The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence : Lessons from a Transformational Leader

Based On The Successful Methods Of Dealous Cox, The Relentless Pursuit Of Excellence Describes A Leadership Philosophy Based On The Search For Wisdom Through Personal Reflection And Community. Front Cover -- The Relentless Pursuit Of Excellence -- Contents -- List Of Figures -- Foreword -- Preface: Why This Case Study And Why Now? -- Why We Wrote This Book -- Audience -- Organization Of The Text -- Section 1: Context: Role Of Leadership (introduction, Chapters 1-3) -- Section 2: The Process In Action (chapters 4-10) -- Epilogue: Who Is Dealous Cox? -- Two Caveats -- District Size -- Socioeconomic Status Of The Community -- Acknowledgments -- About The Authors -- Introduction: The Role Of Leadership And School Improvement -- The Importance Of Quality Instruction -- The Conditions Of Teaching -- Note -- Chapter 1: The West Linn School District -- District Context -- Notes -- Chapter 2: Three Key Leadership Functions -- Transformational Leadership -- The Development And Nurturing Of Shared Community Vision -- The Development And Nurturing Of An Ethic Of Continuous Improvement -- The Development And Nurturing Of The Organization's Commitment To Productive And Ethical Human Relations -- Quaker Theology: As A Belief System And A Metaphor -- Note -- Chapter 3: Making A Virtue Out Of A Necessity: The Beginnings Of The People Strategy -- The People Strategy For School Improvement -- Hire The Best -- Provide Excellent Supervision And Constant Feedback On Performance -- Invest Deeply In Each Person's Professional Development -- Award Tenure Only Upon The Demonstration Of Excellence -- Annual Celebration Of Excellence -- Notes -- Chapter 4: Hiring The Very Best -- The Eye Of The Proprietor -- Faculty Recruitment/selection At West Linn High School -- Solicitation Of Applications -- The Interview/visit To The School -- The Nuts And Bolts Of The Process -- Weak Applicant Pools -- Hiring Administrators In West Linn -- Reflection Questions: Hiring The Very Best -- Notes -- Chapter 5: Making Continuous Professional Learning An Organizational Norm. Professional Development And The People Strategy -- Professional Development Strategy #1: Budgeted Building And District Funds -- Curriculum Revision-adoption -- Building Level Projects -- Professional Development Strategy #2: Professional Growth Planning -- Professional Growth Plans -- Professional Development Strategy #3: Tuition Reimbursement -- Professional Development Strategy #4: Cooperative Master's Program -- Professional Development Strategy #5: Professional Development Fund -- Leading Through Limited Partnerships -- Reflection Questions: Making Continuous Professional Learning An Organizational Norm -- Notes -- Chapter 6: Providing Responsive Developmental Supervision -- Four Key Concepts Governing Supervision -- The District's Core Beliefs -- A Shared Vision Of Student Success -- Continuous Open Communication -- Compassionate Understanding Of Individual Needs -- Supervision When Professionals Are Having Problems -- A Veteran Teacher Struggling With Classroom Management -- Dea Enters The Process -- Reflection Questions: Providing Responsive Developmental Supervision -- Notes -- Chapter 7: Differentiated Supervision: Evaluation Outside The Box -- Supervision And Evaluation At West Linn High School -- When Is Traditional Evaluation Necessary? -- The Proposal For A Differentiated Supervision System -- Reflection Questions: Differentiated Supervision -- Notes -- Chapter 8: The Extended Shadow Of The Leader -- An Outside Superintendent -- Example #1: Assigning Students To Classrooms At Cedaroak Park Elementary School -- Dialogue: A Key Element Of Dea Cox's Transformational Leadership -- A Keen Eye For Talent -- Example #2: Multiage Classrooms At Boeckman Creek Elementary School -- Continuous Dialogue -- Partnering With Parents -- Reflection Questions: The Extended Shadow Of Leadership -- Note -- Chapter 9: An Acceptance Of Uncertainty. Scientific Management And Proven Practices -- Feigning Certainty -- Choosing A District-wide Computing Platform -- The Weighty Quaker -- Providing Developmentally Appropriate Education At Willamette Elementary School -- Living With Uncertainty At Willamette -- Uncertainty And School Culture -- Reflection Questions: Acceptance Of Uncertainty -- Notes -- Chapter 10: Hubris: An Ever Present Concern -- The Worrier In Chief -- The Political Context Of Public Schools -- Owning Up To Flaws -- The High School Annual Report: Warts And All -- Reporting Progress On School Goals -- The Gang Of 1,000 -- Reflection Questions: Keeping Hubris At Bay -- Notes -- A Final Word -- Epilogue: Who Is Dealous Cox? -- References -- Index.