No Excuses Leadership: Nine bold choices exceptional leaders make

by Damen Lopez

A guide to educational leadership at all levels.

159 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2015

About the author

In 2004, Damen Lopez founded the No Excuses University Network of Schools. This endeavor helps to build a bridge for all students to attend college as it begins promoting a comprehensive college readiness model starting in pre-kindergarten. Ten years after Damen first began sharing this message with thousands of educators across the country, there are now hundreds of schools participating as part of the No Excuses University revolution. To date this work, which is now influencing the lives of more than 100,000 students in twenty-two different states, has received national attention and has been featured in numerous television and newspaper stories.

Damen completed his B.A. and MA. at Point Loma Nazarene University. He is the youngest educator to earn the University of San Diego Remarkable Leader in Education Award. Today he works with schools, districts, and educational organizations throughout the country. Damen continues to inspire schools with the release of his book No Excuses University which describes Six Exceptional Systems that promote academic results for all students under the umbrella of college readiness. Damen’s enthusiasm for providing leadership so every student, especially those living in poverty, will be both academically successful and college ready is widely respected.

Reviews

[Laura-Jane Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this educational leadership book and appreciate that the author did not pretend this was revolutionary new content but, rather, content presented in a new way. In a sense, it is a metaphor for teaching as well. The content often does not change, but the way we present it and the way the students engage in it changes--at least hopefully.

There were practical tools and a lot of inspiration to create a community of school no excuses leaders. This is not just for leaders, but also for teachers to model to students. I already have been implementing strategies in my classes--especially student council and the PAL program.