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Staying Grounded: 12 Principles For Transforming School Leader Effectiveness
Our children and adults within our schools need you to be at your absolute best. An educator who is constantly working toward “Staying Grounded” will be someone who is a strategic leader who leads within and amongst the levels of self, others, and the organization they serve. Leadership of self includes the responsibility of being self-aware and proactive in developing personal strengths. This is what the 12 Principles will provide for you if you have what it takes. I know you do!
I’ve heard that leadership is never about wielding one’s authority, it’s about empowering people. This book is meant to take that concept many steps further. For years my wife Erin has asked me when I would write a book about my views about the future of our education system and school leadership. The two are inextricably linked together.
I hope this book will provide you with everything you will ever need to make that come true for the child(ren) or school(s) you have the privilege of serving. My work as a superintendent of schools, Fulbright specialist, TEDx speaker and associate professor of education has allowed me to acquire some insightful viewpoints into our education system and the people who work within it. I've been fortunate to work with children beginning in Pre-K through teaching educators and administrators working toward their doctorates in education. In many cases, their education spans thirty plus years.
"Michael Hynes is one of America’s most respected educators. A celebrated teacher and visionary superintendent, he is driven by a deep conviction that education must address the whole child – mind, body and spirit – and that leaders and administrators have crucial roles on making sure it does. He knows exactly how taxing those roles can be and that, whatever the pressures, they have to be guided by humane principles and compassionate practice. Staying Grounded is a trove of ethical and practical wisdom for managing the system as it is and for leading the changes that are needed for all our children to flourish as they must."
Sir Ken Robinson, Educator and New York Times Best Selling Author
“Michael Hynes is a visionary superintendent and Staying Grounded lays out a core set of principles to guide school leaders. In focusing on the inside work defining the leader’s attitude and purpose, the outside work of creating a compelling philosophy of education, and the future work of understanding where we are going, he creates the architecture for a just and humane school system. By starting with a foundation built on a sense of purpose, relationships, and taking care of yourself, he reminds us of Oscar Wilde’s famous ‘Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.’”
James Harvey, President of the National Superintendents Roundtable
“After reading Dr. Hynes’ inspiring book, I found myself wondering what would happen if he became a State Commissioner of Education. The state’s focus would shift 180 degrees, from obsessing over test scores and accountability to an entirely different paradigm of physical, mental, and emotional well- being for students and staff. This would be a Copernican revolution in education. If only."
Diane Ravitch, Research Professor of Education at NYU and educational policy analyst
I’ve heard that leadership is never about wielding one’s authority, it’s about empowering people. This book is meant to take that concept many steps further. For years my wife Erin has asked me when I would write a book about my views about the future of our education system and school leadership. The two are inextricably linked together.
I hope this book will provide you with everything you will ever need to make that come true for the child(ren) or school(s) you have the privilege of serving. My work as a superintendent of schools, Fulbright specialist, TEDx speaker and associate professor of education has allowed me to acquire some insightful viewpoints into our education system and the people who work within it. I've been fortunate to work with children beginning in Pre-K through teaching educators and administrators working toward their doctorates in education. In many cases, their education spans thirty plus years.
"Michael Hynes is one of America’s most respected educators. A celebrated teacher and visionary superintendent, he is driven by a deep conviction that education must address the whole child – mind, body and spirit – and that leaders and administrators have crucial roles on making sure it does. He knows exactly how taxing those roles can be and that, whatever the pressures, they have to be guided by humane principles and compassionate practice. Staying Grounded is a trove of ethical and practical wisdom for managing the system as it is and for leading the changes that are needed for all our children to flourish as they must."
Sir Ken Robinson, Educator and New York Times Best Selling Author
“Michael Hynes is a visionary superintendent and Staying Grounded lays out a core set of principles to guide school leaders. In focusing on the inside work defining the leader’s attitude and purpose, the outside work of creating a compelling philosophy of education, and the future work of understanding where we are going, he creates the architecture for a just and humane school system. By starting with a foundation built on a sense of purpose, relationships, and taking care of yourself, he reminds us of Oscar Wilde’s famous ‘Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.’”
James Harvey, President of the National Superintendents Roundtable
“After reading Dr. Hynes’ inspiring book, I found myself wondering what would happen if he became a State Commissioner of Education. The state’s focus would shift 180 degrees, from obsessing over test scores and accountability to an entirely different paradigm of physical, mental, and emotional well- being for students and staff. This would be a Copernican revolution in education. If only."
Diane Ravitch, Research Professor of Education at NYU and educational policy analyst
254 pages, Paperback
Published April 22, 2020
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 7, 2021
Staying Grounded
By
Michael J. Hynes
My Review:
Michael J. Hynes 'Staying Grounded: 12 Principles For Transforming School Leader Effectiveness' is a fantastic book to read and I am glad to get my hands on it. This book is something that school leaders should definitely pick. They will definitely be beneficial after reading this book if they will apply the principles of this book in their life. I am not much in favor of the way our education system is these days. It just makes students book smart but they don't become smart or good leaders in the real world. Educators or school leaders have a great opportunity to bring change in the Education/school system. I have got to know great things about school leadership from this book. The book is well structured. Leadership stories, implementation of principles in the author's life, perspective to consider, challenges, etc are amazing things to read in this book. It's an engaging book. Various figures included in the book would help readers to understand the author's perspective better. One important principle that I felt is really important is to step outside your comfort zone. Without doing so, it would be difficult to bring a change in the school system. These principles are not only beneficial for students but they will also help the school leaders. A must read book. Narration is smooth and strong. This book is rich in content. A great leadership book it is.
My Rating: 5/5
By
Michael J. Hynes
My Review:
Michael J. Hynes 'Staying Grounded: 12 Principles For Transforming School Leader Effectiveness' is a fantastic book to read and I am glad to get my hands on it. This book is something that school leaders should definitely pick. They will definitely be beneficial after reading this book if they will apply the principles of this book in their life. I am not much in favor of the way our education system is these days. It just makes students book smart but they don't become smart or good leaders in the real world. Educators or school leaders have a great opportunity to bring change in the Education/school system. I have got to know great things about school leadership from this book. The book is well structured. Leadership stories, implementation of principles in the author's life, perspective to consider, challenges, etc are amazing things to read in this book. It's an engaging book. Various figures included in the book would help readers to understand the author's perspective better. One important principle that I felt is really important is to step outside your comfort zone. Without doing so, it would be difficult to bring a change in the school system. These principles are not only beneficial for students but they will also help the school leaders. A must read book. Narration is smooth and strong. This book is rich in content. A great leadership book it is.
My Rating: 5/5
September 6, 2021
𝑻𝒊𝒕𝒍𝒆: Staying Grounded
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: Michael J Hynes
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘:
I love reading books that could help in bringing good transformation in any field. Recently I got my hands on the book Staying Grounded written by Michael J Hynes. The 12 principles by Michael will help school leaders to maximize their talent and potential. The author has mentioned how self-care is the first principle. Self-care is self discipline. The tips mentioned for self-care will be helpful. The next principle is 'Your Attitude Makes All The Difference".
Those who want to grow and bring a difference in the lives of others too should go ahead and read this book. I like to recommend this book to education leaders so they can start implementing these principles in their life and work towards bringing change in the system. If you are a school leader and want to see improvement in schooling then don't miss to read this book. Michael has shared great knowledge in this book. I appreciate his thinking and work that he is doing for students.
I feel that even if you are not in the field of schooling, you could take away at least something from this book that would help you in your life. It's a book worth reading. Add it to your tbr right away.
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 5/5
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: Michael J Hynes
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘:
I love reading books that could help in bringing good transformation in any field. Recently I got my hands on the book Staying Grounded written by Michael J Hynes. The 12 principles by Michael will help school leaders to maximize their talent and potential. The author has mentioned how self-care is the first principle. Self-care is self discipline. The tips mentioned for self-care will be helpful. The next principle is 'Your Attitude Makes All The Difference".
Those who want to grow and bring a difference in the lives of others too should go ahead and read this book. I like to recommend this book to education leaders so they can start implementing these principles in their life and work towards bringing change in the system. If you are a school leader and want to see improvement in schooling then don't miss to read this book. Michael has shared great knowledge in this book. I appreciate his thinking and work that he is doing for students.
I feel that even if you are not in the field of schooling, you could take away at least something from this book that would help you in your life. It's a book worth reading. Add it to your tbr right away.
𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 5/5
September 7, 2021
"Staying Grounded: 12 Principles For Transforming School Leader Effectiveness" penned by the author Michael J Hynes is an insightful read. As the title of the book suggests, it has twelve principles that are divided into three categories. Author has also shared with the readers how he has implemented these principles and how it benefits students.
This book will guide you towards how you can serve children at a higher capacity. There are various thought provoking questions within the book. Various leadership stories mentioned in the book are interesting to read. Cover photo of the book looks nice and the title is suitable.
Through this book, readers will get appropriate tools and information that could make a difference in the school system. It is an insightful read. This book is not just meant to be read. School leaders should apply the principles explained in this book in their professional life to become more effective. A well written book that I like to recommend highly to everyone.
This book will guide you towards how you can serve children at a higher capacity. There are various thought provoking questions within the book. Various leadership stories mentioned in the book are interesting to read. Cover photo of the book looks nice and the title is suitable.
Through this book, readers will get appropriate tools and information that could make a difference in the school system. It is an insightful read. This book is not just meant to be read. School leaders should apply the principles explained in this book in their professional life to become more effective. A well written book that I like to recommend highly to everyone.
June 13, 2020
Michael Haynes is a successful School District superintendent. One of the few who I could say has a honest, child center concern to transform the education system. For most people in Educations the nobleness of their field makes it almost sinful to compare to business. However, Haynes borrows ideas from business to build a managerial framework, and invites people in Education to change their personal lives, their work with children and community and their leadership.
The book is not dense nor full of references. Instead Haynes takes a conversational style, ideal to fit into the busy schedules of teachers and school admins.
Too bad that the Education System doesn't yield more Michaels and he is the exception. If people running schools would put a fraction of his framework into practice schooling wouldn't be as bad.
If you are in the field and have an honest concern for its reform, don't wait for the government for a change. Go get a copy, read it and put it into practice.
The book is not dense nor full of references. Instead Haynes takes a conversational style, ideal to fit into the busy schedules of teachers and school admins.
Too bad that the Education System doesn't yield more Michaels and he is the exception. If people running schools would put a fraction of his framework into practice schooling wouldn't be as bad.
If you are in the field and have an honest concern for its reform, don't wait for the government for a change. Go get a copy, read it and put it into practice.
August 13, 2020
This is a MUST READ for educators! Hynes penned an inspiring book that will make every educator wish he was the leader. Inspiring thoughts and ideas to embrace and put into practice in teaching, sharing and leading. This book is one to read again and again.
July 14, 2020
Validating and inspiring.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews