Professional Capital: Transforming Teaching in Every School

by Andy Hargreaves, Michael Fullan

Overview

The future of learning depends absolutely on the future of teaching. In this latest and most important collaboration, Andy Hargreaves and Michael Fullan show how the quality of teaching is captured in a compelling new idea: the professional capital of every teacher working together in every school. Speaking out against policies that result in a teaching force that is inexperienced, inexpensive, and exhausted in short order, these two world authorities—who know teaching and leadership inside out—set out a groundbreaking new agenda to transform the future of teaching and public education.

Ideas-driven, evidence-based, and strategically powerful, Professional Capital combats the tired arguments and stereotypes of teachers and teaching and shows us how to change them by demanding more of the teaching profession and more from the systems that support it. This is a book that no one connected with schools can afford to ignore.

Book Features:

• A powerful and practical solution to what ails American schools.
• Action guidelines for all groups—individual teachers, administrators, schools and districts, state and federal leaders.
• A next-generation update of core themes from the authors’ bestselling book, What’s Worth Fighting for in Your School?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807771709
Publisher:	Teachers College Press
Publication date:	04/26/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	1,059,756
File size:	507 KB

About the Author

Andy Hargreaves is the Thomas More Brennan Chair in the Lynch School of Education at Boston College (www.andyhargreaves.com). Michael Fullan is Professor Emeritus of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (www.michaelfullan.ca).

Table of Contents

1. A Capital Idea 2. Competing Views of Teaching 3. Stereotypes of Teaching 4. Investing in Capability and Commitment 5. Professional Capital 6. Professional Culture and Communities 7. Enacting Change

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Professional Capital is an incisive critique of the failing reform movements in many countries and a powerful manifesto for the only strategy that can and does work. Hargreaves and Fullan set out exactly and undeniably why the only way to move forward is to honor and improve the profession of teaching. This book should revolutionize how policymakers and practitioners alike think and act in education.”
—Sir Ken Robinson, educator and author

"A must-read! Brimming with insights and action ideas, Hargreaves and Fullan lay out a clear and cogent plan to transform American public education, community by community."
—Dan Domenech, Executive Director, American Association of School Administrators

“This important book makes it clear that teaching stands at a crossroads between policy decisions that will help create a great profession for all teachers, or ones that will make teaching robotic and unexciting—hurting student learning for years to come.”
—Dennis Van Roekel, President, National Education Association

“Hargreaves and Fullan give us a deep, practical understanding of ways to improve our schools and our school systems. This is new, exciting thinking.”
—Steve Munby, Chief Executive, National College for School Leadership

“Andy Hargreaves and Michael Fullan’s latest book shows that transforming our public school system isn’t magic: It comes from supporting all educators to ‘teach like a pro.’”
—Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers

“Professional Capital provides brilliant insight into what the next generation of teaching should look like. This book is a must-read for anybody thinking of teaching in the 21st century.”
—Pasi Sahlberg, Director General, CIMO at the Finnish Ministry of Education

“Professional Capital is among the best works Hargreaves and Fullan have written—which is no small compliment, I assure you!”
—Ben Levin, Professor and Canada Research Chair, OISE/University of Toronto

“Anyone, anywhere who has anything to do with schools and the world of education will want to read, reflect, and react to the content of this book.”
—Christopher Harrison, President, National Association of Head Teachers

Editorial Reviews

This book gives educators viable solutions and varied examples from around the world.”

—Principal

“Engaging, challenging and stimulating. Particularly encouraging is the fact the authors not only identify core problems in education but also, based upon their own international experiences of being directly engaged in effective educational reform, suggest practical solutions.”

—School Administrator

“This provocative, thoughtful, and challenging book is an excellent place to start a much-needed conversation.”

—Education Update

From the Publisher

I love the focus on professional capital and decisional capital. Hargreaves and Fullan give us a deep, practical understanding of ways to improve our schools and our school systems. This is new, exciting thinking.”

Steve Munby

Transforming education is one of the signature challenges of our times. Professional Capital sets out exactly and undeniably why the only way to do it is to honor and improve the profession of teaching. Written by two of the sharpest educational thinkers in the world, Professional Capital is an incisive critique of the failing reform movements in many countries and a powerful manifesto for the only strategy that can and does work. This book should revolutionize how policymakers and practitioners alike think and act in education. The price of failure is more than they or our children can afford.”

world-renowned author and educator Sir Ken Robinson

The teaching profession is at a crossroads. Grounded in global knowledge and experience, Professional Capital provides brilliant insight into what the next generation of teaching should look like. This book is a must-read for anybody thinking of teaching in the twenty-first century.”

Pasi Sahlberg

This important book makes it clear that teaching stands at a crossroads between policy decisions that will help create a great profession for all teachers or ones that will make teaching robotic and unexciting—hurting student learning for years to come. Hargreaves and Fullan urge us not to stand aside or to wait. It is time, they say, for the teaching profession to be led by, for, and with teachers and for others to join in concerted action to support that transformation.”

Dennis Van Roekel

This is a really terrific book. It’s balanced, thoughtful, yet also passionate. Remarkable in its reconciling divergent positions in sensible ways. Among the best things Hargreaves and Fullan have done—which is no small compliment, I assure you!”

Ben Levin

Anyone, anywhere who has anything to do with schools and the world of education will want to read, reflect, and react to the content of this book…A real treasure trove of riveting and informed insight into what really matters in teaching and learning. A powerful duo with a powerful challenge to the world of education. Professional Capital cries out for informed action—for the good of all children and their teachers.”

Christopher Harrison

A must-read! Brimming with insights and action ideas, Hargreaves and Fullan lay out a clear and cogent plan to transform American public education, community by community. Professional Capital is a finely written and urgent argument for real change in how we do our business.”

Dan Domenech

Hargreaves and Fullan have, once again, amassed the evidence to challenge our thinking and better our practice—from the teachers’ lounge, to the union hall, to state and national policy tables. Their concept of ‘professional capital’ can help redefine and refocus efforts at all levels to build and maximize teaching capacity and improve results for students.”

Randi Weingarten