Presenting the systems and the skills that are required to maximize student achievement within a learning organization context, this book describes the connection between school organizational development and student achievement. It presents the case for connected systems, governing by standards, and benchmarking for excellence.

Preface Acknowledgements Introduction 1. The Missing Essential Connections to Educational Excellence Unconnected Systems Thinking and Planning Strategically Benchmarking for Excellence Leading Collaboratively Engaging the Public Standards-Based Governance and Quality Assurance The Integrated Essentials The Power of Consensus Random Acts of Improvement Summary 2. The Power of Thinking and Planning Strategically Commitment by Governance Preparing for Strategic Planning The Power of Conversation in Public Education The Politics of Strategic Planning Training the Stakeholders The Mission and Building Principals Personal Investment in the Plan Public Engagement in Communicating the Plan Summary 3. Benchmarking for Excellence Using the Sterling System Benchmarking, Intelligence, and the Sterling System Student-Results Benchmarking Benchmark for Organizational Success Integrated Management Systems Designed for Student Excellence, Using Benchmarking and Competitive Intellgience To Achieve Excellence Summary 4. Leading Collaboratively for Combined Wisdom Transforming Leadership Transformationg the Principalship Change Comes From the Edge The Role of Personality Preferences in the Restructured Organization The Interpersonal Dynamics of Collaboration Retro-Programs, Sacred Cows Collaborative Organizations Organizational Characteristics of a Personal Bureaucracy At the Core of Collaborative Success Leadership and Followership Leadership Needed Today Principles Governing a Principal's Work Legitimate Followership Local Leadership Academy Systems Thinking Summary 5. Engage the Public in a Productive and Proactive Manner Nine Factors of Engagement Public Involvement Building Principals and the Nine Factors Deeper Public Involvement S.W.A.T. Teams: Schools Where Achievement Thrives Kitchen Talks School Block Talk Principal-Led Parental Collaboration Summary 6. Govern by Standards Developed With the Stakeholders Building Principals and the Need for Standards of Excellence Developing Standards of Excellence Consistent With School Vision Govern by Standards The Governance Model Summary 7. Empower Integrated Management Systems With Five Essential Skills The Sterling Criteria for Organizaitonal Performance Excellence Principals, Five Essentials, and Sterling What Drives Organizations to Sterling Excellence? Sterling Core Values Summary 8. Integrate the Five Essentials Simultaneous Development The Cycle of Implementation of the Five Essentials Cost-Benefit Analysis Administrative Arrangements versus Curricular Concerns Justify or Eliminate Summary 9. Chaos, Essentials, and Learning Organizations Five Essentials and the New Science Information, Relationships, and Chaos The Five Essentials and School Culture The Five Essentials and Learning Organizations Summary 10. Conlusion The Leadership Trap The Discipline of Dialogue Have You Told Them That? Changing Times, Changing Challenges Captain Education What Now? Summary Epilogue References Index

"The Five Essentials of Organizational Excellence offers and explains what every administrator should know about collaborative leadership and the benefits for student achievement." -- Nancy Noeske, President and CEO"After a long and distinguished career as a local school superintendent, Lawrence Marazza has laid out the precepts and practices that guided his success." -- Richard Boyd, Visiting Professor, Education Leadership"Readers concerned about improving their school district will find the material applicable and adaptable to almost any situation." -- Robert Blake, Principal"Marazza's book displays both practicality and relevancy in school leadership, and examines leadership theories that triangulate his own methods of transforming today's schools." -- Frank Rudnesky, Principal"Marazza offers a prescription for how essential skills can empower school organizations that can ultimately lead to higher student achievement and stakeholder satisfaction." -- John Pieno, Chairman"This book . . . will help busy superintendents who are searching for integrative frameworks that bring together difficult concepts from various leadership literature into one overarching model." -- The School Administrator, August 2004