Strengthening The Heartbeat: Leading and Learning Together in Schools

by Thomas J. Sergiovanni

Study after study has concluded that no matter how competently managed a school may be, it is the bringing together of leadership and learning that makes the difference between ordinary and extraordinary performance.  Strengthening the Heartbeat offers leaders a clear and compelling way to help their schools achieve extraordinary results.  The proven principles outlined in this book can help any school build a culture of leadership and learning.  Thomas J. Sergiovanni?a leading thinker in the educational leadership arena?shows how a strong heartbeat is a school's best defense against the obstacles leaders face as they work to change schools for the better.  But strengthening the heartbeat of schools requires that we rethink what leadership is, how leadership works, what leadership's relationship is to learning, and why we need to practice both leadership and learning together. Filled with illustrative examples, Strengthening the Heartbeat shows how to build trust that leads to the creation of a vision and the building of a covenant that brings together principals, teachers, parents, and students to honor shared values, goals, and beliefs.  When leaders are able to strengthen the heartbeat, their schools become stronger and more resilient.  These qualities help leaders to share the burdens of leadership with others, to create collaborative cultures, and to be continuous learners.  Leadership inevitably involves change and change inevitably involves learning.  Using this book, school leaders will have the tools they need to make their schools the best they can be.

Genres: Leadership

195 pages, Hardcover

First published August 13, 2004

About the author

Thomas Sergiovanni was Lillian Radford Professor of Education at Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas).

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible...F

Very wordy attempt at describing how we should look at transforming schools. One good thing: he does not forget that it's often long, hard work.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sergiovanni gets the very core of what it takes to have an exceptional school...a must read for every educator!