Victory in Our Schools

Book excerpt: Education is not just a matter for the politicians and professionals; it is a matter for all of us. For we are the public in public education. When we work together, we can do it...we can reach and teach these children. Meet John Stanford, the successfully unorthodox superintendent of Seattle public schools and former U.S. Army major general, whose gutsy, no-nonsense educational reforms and inspirational leadership have sparked a revolution in public education. Under his visionary guidance, test scores are improving, violence has declined to a ten-year low, student/teacher morale is soaring, and the community has rallied around the schools as never before. In this remarkable book, he outlines the essential strategies a school district can use to transform the system and offers a concrete plan of action to mobilize educators, parents, and the community at large into an army of educators. Learn how your school district can: Establish standards of achievement for both students and educators Ensure that the school system believes that all children can learn--and that they act on that belief Encourage schools to run themselves like businesses, turning principals into enterprising CEOs, promoting high performance through competition, and drawing vital investments from the private sector Enlist the aid of local businesses, nonprofit, religious, and ethnic organizations, and volunteers in order to meet the needs of every child Expand the traditional classroom to include the surrounding community Here is a new, dynamic plan to help you and your community achieve Victory in Our Schools.