The Intelligent, Responsive Leader - Paperback

by Steven Katz (Author), Lisa Ain Dack (Author), John Malloy (Author)

Jump start your roles as "learning leader" and "lead learner!"

Designed for leaders to learn and lead within the "middle space" between the seemingly opposing dynamics of district expectations and practitioner experience, this book advances the concept of the school as a learning organization. This innovative perspective guides leaders through an intentional, deliberate learning process to develop intelligent, responsive leadership practice. Using stories, strategies, and tools, the authors

• Explain the power of "purposeful practice" as a methodology for getting better
• Show how to build the requisite capacities to lead effectively via "influence"
• Describe how to turn adaptive challenges into leadership inquiries for growth

"This important work demonstrates and reinforces the idea that continuous improvement can only come from deep, intentional, focused, and hard work on the part of everyone within an organization. While the examples are rooted within schools and school districts, this work is applicable to any organization that seeks meaningful and specific improvement in their results. This is a must-read for leaders!"

--Lynn Macan

University at Albany - SUNY, Albany, NY

Author Biography

Dr. Steven Katz is a faculty-member in Applied Psychology & Human Development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto (UT), where he is the coordinator of the Psychology of Learning and Development teacher education program component. He is the recipient of the OISE/UT-wide award for teaching excellence.

Dr. Katz has a doctorate in human development and applied psychology, with a specialization in applied cognitive science. His areas of expertise include cognition and learning, teacher education, networked learning communities, leading professional learning, and the design of data-driven systems for organizational accountability, planning, and improvement. He has received the Governor General's medal for excellence in his field, and has been involved in research and evaluation, professional development, and consulting with a host of educational organizations around the world. He is an author of several best-selling books, including Leading Schools in a Data-Rich World, Building and Connecting Learning Communities, and Intentional Interruption.

Lisa Ain Dack has a doctorate in Developmental Psychology and Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE, UT). Lisa is a senior associate at Aporia Consulting Ltd. Her main area of focus is on professional learning communities, and understanding the nature of successful professional learning and the barriers to its implementation. Lisa is also involved in applied research and program evaluations at the primary and secondary levels. Recent projects include researching a new model for learning about assessment for learning, building a learning network to better understand and implement assessment for learning in mathematics, and researching the development of a learning network to increase achievement in First Nations students through improved attendance and engagement. Lisa also facilitates Principal Learning Teams throughout Ontario, where she acts as critical friend as administrators work through inquiry cycles based on leadership problems of professional practice. In addition, Lisa leads workshops for administrators and teachers throughout Ontario on within-school professional learning communities and cross-school networked learning communities, as well as on data-driven decision making. Lisa is an instructor in the Concurrent Teacher Education Program and the Master of Teaching Program at OISE, UT.

Dr. John Malloy is an experienced educator/leader and a passionate and committed advocate for public education. Over his 29 year career, Dr. Malloy has been an English teacher, guidance counselor, principal, superintendent, Director of Education and most recently Assistant Deputy Minister of the Leadership and Learning Environment Division at the Ontario Ministry of Education. In his current role as Assistant Deputy Minister, Dr. Malloy is responsible for strengthening the leadership abilities of board administrators and educators, for supporting effective school board governance structures, for promoting equity, inclusive, healthy and safe schools and for developing teaching policy and standards. Dr. Malloy believes strongly in the importance of working collaboratively with all partners to achieve our shared goals in education. His priority is to provide equitable access and opportunity to learning environments that promote well-being and allow Ontario's learners to achieve success. Dr. Malloy holds a Doctorate in Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, a Master of Education from Xavier University, a Master of Theological Studies from the University of St. Michael's College/University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts and Education from the University of Dayton.