How to Change 5000 Schools—A Practical and Positive Approach for Leading Change at Every Level

Given the number of public schools in North America, Levin (educational leadership and policy, U. of Toronto) may have chosen a tiny percentage as his targets for reform. However, he is speaking of public schools in Ontario, and he is using them as an example of how the process of education can be changed for the better from the ground up. At the turn of the last century Ontario schools were failing students, teachers and staff were angry, and the system suffered a poor academic reputation. During Levin's tenure as deputy minister of education for Ontario, instruction and test score improved significantly and staff dissatisfaction virtually disappeared. He found that the community, students and educators were naturally more likely to support schools that valued personal dedication, coherent policies, increased expectations, concrete goals, commitment to teacher improvement, development of responsive and efficient operations, and a focus on reasonable and necessary reforms. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)