Reframing the Path to School Leadership: A Guide for Teachers and Principals

by Lee G. Bolman (Editor), Terrence E. Deal

The best leaders use multiple frames to view common challenges and to solve the most difficult problems. A series of dialogues between a novice and a master teacher and between a new and a seasoned principal demonstrate how framing―and then reframing―challenges brings clarity.

Genres: Education, Leadership, Professional Development, Teaching, School

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2002

Reviews

[Megan]

Read for my MSEd Leadership program. This was a very easy read, but some of the solutions were just plain silly and unrealistic. Definitely not aimed at someone who has spent nearly 2 decades in public school systems.

[Bryan Kirby]

Very poorly written, but holds some great lessons on school structures, teaching, and leadership.

[Abigail H.]

The concept of this is neat! The execution of it is poor and just made me a little sad. Also, one of the main characters had the spelling of his name changed multiple times throughout the book...so feels like an extra pair of eyes should have glanced over this before hitting "publish!" If you want more info from me on this book, you'll have to hack the Rice University Canvas to see my very intricate, very droll discussion posts analysing each chapter of the horrendous text:-)

[Ha Thu Hoang]

- 4 frames are used by teachers as well as administrators (Bolman & Deal, 1997)
1. The political frame: the limits of authority and inevitability that resources are almost always too scarce to fulfill all damand.
2. The human resource frame: Many teachers and principals have found that involving others in shaping decisions gives them a sense of ownership in what happens each day.
3. The structural frame: emphasizes productivity and posits that classrooms and schools work best when goals and roles are clear. Holding people accountable for their responsibilities and setting measurable standards are an important part of this rational approach.
4. The symbolic frame: centers attention on culture, meaning, belief and faith.
=> In dealing with leadership challenges, most educators rely primarily on the human resource or structural lenses.

- Leadership Lessons: Seeing and solving barriers to entry
Newcomers will always encounter bumps on the road.
1. Expected to be tested => Pay attention to the test. They're important clues about people's expectations and about yardsticks they use to evaluate one other.
2. Study cultural clues => If you pay attention, our observations will yield thousands of clues to penetrate fog-shrouded cultural practices. When you're new, finding your way around will be a lot easier if you get some help from local guides.
3. Find guides: mentors, priests, and storytellers - they are often old-timers who came in with the furniture. They can tell you how things came to be and instruct you in cultural mores and norms.
=> Be reverent, pay attention and you'll find a storehouse of knowledge and wisdom. You can also make friends whose counsel and support could be a big help somewhere down the line. You'll hear things you'd almost never find in policy manuals.
4. Connect with grapevine gossips: Gossips are always privy to the latest scoop.

[Julie]

Easy read with some great take-aways about being a good leader and a good "follower." I put follower in quotes because there can be only one building principal & there are lessons in here on how to work with administration to use your own power within the school. While some of the scenarios are far-fetched (as another reviewer pointed out most teachers don't have this many off site meetings) the book still delivers some strong, clear messages. It is valuable advice and seems to be rooted in research.

[vera ♡]

this was my first book i had to read for my master's program! usually, i don't enjoy "having" to read a book for school, but i found myself enjoying parts of this book!

i really resonated with Joan and her experiences of being a first-year teacher. reading about the struggles of a school and how they fixed those issues was very interesting to me. there are many universal situations that many schools experience.

[Heather]

A leadership story that follows Jaime, a first year principal, and Joan, a first year teacher. They experience the ups and downs of school leadership and figure out how to balance human resources, political, structural, and symbolic leadership styles. Worth reading for anyone in school leadership!

[Melissa]

3.5/5 - had to read for a grad school class. But does a good job identifying struggles first year teachers and administrators face. It was done in narrative format so it’s also an easy and enjoyable read!

[Roberta Matthews]

Bolan and Deal weave a story into the teaching of four frames for thinking about teaching and leading in schools

[Alex]

Had to read it for class but glad I did. It really addresses a lot of school culture that we don't overtly talk about.

[Colin]

As subtle as a chili pepper.

[Abigale]

Easily to read with many great lessons!

[June Camizzi]

There is some good information shared in this book but the narrative was so contrived it boarded on unreadable. I rolled my eyes with every spoken line by a character.

[Casey]

Fine book. Had to read for grad school. Had some interesting concepts in it. I do like how it was split into a “novel” story and then followed up with specific examples and input.

[Nicole Boschetti]

I had to get this done for a graduate class, but I enjoyed this book. It was relatable, informative and had a good story which I was able to really compare my life as a teacher to.

[Hanna]

The lessons on leadership were fine, but way too brief. The novel sections were unreadable and too long. The format was interesting, just imbalanced for my taste

[Bailey]

Really more like 2.5 stars. Some good lessons, and an easy read, but not anything groundbreaking.

[Madisyn Reynolds]

I did not actually finish this book, but I read most of it for a class. It was kinda weird? Sparked some good discussions I suppose, but seems really out of date and touch tbh.

[NicoleSS]

I read this book for a class. I liked that it wove a story to get the points access made it enjoyable to read.

[Nicole Lonergan]

It was more interesting than I anticipated for a book I had to read for a class

[Donna]

Clearly written and practical. The four frames (political, human resources, structural, symbolic) bring a new appreciation to the way that schools are governed and how values are developed and instilled by school leaders.

[Endira77]

The scenarios are relevant to the professional experience of teachers and principals. Bolman and Deal do an excellent job of demonstrating how to navigate different situations through the frameworks of human resources, politics, symbolism, and strategy. It emphasizes the importance of relationships and the various purposes they can serve. Although you get a sense of their struggles, you also get a sense of their celebrations.

My only criticism of the story is the unrealistic gatherings at restaurants and peoples' homes after school hours to discuss issues. Nowadays, those are too risky. People are too complicated emotionally and not mature enough to smoothly arrange ways to deal with problems.

The best aspect of the book is the significance of balancing the system and the spirit.

[Megan]

This was a quick read about school leadership. It was interesting in that it explained the four lenses or frames (political, human resources, structural, and symbolic) in an easy to understand story that felt like a novel. You follow a first-year teacher and a first-year principal at the same school who each make the same mistakes that those new in their respective positions normally make. The two characters learn from their mistakes and use the four frames to improve their effectiveness. I liked the connections the authors make between being a new teacher and a new administrator.

[Judith]

This was a very helpful book for young novice leaders and teachers. Deal and Bolman pack-in much useful information about how to handle the daily issues that arise in classrooms and administrative offices during the first year on the job.

[Gillian Bourassa]

A really enjoyable and thought-provoking read. While it is a quick read (I read it in about 2-3 hours, or one sitting), one should linger over its message. I would love it if some of my colleagues were to read this book in light of some of the new things we are doing in our school.

[Suzanne]

A book for my NJExcel classes that I'm actually enjoying. Reads like a novel. Any teacher or administrator would appreciate it.