District Leadership That Works: Striking the Right Balance, April/2009

Bridge the great divide between distanced administrative duties and daily classroom impact. This book introduces a top-down power mechanism called defined autonomy, a concept that focuses on district-defined, nonnegotiable, common goals and a system of accountability supported by assessment tools. Defined autonomy creates an effective balance of centralized direction and individualized empowerment that allows building-level staff the stylistic freedom to respond quickly and effectively to student failure.

1. Initiate second-order change to promote student achievement.
2. Set nonnegotiable district-defined goals for achievement and instruction through a collaborative process with stakeholders.
3. Create defined autonomy that allows teachers creative freedom while ensuring student achievement.
4. Monitor progress through formative assessment tools.
5. Counteract any resistance to second-order change.

About The Authors:
Robert J. Marzano, PhD., is cofounder and CEO of Marzano Research Laboratory in Englewood, Colorado. A leading researcher in education, he is a speaker, trainer, and author of more than 30 books and 150 articles on topics such as instruction, assessment, writing and implementing standards, cognition, effective leadership, and school intervention. His books include The Art and Science of Teaching and Effective Supervision. His practical translations of the most current research and theory into classroom strategies are internationally known and widely practiced by both teachers and administrators.

Dr. Marzano received a bachelor’s degree from Iona College in New York, a master’s degree from Seattle University, and a doctorate from the University of Washington.

Timothy Waters, EdD., has served as president and CEO of McREL since 1995. He joined McREL in 1993 as deputy director following 23 years in K–12 education as a teacher, assistant principal, high school principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. In each of his professional roles, Dr. Waters has been acknowledged as an innovator and leader of education improvement and reform. As superintendent, he led a seven-year standards-based initiative that produced dramatic gains in student achievement and narrowed gaps between high- and low-achievers. He speaks nationally and internationally on education leadership and the future of schooling.

Under Dr. Waters’ leadership, McREL has become recognized as one of America’s leading education research, development, and service organizations. In a 2006 study published by Education Week, McREL was listed as one of the most influential organizations in U.S. education.

Dr. Waters has been recognized as a Distinguished Educator by the Kettering Foundation and is a recipient of the Equity Excellence Award presented by the Colorado Institute for Gender Equity.

Dr. Waters holds a BA from the University of Denver and an MA and EdD from Arizona State University.