Breaking Through: Transforming Urban School Districts (ISBN 0807746576)

Advanced Praise for Breaking Through:
"A handbook for the transformation of schools and districts, chock full of authoritative recommendations; it promises to become an essential resource for both experts and novices." - Howard Gardner, Professor of Education and Cognition, Harvard Graduate School of Education; and author, Multiple Intelligences "This book hits all the right notes: it calls for an honest, hard look at the incoherence and dysfunction of "a system designed to fail." With courage and clarity, Simmons and his colleagues are calling for an unprecedented, long-overdue emphasis on what we've wandered so far from: a top-to-bottom focus on instructional improvement-and the most powerful, proven (but still overlooked) means of achieving it." - Mike Schmoker,Author, Results: The Key to Continuous School Improvement "The nuggets of wisdom imparted throughout this book have been field tested under combat conditions. Reformers not having the time for this book will have plenty of time to wish they had-too late." - Michael A. Strembitsky, Former Superintendent, Edmonton Public Schools (Alberta, Canada) "Teacher union leaders and other school and community leaders need to work together if we are to close the achievement gap and bring high quality learning to all of our students. This book provides many powerful strategies for doing just that." - Reg Weaver, President, National Education Association "What a tremendous resource this book will be in helping transform urban school districts! Strict adherence and dedication to principles is key to changing the structures and systems, but it's the belief in the people that will effectively change culture." -Stephen R. Covey, Author, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness "This thoughtful volume provides some clear thinking on the `how' and `what' of urban school reform. The authors provide a sensible, coherent vision for strengthening systems, improving practice, attracting outstanding educators, and transforming urban schooling." - Frederick M. Hess, Director of Education Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute "Breaking Through's greatest contribution may be the hope it offers for the creation of school districts that truly serve all their students." - Dennis Sparks, Executive Director, National Staff Development Council "Finally, a book that skillfully and thoughtfully synthesizes the accumulated knowledge and experience of those who know what it takes to make education excellent for all students. This reference should be only a reach away for every practicing educational leader and required reading at every college or university administrator preparation program." - Robert Ewy, Director of Planning, Palatine School District (Illinois), 2003 Baldrige Award winner "A wide array of diverse and key voices--i.e., practitioners, researchers, policymakers, share their knowledge, successes, and struggles in designing smart school districts. A must read." --Warren Simmons, Executive Director, Annenberg Institute for School Reform "These research based strategies that, when implemented properly, can transform all school districts-large and small. I recommend it for all educators working in the present age of school accountability to ensure that we leave no school behind." - Patricia Davenport, Former District Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Brazosport School District (Texas); and co-author with Gerald Anderson, Closing the Achievement Gap: No Excuses "One-stop education reform! The thinking of many of the best public education reform leaders in the country are captured in this easy-to-read book, with an ongoing sub-text of Chicago's school reform as a practical case study. I found the powerful parent strategies particularly hopeful." - Anne Hallett, Founding Executive Director of the Cross City Campaign for School Reform "John Simmons brings both enlightened interest in education and systems thinking to this book. It should be read by educators and business leaders alike. He makes it clear that those in education must practice quality systems. In those rare places where this has been the focus, education flowered." - Robert Galvin, Retired CEO, Motorola Corporation "Simmons and his colleagues capture the essence of reform and reformers of large urban school systems. A must read for all concerned about the future of urban public education." - Paul Goren, Vice President, The Spencer Foundation "Many good ideas and examples in this book should help district and school leaders examine data from their own schools and design more effective programs for student success." - Joyce Epstein, Director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships, Johns Hopkins University "Children's lives and hopes are at stake, and what we do will shift the odds in the child's favor or against her. This book is an important contribution to taking the right steps. " - From the Foreword by Deborah Meier, Founder, Central Park East schools "Breaking Through helps us understand how to bring together the essential components of a school district to drive an improvement strategy. Without this, districts will never achieve high performance. This has been missing for years." - Allen Grossman, Professor of Management Practice, Harvard Business School