Making External Experts Work

By (author) Thomas F. Evert, Amy E. Van Deuren

Not available to order

Publication date:

23 December 2011

Length of book:

154 pages

Publisher

R&L Education

ISBN-13: 9781610486378


School board members and superintendents face the reality of providing all students access to a quality education and carefully requesting and allocating public funds to finance excellent educational opportunities. One of the key resources available to boards and superintendents are external experts (consultants). This book uses a case study of one district’s experiences with external experts over a 14-year span.

The district’s experiences with the six external experts are described in detail covering’ a wide range of topics, including governance and decision making, cultural diversity, finance, and school safety. Special emphasis is placed on lessons learned from each external expert and about the ways school leaders can facilitate the effectiveness of external experts.

Relevant aspects of effective district leadership are discussed in depth, including the importance of understanding values and context, assessing need, using available internal resources, and superintendent professional development. Suggestions for board members, current superintendents, and aspiring superintendents are included, which focus on ways district leaders can improve their own performance and improve collaborative work between board members and administrators
As a District Administrator at a small public school in Northern Wisconsin, I found that "Making External Experts Work Solutions for District Leaders" to be a valuable resource that I will use for ongoing professional growth for not only myself, but also for my District.

This book gives much needed advice for how to look for the best external experts to bring into your District. Districts are constantly facing budget constraints, and always looking for expert resources who will help take your school to the next level. This book will be a guide to ensure that your school district is the school district of choice for both parents and students, but also for teachers looking to team with a progressive school district that is on the cutting edge of educational trends.