look hard at our leadership styles." -- Rachel McMillan, School Improvement Specialist "Has a practical tone that seems to appeal to those now leading daily work in schools. The idea that results are in the hands of a thoughtful, creative person who must choose tools from his or her repertoire and make decisions is a positive contribution to the field." -- Steven R. Thompson, Coordinator, School Leadership Program "Relevant, clearly written to the intended audience, and useful for individuals looking for a means to self-evaluation." -- Kim E. Vogel, Principal "I love this book! Finally, a research-based, practice-tested book of tools to improve leadership, and in doing so, improve school programs and enrich our students! Provides a framework that a leader can use to reach the highest level of practice." -- Linda D. Brooks, Teacher "Facilitators and leader in all industries-not just education-receive clear assessments of leadership options and practices, case studies, and keys to motivating staff and furthering reform efforts." -- The Bookwatch, May 2008