Author Description

"Too often the response to good ideas is ′it won′t work here.′ This book respects that perspective by providing school leaders with studies from the field that describe efforts that have and have not worked. The concept of shared leadership is presented in a ′real world′ context, including the voices of those who don′t want it. The reader will develop a better understanding of what true collaboration can look like along with the challenges leaders may face as the culture of their school adapts to change." --Stephen Gruenert, Indiana State University "Learning to Lead Together connects leadership theory with experiences from the field--it is very useful to practitioners and to individuals preparing for formal school leadership positions." --Albert H. Fein, Gonzaga University"Janet Chrispeel′s Learning to Lead Together provides a rich anthology of real experiences of school based leaders caught in the vortex of leading and learning on the one hand and teaching and leading on the other. I highly recommend this new work to students seeking real answers to real problems."--James C. Moulton, Jr., Consulting Principal, Fairfax County Public SchoolsLearning to Lead Together: The Promise and Challenge of Sharing Leadership examines the dilemmas for school leaders and administrators, and the benefits for schools and students, when principals work with teachers (and their communities) to share leadership. Most schools function within existing hierarchical structures that contradict and undermine many of the conditions necessary for shared leadership. Current school reform initiatives and policies urge or require that teachers be actively involved in decision-making without addressing systemic dilemmas and paradoxes. Through real-life single and multiple case studies, Learning to Lead Together addresses how principals and their staffs struggle with the challenge of shared leadership, how they encourage teacher growth and development, and how shared leadership