Possibilities of the Impossible: Obstacles of Educational Reform, Nets, Trenches, Sinkholes and Cisterns

by Portia S. Bonner

Overview

Using metaphors of nets, trenches, sink holes and cisterns, this book shows instances of the obstacles that hinder academic success for our children. The purpose of this book is to bring an awareness of what is broken in our educational system by looking at leadership and reform efforts in the midst of relationships, sustainability of reform efforts in economic unpredictability, the impact on the future workforce, and what is needed to overcome obstacles. A second purpose is to engage educators, in particular leadership, in thought provoking conversations around building the trusting relationships amongst stakeholders that is necessary for effective, transformative and successful school districts.

The book introduces three case studies of three school districts that, in the form of short vignettes, share stories of how relationships can impact the climate and culture of a district. This book will contribute significantly to the establishment of trusting relationships that empower educational leaders to work through reform efforts for the good of their communities and help future leaders persevere and not fall into despair in their leadership journey, but instead learn along the way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475864229
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/15/2022
Pages:	210
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.48(d)

About the Author

Portia S. Bonner, PhD, is a veteran educator serving over the span of 30 years in multiple capacities, from school teacher to superintendent of schools. As an agent of change, she has assisted underperforming schools and districts in their directional focus of improvement and building partnerships with their community.

Table of Contents

Preface
Chapter 1: Leading Unwanted Change When Change is Needed!
Section 1: Leading Change
Section 2: Rationale for Change: Because Everyone is Not Achieving!
Section 3: What’s Holding Us Down?
The Setting
Chapter 2: A Story of Three School Districts
Section 1: District 1 – Transitioning District
Section 2: District 2 – The Shore
Section 3: District 3 - Northwest
Nets
Chapter 3: Nets That Capture
Section 1: What’s Captured Our Children?
Section 2: Institutional Structure and Tradition
Section 3: Leadership at the Helm
Section 4: Teachers Collective Bargaining and the Rule to Work
Chapter 4: Nets That Hold
Section 1: Teachers’ Expectations, Beliefs and Mindsets
Section 2: Students’ Cultural Diversity and Generational Differences
Section 3: Parents Involvement, Engagement and Presence
Section 4: Community of Have and Have Nots
Trenches
Chapter 5: The Trenches – Leadership and Reform Efforts in the Midst of
Relationships
Section 1: In the Trenches
Section 2: Board of Education and the Superintendent
Chapter 6: More Important Relationships
Section 1: Central Office and School Building Staff
Section 2: Community, Parent and School District
Section 3: Policy Makers and Systemic Institutionalization
Sinkholes
Chapter 7: Sinkholes – Sustaining Reform Efforts During Political Tension
Section 1: Sinkholes
Section 2: Political Tide and Turnover in School and District Leadership
Chapter 8: Economic Unpredictability and Funding
Chapter 9: Ever Changing Pedagogical Approaches and the Curriculum Recycled
Section 1: Pedagogy, Curriculum and Assessment
Section 2: School Safety, Climate and Culture
Section 3: Family Relationships and Partnerships
Section 4: Technology- Blended Learning, STEM & Personalized Learning
Chapter 10: Accountability
Cisterns
Chapter 11: Cisterns: Empty Wells That Are Not Being Replenished
Section 1: Cisterns
Section 2: Teaching to the Middle and Lower Levels
Section 3: Cultivating the Prison Pipeline
Chapter 12: Workforce and Talent Development
Section 1: Preparing Students for the Future
Section 2: Globalization – Interdependence, Interconnected and Competitive
Breaking and Filling
Chapter 13: Breaking the Nets, Filling the Trenches, Sinkholes and Cisterns
Section 1: Visualizing the Perfect Scenario of Educational Utopia
Section 2: Rigorous Curriculum Embedding 21st Century Skills
Section 3: Accountability
Section 4: Leadership
Section 5: Partnership and Forward Thinking
Chapter 14: Overcoming the Hierarchy of Power
Section 1: What to Do?
Section 2: A House in Order Cannot Be divided
Denouement
Chapter 15: Denouement – Overcoming Obstacles and the Possibilities that Prevail
Section 1: Entry Into Superintendence
Section 2: Falling Short of the Right Fit
Chapter 16: What Do We Say?
District’s Response to Addressing Nets, Trenches, Sinkholes and Cisterns
Chapter 17: District One – Interweaving Coalitions and Strengthening the Mesh
Chapter 18: District Two – Embattlement of the Casted Net
Chapter 19: District Three – Building the Framework for a Strong Foundation
Chapter 20: Possibilities
Section 1: Moving Away from Traditionalism
Section 2: Improving Relationships through Communication
Section 3: Qualities of Future Leaders
Section 4: Revelation in the Metaphors
Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

This is a book for anyone who cares deeply about public education, both educators and dedicated members of the community. Through the use of metaphors and vignettes, Dr. Bonner brings to life the challenges facing our educational system. But she doesn’t just cite the challenges, she poses thoughtful questions to engage her readers and to encourage all to think creatively about possible solutions. Her message of the shared responsibility for quality public education which is based on relationships grounded in trust and respect is the basis of her work and will help guide districts as they focus their work on fostering student growth and improving student achievement.” —Rena P. Klebart, Retired Superintendent of Schools and Former Board of Education Member

“I highly recommend reading this book to anyone interested in affecting positive change in schools. Reading this book will help future and current school Superintendents/ Administrators to avoid pitfalls and land mines inherent in the job.” —David L. Snead, PhD, retired Superintendent of Detroit, Michigan and Waterbury, Connecticut

From the Publisher

I highly recommend reading this book to anyone interested in affecting positive change in schools. Reading this book will help future and current school Superintendents/ Administrators to avoid pitfalls and land mines inherent in the job.

David L. Snead

This is a book for anyone who cares deeply about public education, both educators and dedicated members of the community. Through the use of metaphors and vignettes, Dr. Bonner brings to life the challenges facing our educational system. But she doesn’t just cite the challenges, she poses thoughtful questions to engage her readers and to encourage all to think creatively about possible solutions. Her message of the shared responsibility for quality public education which is based on relationships grounded in trust and respect is the basis of her work and will help guide districts as they focus their work on fostering student growth and improving student achievement.

Rena P. Klebart