Disrupting Disruption: The Steady Work of Transforming Schools

In Disrupting Disruption: The Steady Work of Transforming Schools (Oxford University Press), David Kirp, Marjorie Wechsler, Madelyn Gardner, and Titilayo Tinubu Ali examine how three school districts that largely serve students from low-income families have engaged in the hard and continuous work of school improvement despite the myriad distractions of education fads and quick fixes. The book details how students in Roanoke, VA; Union City, NJ; and Union, OK; have outperformed expectations given their demographics. Through slow and steady change, these school districts have facilitated substantive growth in graduation rates and have narrowed opportunity gaps between white students and students of color. Numerous strategies contributed to these results, but chief among them were making equity a priority, delivering high-quality early education, supporting teachers, and engaging in community partnerships. The most common and impressive characteristic of these districts is their shared belief in providing a personalized educational experience as they work toward ensuring that all their students graduate from high school.

—S. Kambar Khoshaba
Principal, South County High School, Lorton, VA

“The House of #EdTech Podcast”

How is technology changing the way teachers teach? What impact does technology have on education? These are the types of questions that “The House of #EdTech Podcast” seeks to answer. Launched by Christopher Nesi in 2014, “House of #EdTech” explores how educators can be more effective in integrating technology in schools. With more than 200 episodes, this podcast offers a variety of technology news, recommendations, and relevant content. Examples of episodes include “Has #EdTech Changed Your Teaching?” (#209); “The Need for Digital Equity” (#210); “Are Schools Listening to Teachers About #EdTech?” (#212); “Easy #EdTech Recs” (#204); “Improve Your School’s Social Media” (#196); “How to Avoid EdTech Burnout” (#189); and “How to Increase Student Engagement” (#187). As school leaders work to ensure continuous improvement in schools, an increased understanding of how education technology can support teaching and learning is essential—and that’s exactly what this podcast provides.

—Brenda Yoho
Retired Director of Educational Support Programs, Danville District 118, Danville, IL

Reconnect: Building School Culture for Meaning, Purpose, and Belonging

As educators work to rebuild school communities after pandemic disruptions, Reconnect: Building School Culture for Meaning, Purpose, and Belonging (Jossey-Bass) is a must-read. Written by Doug Lemov, Hilary Lewis, Darryl Williams, and Denarius Frazier, the book examines how students have changed over the past few years as a result of increased screen time and social isolation. The authors insist that educators should focus not on short-term recovery but on permanent change to meet students’ needs since students themselves are now “wired” differently due to all they’ve experienced throughout the pandemic. To that end, each chapter focuses on essential ways schools can be “rewired” to meet this new reality. For instance, the first three chapters emphasize how schools can address a generation in need of constant digital stimulation, while chapter four provides a real-world approach to social-emotional support for students and families by emphasizing personal connections. At a time when reconnecting is one of many schools’ top priorities, this book provides school leaders with impactful insights and practical strategies to re-create positive cultures for students and families.

—Carol Clemmons
School Improvement Coach, Alabama State Department of Education, Montgomery, AL

Turning Points: More Lessons Learned on Leadership, Education, and Personal Growth

Jared R. Smith’s latest book, Turning Points: More Lessons Learned on Leadership, Education, and Personal Growth (Dr. Jared Smith LLC), is a helpful resource for current and aspiring school leaders. As its title suggests, the book explores three areas that Smith says are critical for leaders to succeed in their careers and to establish a healthy work-life balance: leadership, education, and personal growth. Chapters can be read in any order and draw from his popular blog, drjaredsmith.com/blog. Reading his work is like discovering one pearl of wisdom after another. For example, Smith gives advice about being a new administrator working with a seasoned secretary that is spot on, aptly summing up the dynamic in the chapter’s title, “It’s complicated.” The point is that the relationship between the building principal and the administrative support team takes time to get right. Throughout the book, Smith offers advice on topics such as tackling teacher burnout through the gift of time. He also touches on how to keep teachers by making a great first impression, and how we must do all we can to keep them.

—Janeen Ceparano Wilkins
Assistant Principal, Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School, Anchorage, AK