January/February 2012 Leadership

ACSA Executive Director Bob Wells

Assistant Executive Director, Communications Julie White

Editor Susan Davis

Board of Directors President

Alice Petrossian

President-Elect David Gomez

Vice President Marc Ecker

Vice President for Legislative Action Lisa Gonzales

Past President Bob Noyes

Directors Aaron Benton, Henry Bietz, Todd Cherland,

Carl Christensen, Pat Crowder, Randall Delling, Rod Federwisch, Susan Gilmore, Diane Gischel-Lingo, Julianne Hoefer,

Darrien Johnson, Barry Kayrell, John Keiter, Ofelia Lariviere, Belen Magers, Robert Phillips, Ralph Porras, Joan Rosas, Judi Rossi,

Mary Sieu, John Snavely, Teresa Williams Editorial Office

1029 J Street, Suite 500 Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 444-3216 or (800) 608-ACSA www.acsa.org

Advertising Office

Diana Granger (530) 642-0111

Subscription Information (650) 692-4300 or (800) 608-ACSA

Leadership magazine (ISSN 1531-3174) is published bi-monthly in September/October, November/December, January/February, March/ April and May/June by the Asso ciation of Califor- nia School Admin istrators, 1575 Bayshore Hwy., Burlingame, CA 94010. (USPS 282-740) Annual subscription: $60, single copies; $12 (includes state tax). Subscriptions outside the U.S. add $20 ($80 total). Periodical postage paid at Burlingame, California and additional post offices. Articles and advertisements are the expressions of the author(s) and advertisers and are not statements of policy or endorsements of ACSA. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Leadership magazine, ACSA, 1575 Bayshore Hwy., Burlingame, CA 94010.

Dear Colleague: Raising student achievement to create long-term, sustainable suc-

cess is the goal of every good school leader. Our strategies depend on the local communities we serve, and our efforts are adjusted as we learn what works and what doesn’t. Those of us who have actually worked with students know that the answer isn’t as simple as pundits claim. In this issue of Leadership magazine, we take a look at what some of California’s finest school leaders are doing to work toward a day when

every child has the opportunity to attend a great school. Chris Rosenberg (page 8) writes that he realized one factor inhibiting school improve-

ment “is that we try to address too many challenges at the same time, often ending up with mediocre results on a wide range of issues.” Rosenberg is finding success in his San Francisco school by deciding that classroom teaching would be the center of his strategy, focusing in particular on literacy.

Author and principal Rich Newman (page 12) writes that “true transformation in schools

can only happen when there is a clear target that is known and owned by those who are implementing the goal and to those who are striving to achieve it.” His process for setting goals that are shared and revisited, and then communicating results, has helped everyone at his school see connections and share responsibility for student success.

Learning, teaching and leading In this issue of Leadership magazine you will also find articles about using the Japanese

Lesson Study method to teach math, training teachers to lead professional learning com- munities, and the findings of a study on how principals support teacher effectiveness in high performing, high poverty schools. Finally, following the very popular 2010 article, “Top 10 internet resources for educators,” we are offering the “Top 12 web resources for 2012” (page 28), by Lisa Gonzales and Devin Vodicka.

One of the major benefits of ACSA membership is receiving Leadership magazine. Please

take a moment to share these great articles with colleagues who are not members so they may understand the benefits of being a part of ACSA. Also, please use the magazine to contact the authors for further insight. My favorite articles are passed on or used as dialogue start- ers in staff meetings. I am sure you have many ways you have used and will use Leadership magazine. Please let me know what creative ways you find to share the information here with others. It is my hope that these resources help you celebrate a very successful 2012.

Sincerely,

To our readers A great school for every student

Alice Petrossian ACSA President

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