The NEW School Rules: 6 Vital Practices for Thriving and Responsive Schools

by Anthony Kim, Alexis Gonzales-Black

The rate of economic, social and technological change has increased rapidly in the last century and industrial-age organizational models are no longer capable of keeping up. Self-organization is a set of principles and practices that allow for organizations to evolve with purpose through more individual ownership, accountability, and transparency. This book is filled with examples and stories showing how organizations in other industries and education have adopted self-organization models, as well as how some school districts are implementing the structural changes required to become more agile. These types of changes are rooted in organizational culture, a refreshed mindset, and the creation of a shared consciousness. Districts working through this will feel uncomfortable, but implemented thoughtfully, they will realize more effective ways to get things done. The authors provide concrete tools that anyone in education can use in designing their teams for success. This book will also address the issue of teacher recruitment and retention.

Genres: Education, Professional Development

216 pages, Paperback

Published February 14, 2018

Reviews

[Kristin]

Multiple examples in this book looked to tech start ups as the gold standard for practices that will change education for the better. I read this for a cohort I’m a part of through work, and mostly I found it alarming. It cited little evidence and made many broad-sweeping statements about a field where the authors are not experienced experts. I’m glad I read it though because it’s a very eye-opening look at what a world outside of education thinks about the happenings in education.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A toolkit that brings genuinely new ideas to school leadership. Sometimes business leaders will try to graft on their practices to education. This book is different, in a good way - the rules are specific, adaptive, and practical. I started using suggestions in my work before I was done reading this book.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful for educators who are launching or improving schools. Very clear. Most applicable for public districts but many of the lessons are on point for leaders in independent schools.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘There isn’t learning without listening.’

Authors Anthony Kim, founder and CEO of Education Elements, and Alexis Gonzales-Black, an expert in organizational design and principal designer at the global design firm IDEO, present one solid and especially necessary book on their concepts of the changes schools need to make in order to be more relevant. ‘If we don’t change how schools work and how they are organized, we won’t ever realize the full potential of the work they do.’

Their book is well organized and immensely accessible. They divide the book into the six chapters suggested by the title: PLANNING: Plan for Change, not Perfection, TEAMING: Build Trust and Allow Authority to Spread, MANAGING ROLES: Define the Work Before Your Define the People, DECISION MAKING: Aim for ‘Safe Enough To Try’ Instead of Consensus, SHARING INFORMATION: Harness the Flow and Let Information Go, and THE LEARNING ORGANIZATION: Schools Grow When People Grow.

Presented in a well-designed format and fluid language the authors succeed in making their insightful points comprehensible and therefore facile to incorporate by every caring educator. This book is a fine investment for the future of or educational system.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If we don't change how schools work and how they are organized, we won't ever realize the full potential of the work they do." This inspirational book provides practical advice for educators who are launching or improving schools that you could use tomorrow to make changes. The authors guide you through six rules that they have seen make the biggest impact on how organizations function and how work gets done. The book is chalk full of advice, case studies, activities, and resources for you to use. A must read for all educators.

[Yosr Najjar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource offering an amazing framework that helps educators embrace change. A long list of cutting-edge management strategies that, applied to schools and school districts, can help these organizations become responsive, nimble and agile, with a series of analogies and real life case studies.
The NEW School Rules is a recommended reading for administrators and all educators leading teams at all levels in the educational system.