"The patterns described in these successful schools both validated and challenged my thinking. I can see opportunities for renewed emphasis in our district and much hope for continuing our progress with students."
Nancy Skerritt, Assistant Superintendent
Tahoma School District, Maple Valley, WA

Transform your school with best leadership practices that sustain high student achievement year after year!

What are the key elements necessary for creating enduring student success? In the era of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and high-stakes accountability, district leaders, principals, and teachers need to develop core values and practices that will help schools not only meet learning goals, but sustain performance over time.

Sustaining Extraordinary Student Achievementpresents "on-the-ground, walking-the-hallways" case studies and analyses of five Title I elementary schools that overcame a myriad of challenges, including high staff turnover and a high percentage of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, to achieve and maintain academic excellence. Drawing from interviews, vignettes, and site visits, the author shows how these schools succeeded through strategies that align with research on effective schools, such as:

Creating a school culture that emphasizes high standards and expectationsNurturing collaboration and effective shared leadershipUsing data to target instruction, intervene with students, and make decisionsFocusing on exemplary standardsEmpowering staff to do their best work

Initiate meaningful change in your school with progressive practices and proven leadership strategies!

Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
1. Introduction
Selection of Five Title 1 Schools
Focus Areas for Structured Interviews
The Five Sustaining Schools
2. Sylvan Elementary School, Modesto, California: A Culture of Effective Instruction
Building a High-Achieving Culture
Sylvans Non-Negotiable Core Values
Empowering Staff to Do Their Best Work
Using Student Data to Guide Curriculum and Instruction
Ongoing Improvement of Instruction
Strategic Intervention With Students
Sylvans Sustaining Elements
Lessons Learned From Sylvan Elementary School
3. Camellia Elementary School, Sacramento, California: A Culture of Order and Discipline
Developing a Culture of Order and Discipline
The Right Staff Stays at the School
Using Student Data to Guide Curriculum and Instruction
The Role of the Leadership Team and Governance
Camellias Non-Negotiable Core Values and Sustaining Elements
Lessons Learned From Camellia Elementary School
4. Jefferson Elementary School, Carlsbad, California: A Culture of Collaboration
Developing a Culture of Collaboration
Jeffersons Non-Negotiable Core Values
Using Benchmark Data to Target Instruction
Using Data to Intervene With Students
Jeffersons Sustaining Elements
Lessons Learned From Jefferson Elementary School
5. Rosita Elementary School, Garden Grove, California: A Culture of Clarity
Building a High-Achieving Culture
Empowering Staff to Do Their Best Work
Rositas Non-Negotiable Core Values
Advice to Principals
Sustaining Processes at Rosita
Lessons Learned From Rosita Elementary School
6. Baldwin Elementary School, Alhambra, California: A Culture of High Expectations
Building a High-Achieving Culture
Baldwins Non-Negotiable Core Values
Empowering the Right People
Mastery of Standards
Using Student Achievement Data
Baldwins Sustaining Elements
Lessons Learned From Baldwin Elementary School
7. Five Schools That Got the Job Done
A Crisis Point Forces Change
Developing a High-Achieving Culture
Non-Negotiable Core Values
The Essential Sustaining Elements
A Final Word
References
Index