Data-Driven Leadership

by Amanda Datnow, Amanda Datnow

Tools and techniques from the trailblazers in data-based education reform Over a period of several years, Amanda Datnow and Vicki Park visited public schools with a reputation for being ahead of the pack in data-driven decision making. The results of this pioneering study reveal how education leaders can make data work for students and teachers, rather than against them. This book is an essential guide to meeting the challenges of high-stakes accountability, building performance-based schools, and improving student outcomes. By following the advice in this book, you’ll be able to transform data overload into a data-positive school culture. You’ll learn the difference between “data-driven leadership” and “data-informed leadership,” and how to use distributed leadership to inspire collaboration and guided analysis. Incorporating narrative reflections drawn from real educators and administrators, the authors refine their observations and interviews into practical conclusions that leaders can put to use immediately. This book empowers leaders to support inquiry, build trust in data-based initiatives, establish goals for evidence use, and provide educators with the skills they need to mobilize data for the good of all stakeholders. “Datnow and Park’s ideas are easily accessible and grounded in clear examples, and their seven ‘calls’ about what needs to be done nail the problem and the solutions. Use this book as your action guide and you’ll be rewarded with better results in student learning.” ―Michael Fullan, professor emeritus, University of Toronto “Datnow and Park uncover, at last, what it means to use data to inform leadership. Documenting the four P’s (people, policies, practices, and patterns) in schools, we learn about the organization and dynamics of reform informed by data. A must read!” ―Ann Lieberman, senior scholar, Stanford University

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Jon Lowry · Rating 3 out of 5]

District A and District B had this quality, but District A and District C had this quality. Then again, District B is unlike District A or District C. Wait, which district? This was one unnecessary confusion. I'm sure it was very clear to the researchers, but I didn't expect to need to keep a character chart just to keep up with which district was which.

I may be unfair, but any teacher that has taught in a district that utilized data-driven decision making won't be learning anything new. This just formally acknowledges the truth. At least I agree with the results, but it's nothing groundbreaking.

[Caston Binger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this book as a course requirement. Unlike the other books I read on data driven decision making and leadership, this was a pretty good. It did not put me to sleep or bore me with educational jargon. Datnow (and Park) address some of the potholes that leaders face when trying to create a positive school culture that uses different forms a data. They also discuss key factors and steps that are known to help with the implementation process.

[Zena Bailey-Harris]

Course required reading. Valid, informative & easy to follow.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good for a graduate class textbook. Although I wish that they gave the 'districts' they references fake names instead of using letters. I found it hard to remember what "district A" did versus "district B' and think I would have been able to keep them straight if they had used names instead. I really liked the medicine analogies in the beginning.