The first time the author was responsible for planning a districtwide professional development day, DuFour secured a funny speaker, provided plenty of doughnuts, and made sure everyone could return to their classrooms in the afternoon. "The day was considered a huge success," he notes. "There was absolutely no evidence that the day…

In their first coauthored book, Dr. DuFour and Dr. Marzano have combined their passions to articulate how effective leaders foster continuous improvement at the district, school, and classroom levels. The book focuses on district leadership, principal leadership, and team leadership and addresses how individual teachers can be most effective in…

Details a strategy for district improvement that establishes discernible parameters and then provides each school with the autonomy to chart its own course and lists four steps toward team engagement. Also former Principal Rebecca Burnette DuFour discusses how the central office can best promote learning communities. (MLF)