Support, celebrate, and grow your best teachers so that they stay in your school and continue to have maximum impact. Burnout and teacher turnover are on the rise, yet we often spend more of our energy on the underperformers. In this powerful book from bestselling authors Todd Whitaker, Connie Hamilton, T.J. Vari, and Joseph Jones, you'll learn why it's crucial to recognize your best teachers, going beyond superficial gestures of appreciation and investing in them in deeper ways. The authors show school leaders how to identify your best teachers and then reveal strategies for supporting them, including recognizing the value-cost of teachers' time; prioritizing appreciation; controlling the narrative; tailoring professional learning; helping teachers grow through peer observations as we as beyond the school; applying data informed feedback; and nurturing self- and collective-efficacy. Each chapter begins with a powerful story, an overview of our blind spots, strategies on what we should invest in, and how to ensure that the whole school profits from your efforts. There's also an Initial Deposits feature that provides a quick, tangible way to get started with each idea. With the helpful models, tips, and tricks in this book, you won't just be inspired to make a change but will be well-equipped to take action. As your best teachers get better-and-better, your students and the entire school culture will benefit!

Invest in Your Best

Education & Teaching

Whitaker, Todd

Jones, Joseph

Vari, T.J.

Hamilton, Connie

Schools & Teaching

Routledge

Invest in Your Best (Eye on Education)

With the right approach, no problem is unsolvable. 
Persistent problems in education―numeracy, reading ability, equity, grading, and teacher retention―can only be solved if we approach them as the crises they are. This practical guide introduces seven mindshifts to help leaders chart an innovative course of school improvement, becoming empowered to not just deal with perennial complex issues, but extinguish them altogether so students and teachers can thrive. Features include: Seven adaptable models for finding solutions to perennial problems Stories highlighting successful implementation of each mindshift Discussions to help match mindshifts to particular problems Technical tips and reflection questions

7 Mindshifts for School Leaders: Finding New Ways to Think About Old Problems

Jones, Joseph M.

Corwin

Candid and Compassionate Feedback: Transforming Everyday Practice in Schools

Too often educational leaders are caught in a "culture of nice," finding it difficult to give their teachers and staff critical feedback to improve their practice. This important book helps leaders become both candid and compassionate, unrelenting and supportive, and demanding yet caring. Exploring real scenarios and situations, this book helps you through the common traps of trying to improve performance, and the strategies to move beyond these pitfalls to achieve desired results. Addressing best practices for driving change such as informal feedback mechanisms, collaborative decision-making, and teacher leadership, this important book will help you create a trusting and supportive environment where you can have candid educational conversations in person and in writing, during informal chats, in PLCs, and with other leaders.

Too often educational leaders are caught in a "culture of nice," finding it difficult to give their teachers and staff critical feedback to improve their practice. This important book helps leaders become both candid and compassionate, unrelenting and supportive, and demanding yet caring. Exploring real scenarios and situations, this book helps you through the common traps of trying to improve performance, and the strategies to move beyond these pitfalls to achieve desired results. Addressing best practices for driving change such as informal feedback mechanisms, collaborative decision-making, and teacher leadership, this important book will help you create a trusting and supportive environment where you can have candid educational conversations in person and in writing, during informal chats, in PLCs, and with other leaders.

Building A Winning Team: The Power of a Magnetic Reputation and The Need to Recruit Top Talent in Every School

Building a Winning Team is about the critical need for schools and districts to promote a positive reputation for the community in which they serve. There is a growing need to recruit and retain teachers in the field of education, and this book addresses new ways to approach what we call "the talent equation." We provide stories from real practitioners along with new and innovative ways to approach vision work, branding, culture, recruitment, human resources, and more. This book combines the research, theory, and practical application in both a how-to guide for implementation and the inspiration needed to grow your team to be the best that they can be. At the heart of this book is the notion that great schools consist of great teams that have a winning mentality. If you're looking for new ways to tell your school's story, develop an award-winning reputation, and recruit top talent, this book is perfect for you.

Building a Winning Team: The Power of a Magnetic Reputation and The Need to Recruit Top Talent in Every School

Thomas-EL, Salome

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Review\nTalent manifests within the culture of organizations when the formative outcomes align with the vision of what doors education will offer our students throughout their lives. Talented teachers ensure this happens on a daily basis. If you want to recruit talented educators who will change the culture of your school and attract more talent, read Building a Winning! -- Dennis Griffin, Principal and Speaker\nThroughout my career, I have seen some amazing teams in the NBA. It takes a special skill to build and maintain a winning team! This book tells you just how to do that! Building a Winning Team is a must-read for every leader and coach of any organization. -- Marc Zumoff, 76ers play-by-play Analyst on NBC\nThere just aren't enough books available that are written for practitioners by practitioners that include both the research and the evidence to support new ways for leading schools. As a principal, I have found that teacher turnover is a growing issue. Joe, Salome, and T.J. spend no time admiring the problems we face. They jump right into solutions with tips, spotlights, and leadership team activities. Not only did I read this book, but I plan on using it as a blueprint to improve the reputation of my school along with the recruitment tactics we use to find great staff members. I've read their work for years, I've seen them speak, and they hit the nail on the head again with Building a Winning Team. Love it! -- Cynthia Jewell, Principal, Stockbridge Elementary School, Georgia\nThere are so many accessible and actionable ideas in these pages, focused not only on attracting and retaining talent but creating a culture where educators and students excel and grow, while tapping into and bringing out their gifts to make schools a better place for all. An incredible read that I will be suggesting to leadership teams over and over again. -- George Couros, Learner, Educator, and Innovative Teaching, Learning, and Leadership consultant; author, "The Innovator's Mindset"\nThe most successful schools are those who are able to attract and retain the best educators. They do so through belief, instilling a sense of purpose, and consistent support. Creating this type of culture that people want to be a part of is a secret no more as Joseph Jones, Salome Thomas-EL, and T.J. Vari provide a blueprint, backed by pertinent examples as experiences from the trenches. The ideas and strategies presented will help you in your quest to unlock the potential of your team. -- Eric Sheninger, senior fellow, International Center for Leadership in Education\nThe book also could be an effective tool for building principals, providing them with a simple and quick-to-read resource as they navigate the consistent challenges associated with attracting and retaining world class educators. ― School Administrator\nBuilding a Winning Team is about the critical need for schools and districts to promote a positive reputation for the community in which they serve. There is a growing need to recruit and retain teachers in the field of education, and this book addresses new ways to approach what we call “the talent equation.” We provide stories from real practitioners along with new and innovative ways to approach vision work, branding, culture, recruitment, human resources, and more. This book combines the research, theory, and practical application in both a how-to guide for implementation and the inspiration needed to grow your team to be the best that they can be. At the heart of this book is the notion that great schools consist of great teams that have a winning mentality. If you’re looking for new ways to tell your school’s story, develop an award-winning reputation, and recruit top talent, this book is perfect for you.

Rowman Littlefield

Retention for a Change: Motivate, Inspire, and Energize Your School Culture

Product Description 
In Retention for a Change, we give precise strategies for motivating, inspiring, and energizing a staff. The goal is to make your school a place of success for everyone. Teacher retention is a huge issue that continues to grow, and we believe that this book is one-of-a-kind in that it tackles a tough topic with practical solutions. \nReview 
Once again, Joe, T.J., and Salome have written another great book! Their ability to address major issues in a practical manner is both refreshing and appreciated. As a superintendent, one of my responsibilities is to find and retain talented people in our district. This book provides great content and strategies that are applicable for all school leaders. Take the next step to improving your district and make Retention for a Change your next read. -- Anthony V. Dent, superintendent, Medford Lakes School District\nRetention for a Change is the book that leaders have been waiting to read to find the recipe for changing their school cultures. Attracting talented staff is a challenge for many school and district leaders, but retaining and supporting those staff members is one of our biggest obstacles. In this book, the authors have given us the tools to inspire, motivate, and energize our teams to new levels of commitment and success. I am sure they will inspire you. -- Neil Gupta, school district leader; national speaker; serves on the Board of Directors for ASCD\nBuilding a strong team does not happen by accident. Amazing educators across the country pour their hearts and souls into helping their students each and every day. Retaining those amazing educators is important to our profession. As leaders, we need to make sure our teams feel valued. Talk to them, show them your appreciation and most of all, let them know you are there to support them every step of the way! -- Tara Desiderio, principal, Wescosville Elementary School\nRetention for a Change is a practical guide to help school leaders with teachers who are either new to teaching or just new to the school. The book focuses on practitioners who use motivation, inspiration, and energy to build a culture in their schools that will retain novice teachers and new teachers to their buildings. Within the book, there are Technical Tips, Leadership Team Activities, and Guiding Questions for leaders to develop plans to transform their schools. It’s a dream! -- Evelyn Edney, principal, early college high school, Delaware State University\nEvery good educational leader recognizes that a school is only as good as the teachers who work there. Building a Winning Team is indeed, mission critical. But as Jones, Vari, and Thomas-EL remind us, “sustaining a winning team” is essential for our schools to thrive. That’s why this new book is so important. These authors draw upon research, the wisdom of practitioners in the field, as well as their own experiences to provide “critical tips and tools" for building the type of culture that not just attracts talented educators, but keeps them. Retention for a Change is not only for administrators, though; it’s for any educator who wants to be part of the solution -- anyone who wants to contribute to school cultures that energize and inspire. -- Danny Steele, educator, author,"Essential Truths for Principals", and speaker 
 About the Author 
Dr. Joseph Jones​ is the Superintendent of the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District in Delaware. Joe is a former high school social studies teacher, assistant principal, and principal. 
Dr. Salome Thomas-EL​ has been a teacher and principal in Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE since 1987. He is currently the Head of School at Thomas Edison Public Charter School in Wilmington, DE. \nDr. Thomas J. Vari ​is the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools and District Operations in the Appoquinimink School District in Delaware. He is a former middle school assistant principal and principal and former high sch

Business & Money

Job Hunting & Careers

In Retention for a Change, we give precise strategies for motivating, inspiring, and energizing a staff. The goal is to make your school a place of success for everyone. Teacher retention is a huge issue that continues to grow, and we believe that this book is one-of-a-kind in that it tackles a tough topic with practical solutions.

Reignite your passion for serving children! This is an inspiring call to action for teachers and principals around the world to recommit to passionately serving children, building the communities children deserve, and celebrating our successes. The authors of this book examine what it takes to be a passionate leader and take courageous actions which lead to student growth and success. Educators ready to push to new heights and break boundaries will find: <ul>
<li>Practical ideas and suggestions for how to serve as a beacon of hope in the field </li> <li>First-hand experiences from enthusiastic leaders modeling what passionate leadership looks like</li> <li>Charts and graphs that will help you assess your strong points and identify areas you can improve on</li> </ul>

Passionate Leadership: Creating a Culture of Success in Every School

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Vari, T.J.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Vari, T.J.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Vari, T.J.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Invest in Your Best

Invest in Your Best (Eye on Education)

7 Mindshifts for School Leaders: Finding New Ways to Think About Old Problems

Candid and Compassionate Feedback: Transforming Everyday Practice in Schools

Candid and Compassionate Feedback: Transforming Everyday Practice in Schools

Building a Winning Team: The Power of a Magnetic Reputation and The Need to Recruit Top Talent in Every School

Building A Winning Team: The Power of a Magnetic Reputation and The Need to Recruit Top Talent in Every School

Retention for a Change: Motivate, Inspire, and Energize Your School Culture

Retention for a Change: Motivate, Inspire, and Energize Your School Culture

Passionate Leadership: Creating a Culture of Success in Every School