Unshakable Leadership: 21 Strategies for Success in Urban Schools and Beyond
Unshakable leaders share a willingness to be better than they once were, ruffle feathers for the good of students, say the tough things that need to be said, and hold adults accountable.
Unlock the potential of your school and improve student outcomes with Unshakable Leadership. This fast-paced and accessible guide is rooted in real-world examples from challenging urban school environments and provides practical guidance that you can implement immediately in any location to improve your performance as a leader, the effectiveness of your teachers, and the success of your students.
Veteran educators Michael Sonbert and M. Antonio Vance cut through the jargon to deliver 21 straightforward strategies that K–12 school leaders can use to strengthen and solidify the following:
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Planning and preparation.
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High-quality teaching and coaching.
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Creating and sustaining an effective school culture.
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The necessary administrative procedures to bring it all to life.
The authors describe why each strategy matters and share best practices for planning how to use it, rolling it out, and maintaining it, along with possible pitfalls.
Whether you're an urban school leader or simply a highly committed one, this book is an essential guide to becoming the kind of leader every school needs. Sonbert and Vance's proven strategies and expert insights will empower you to create lasting improvements in your school community and drive better learning experiences for the students you serve.
Table of contents
Part I. Planning and Preparation
Chapter 2. Define and Live School Values
Chapter 3. Clarify and Communicate Adult Expectations
Chapter 4. Define and Disseminate Roles and Responsibilities
Chapter 5. Exemplify Effective Communication
Part II. Teaching and Coaching
Chapter 6. Embrace and Model Explicit Instruction
Chapter 7. Engage in Instructional Coaching
Chapter 8. Collect and Share Data
Chapter 9. Practice Real-Time Coaching
Chapter 10. Design and Deliver Meaningful Practice
Chapter 11. Set and Track Coaching Goals
Part III. School Culture
Chapter 12. Ensure Universal Accountability
Chapter 13. Create and Communicate Your Culture Systems
Chapter 14. Define and Embody Culture Team Expectations
Chapter 15. Build Relationships
Part IV. Bringing It All to Life
Chapter 16. Design and Adhere to Calendars
Chapter 17. Build and Execute Schoolwide Routines
Chapter 18. Evaluate Teacher Performance
Chapter 19. Set Schoolwide Goals
Chapter 20. Manage Your Meetings
Chapter 21. Offer High-Impact Professional Development
Closing
Published: Jun 03, 2026
ISBN: 9781416634508
SKU: ASCD4508
Publisher: ASCD
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