The role of the campus and district
leader in developing effective reading programs is absolutely critical.
The decisions made by campus and district leaders have an enormous influence
over the quality of instruction that takes place in the classroom, and
just as a strong teacher can have a huge influence over the reading success
of students (see "I
is for Instruction"), so too can a strong campus or district leader
have a huge influence over the strength and effectiveness of the classroom
teacher.
If there is one book that every
campus and district leader should read, it is Allington and Cunningham's
book "Schools
that Work: Where All Children Read and Write." This book addresses
the critical issues that are within the purview of campus and district
leaders, such as
• Professional Development
• Budget and staffing
• Systemic reform
• Assessment
• Instructional materials
• Structuring time
• Family and community involvement
This book serves as an excellent
bridge to help administrators cross the rift that lies between current
practice and effective, successful school leadership in reading and writing.
To learn more about some of the
issues that face education leaders who are trying to steer their schools
towards more effective, research-based instruction, check out "Q
is for Quick Fixes"
..
