Faculty author new book on leadership
Three College of Education faculty members are co-authors of a new book exploring how education leaders can improve the quality of learning opportunities and student performance, even in the midst of challenging circumstances.
Learning‐Focused Leadership in Action: Improving Instruction in Schools and Districts is co-authored by the College of Education’s Michael Knapp, Meredith Honig and Margaret L. Plecki, along with former faculty members Bradley Portin, director of the education program at the University of Washington Bothell, and Michael Copland, deputy superintendent of Bellingham Public Schools.
In an educational context where school and district performance is of increasing focus, it’s essential for leaders at all levels of the educational system to focus on improving student performance. Learning‐Focused Leadership in Action details a promising set of strategies and practices for all leaders to motivate, support and sustain learning in contemporary schools.
Learning‐Focused Leadership in Action explores what it means for educational leadership to be "learning‐focused," what this looks like in practice at both the school and district level, and how such leadership changes can be set in motion. The book draws on the professors’ extensive case study research in schools and districts that are making progress on learning improvement, with insights for education leaders at all levels.
Knapp is a professor of educational leadership, policy and organization studies and co-director of the University of Washington’s Center for the Study of Teaching & Policy; Honig is an associate professor of educational leadership, policy and organization studies and director of UW’s Leadership for Learning program and District Leadership Design Lab (DL2); Plecki is an associate professor of educational leadership, policy and organization studies and co-director of the Center for the Study of Teaching & Policy.
The College of Education’s DL2 partners with schools districts across the country to help educational leaders dramatically improve the performance of their central offices by engaging with the latest research-based ideas about how to strengthen school systems and expand opportunities for all students to learn.
CONTACTS
Dustin Wunderlich, Director for Marketing and Communications
208-543-1035, dwunder@uw.edu
Mike Knapp, Professor of Educational Leadership, Policy and Organization Studies
206-221-3456, mknapp@uw.edu