SRN LEADS/Stanford University: School Redesign Network — 
Newsletters
Contents July/August, 2006
Summer institute materials online
SRN's 2006 Summer Institutes are over, but the learning continues. Materials from this year's institute — "Through the Looking Glass: Reinventing Districts and Schools Through Redesigning Teaching and Learning" — are available online and include audio files of keynote speeches by Stanford's Linda Darling-Hammond and the Carnegie Foundation's Ann Lieberman as well as PowerPoint presentations and case studies from and other materials from the four institutes. Learn more and download materials.
New study kit spotlights four successful conversion stories
Windows on Conversions: A Multi-Media Exploration of Redesign at Four Comprehensive High Schools is just off the press and can be ordered through the SRN web site. This study kit costs $95 and includes four written case studies and DVD-formatted documentaries about the successful conversion process of high schools in San Mateo, CA; Chicago, IL; North Berwick, ME and Lakewood, WA. This study kit tells the stories of conversions from the frontlines, reported in the voices of teachers, administrators, parents and students who are successfully transforming schools across the country. Find out more and order online.
Registration now open for fall Study Tours
Join us for Fall 2006 Small School and Leadership Study Tours. The Small School Study Tour take place October 16-19 and the Leadership Study Tour take place November 17-20. The tours are for those engaged in the process of redesigning large high schools and/or creating/sustaining new small schools or small learning communities. Small School Study Tours are designed for teams of educators, parents and students, while Leadership Study Tours are designed for teams of district-level leaders including superintendents, central office reform coordinators, assistant superintendents, board members, teacher union leaders, principals and intermediaries. Participants will:
- Visit highly effective small schools in New York City and explore their structures and practices for personalization, collaboration, and academic rigor
- Engage in conversations with national small school leaders
- Launch a professional development relationship with SRN and featured high schools.
Applications for tours are due September 15. Learn more.
New book tackles practice and policy for effective teacher education
This spring Jossey-Bass released a new book by Linda Darling-Hammond. The book, Powerful Teacher Education, describes the strategies, goals, content and processes of seven highly successful and long-standing teacher education programs -- Alverno College; Bank Street College; Trinity University; University of California, Berkeley; University of Southern Maine; University of Virginia and Wheelock College. These colleges and universities have succeeded in preparing teachers to effectively educate diverse learners. In discussing the common features of these programs, Darling-Hammond shows what outstanding teacher education models do and how they do it, and what their graduates accomplish as a result. Powerful Teacher Education also examines the policies, organizational features, resources and relationships that have enabled these programs to succeed.
The book, which was released in late April, has already received ample critical praise. Art Wise, president of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, notes, "This book is evidence-based, readable and the most powerful case to date for the essential role of excellent teacher preparation in the reform of the nation's schools." Read more.
SELI Bay Area Superintendent Fellows Program concludes first year
This past year, more than 20 superintendents from the San Francisco Bay Area particiapted in the Superintendent's Fellows Program. The program is sponsored by the Stanford Educational Leadership Institute (SELI) — an SRN affiliate. The program provided ongoing professional development through short master classes, virtual online webinars and a continuously linked community of leading practitioners. The year concluded with a session led California State Secretary of Education Alan Bersin and Stanford University Professor of Education Linda Darling-Hammond. Stanford University Dean of Education Deborah Stipek was also in attendence. Stay tuned for program and dates for the 2006-07 Fellows Program. More information on the program and Darling-Hammond's PowerPoint presentation from the final session can be downloaded from the SELI web site. http://seli.stanford.edu/programs/suptfellows.htm.
Study looks at successful principal preparation programs
Principals play a vital role in setting the direction for successful schools, but existing knowledge on the best ways to prepare and develop highly qualified principals is sparse. To fill in the gaps, a major research effort is underway to determine what is known about principal preparation and development, what works, and how to create scalable models that can bring effective leadership to all America's schools. The research project, "School Leadership Study: Developing Successful Principals," was commissioned by The Wallace Foundation and undertaken by Stanford University in conjunction with The Finance Project. The first publication of the study, Review of Research, as well as papers written by project researchers, are available for purchase and free download.
View latest job postings on SRN web site
More than a dozen open jobs are listed on the SRN web site. If you are looking for a job in education or are an education organization with a job opening, visit SRN's job opportunities pages.
effective policy and practice in education
Americas schools are among the most unequal in the industrialized world, according to a recently published article by SRN LEADS Co-executive Director Linda Darling-Hammond. The article, "Securing the Right to Learn: Policy and Practice for Powerful Teaching and Learning," appeared in the October issue of Educational Researcher. In it, Darling-Hammond describes the kind of preparation and policy system needed to create an educational system that is effective for all students. Read more.
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