Schools on the Move
Leading Coherence for Equitable Growth
- Jay Westover - InnovatedEd, LLC
- Christopher Steinhauser
Foreword by Michael Fullan
Guiding educators to navigate a clear and coherent path of progress for sustainable improvement
Schools are the unit of change for district-wide, systemic improvement. Creating a coherent system of equitable, continuous improvement at each school site requires constructing shared depth of understanding and precision of practices among educators. But how? Schools on the Move provides a roadmap for reducing the variances in climate, culture, capacity, and coherence that impede a school—and all its students—from realizing growth in learning. It applies the transformational wisdom of Districts on the Move at the building level to guide school staff in creating an environment that makes continuous improvement not only possible, but inevitable. Grounded in Visible Learning research and brought to life through case studies of impactful practices in action, it asserts a simplified and focused process for driving school improvement in four key areas
- Clarity of focus—creating a shared, strategic focus driven by equitable student growth.
- Shared leadership—cultivating a culture of co-leading and co-learning among school staff.
- Collective expertise—developing instructional coherence and precision of pedagogy.
- Continuous improvement—maintaining progress through evidence-based feedback loops.
Schools on the Move is a practical road map for school and district leaders to create cycles of collective inquiry, allowing for coherent improvement of student learning experiences. The storytelling is very effective, allowing us to see our own schools, districts, and leadership through this model.
A must-read for all those interested in transforming our systems to benefit all students and help them reach their fullest potential. Jay Westover and Chris Steinhauser use case studies to get to the heart of how to create coherent systems of continuous improvement focused on equitable growth in student learning. The attention to student learning variability and what to do with data shows us how these transformations are achievable.”
Jay Westover and Chris Steinhauser identify and prioritize action steps to positively impact student outcomes. The combination of research studies, theory, practical applications, and success stories makes this book a must-read for all educational leaders!
This timely book is filled with proven organizational principles, intentional practices, and frameworks for school leaders who are serious about building long-lasting sustainable success, and a culture of championship behaviors. Jay Westover and Chris Steinhauser share personal insights and examples from successful leaders, schools, and districts which continually seek clarity, collective inquiry, and build capacity to tackle the complex issues we face in our schools.
School improvement is the most critical factor for student equity, access, and achievement. Jay Westover and Chris Steinhauser provide great examples of how this is successfully being done within various schools. This is a must-read for any educational leader who is serious about school improvement that leads to focused, continuous, and long-term growth in student learning.
Jay Westover and Chris Steinhauser outline how to leverage climate and culture to build shared leadership resulting in stronger collective teacher efficacy, increased student achievement, and greater equity. This isn’t about a program or a silver bullet, it’s about robust collaborative inquiry and dialogue system-wide that centers on evidence of impact for all students; it’s about creating a true professional learning organization.”
The thoughtfulness of this text is a refreshing approach. Schools on the Move reinforces the importance of taking time to see and analyze the problem and the associated systems prior to implementing a change idea. I have great appreciation for the strategy of inclusivity among those closest to the work.
Sample Materials & Chapters
Chapter 1. The Pursuit of Equitable Growth in Student Learning
Chapter 2. Creating Clarity of Focus
