The Constructivist Leader

by Linda Lambert

Since the publication of the first edition in 1995, The Constructivist Leader has provided educational leaders at all levels with a conceptual framework for leadership defined as reciprocal, purposeful learning in community. Today, learning communities based on constructivist principles are a major part of the school improvement landscape.The Second Edition of this best-selling book enables readers to carry this constructivist vision and purpose forward, while effectively implementing standards-based reform, authentic assessment, and constructivist-based accountability. The new Second Edition

Genres: Leadership

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 1995

About the author

Linda Lambert earned her Ed.D. at the University of San Francisco and is Professor Emeritus from California State University, East Bay, and a full time author. Her new novel, The Italian Letters--the sequel to award-winning, The Cairo Codex--will be released October, 2014. Linda’s career has included the following roles: social worker, teacher, principal, district and county directors of professor development, as well as university professor, state department envoy to Egypt, and international consultant. Her international consultancies in leadership have taken her to Egypt, Lebanon, England, Thailand, Mexico, Canada, and Malaysia. Linda is the author of dozens of articles and lead author of The Constructivist Leader (1995, 2002), Who Will Save Our Schools (1997), and Women’s Ways of Leading (2009); she is the author of Building Leadership Capacity in Schools (1998) and Leadership Capacity for Lasting School Improvement (2003). Linda lives with her husband, Morgan, a retired school superintendent, in Santa Rosa, California, and writes historical novels.

Reviews

[Lawrence Linnen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a collection of thoughts and ideas of various authors and researchers on constructivist leadership. Lambert suggests that "leadership that would change our schools and our communities must be cognizant of the essential actions needed to alter the lives of teachers in schools." She says "the function of leadership must be to engage people in the processes that create the conditions for learning and form common ground about teaching and learning." She defines leadership as "a concept transcending individuals roles, and behaviors." School change is seen by Lambert as a natural result of collaboratively constructing meaning and knowledge, an outgrowth of conversations about what matters.

[Lina Scalfino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book I ever read that introduced me to Linda Lambert’s work with her other colleagues. It made so much sense and worked on developing leadership captivity across the school. Highly recommended for leaders and teachers !

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good points, and about 2-3 good chapters. Most of the book is written as though the author took a thesaurus to choose the most pretentious words they could. Not a fun read, I don't think I would have finished reading it if I didn't have to for class. Too bad, because the ideas need to be learned by more people.