Fusion leadership is a metaphor for a certain style of management where partnerships are created, barriers reduced, conversation increased, and joint responsibility enhanced. Ways in which an organization can implement this type of leadership are presented. The book details various characteristics of fusion leadership, describing the forces that…

This booklet describes how managers and their organizations can benefit by preparing for formal developmental experiences. Such preparation includes clarifying expectations, understanding and increasing motivation for attending, and making sure that the work environment supports the changes in both behavior and perspective that lead to more…

Rural America is growing again; and, the change in growth and migration patterns means new opportunities for small towns to expand their economic bases and to improve community facilities and services. Part of the Small Town Strategy series, this publication characterizes one small southwestern town that is typical of many others and outlines a…

Leadership for school change, this book contends, must be shared. Administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and community members must become more knowledgeable about the change process and more proficient at working through it. This book provides guidance and resources for school leadership teams and practitioners and students of change. The…

Part of the Small Town Strategy series, this publication presents some of the more common techniques for identifying problems and setting objectives. A problem-solving process which can be used in many different situtations is presented. The process includes the following sequence: problem statement, goal statement; objectives, strategies,…

Many communities have economic development efforts, which are generally undertaken in an attempt to create productive employment opportunities and to strengthen the local tax base. Unfortunatley, the economic development efforts of many communities, especially rural communities, are not productive ones. Many rural development efforts fail because…

This text is intended as a basis for community development educators to increase their understanding of the elements of community development, assess systematically the strengths and weaknesses of a community development situation, examine one approach to community development education and the principles from which it grew, and gain confidence in…

This guidebook is designed to help educational leaders in the transformation necessary to restructure and empower schools. Chapter 1 outlines major structural problems of the current educational system. Chapter 2 explains specific management techniques for restructuring a school system, from the level of the school building to the level of the…

Based on the view that strengthening families and neighborhoods can improve the life chances of vulnerable children, this discussion guide is designed to help communities participating in study circle programs to bring people from all segments of the neighborhood together to share different views and experiences, thereby building stronger…

School leadership based on business and effective school models has failed to meet two fundamental tests in recent decades: that it successfully promote organizational improvement and that it be sustainable for the leaders themselves. This book posits a new three-dimensional model more appropriate for the public-school environment. The first…

Actions which leaders of business, industry, and labor can take to promote the improvement of K-12 public education are presented in this brochure. The brochure is one of a series which offers specific ways in which different interest groups can respond to the eight broad action recommendations proposed by the Education Commission of the States'…

Part of the Small Town Strategy series, this publication is designed to help communities decide whether further local economic growth is possible and desirable. The publication provides a discussion outline to be used to study the costs and benefits of growing or not growing. Questions are listed which should be raised by the community when…

This booklet briefly presents some of the results of a study of the relationship between school districts and "reform support organizations" (RSOs). RSOs include a range of public, quasi-public, private for-profit, and private nonprofit organizations that seek to engage or are engaged by school districts in systemic reform efforts. The study…

This guide is the second of three documents that make up a Professional Development Package for Educational Systems Design. The intended audience for this guide is a leadership group empowered to provide leadership, policy direction, and support for a design effort. This group may consist of the educational leadership in a community in cooperation…

This facilitator's guide was developed to assist trainers in delivering early childhood teacher workshops on strategies for addressing challenging child behaviors in early care and education settings in Canada. Introductory remarks delineate principles of adult education and principles of participation, suggest ways to promote the workshops, and…