{"product_id":"leading-with-urgency_9780807783894","title":"Leading With Urgency","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTransform struggling schools into thriving learning environments with this practical guide\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003ein \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eWestEd’s VITAL Education Series\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLeading With Urgency\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cb\u003eintroduces a practical, field-tested framework\u003c\/b\u003e designed to help K–12 principals navigate the complex challenges of leading meaningful school change efforts. While especially relevant for schools facing persistent performance gaps, the framework provides valuable guidance for any leader seeking to accelerate improvement, strengthen instructional practices, and foster lasting success for students and communities.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe author describes five essential levers—building relational trust and clarity, treating time as a resource, leading instruction, surfacing and shifting mental models, and implementing with purpose and staged support—that \u003cb\u003eempower leaders to focus their efforts where they matter most\u003c\/b\u003e. Each lever is supported by research, actionable tools, and real-world case studies that illuminate how urgent, intentional leadership can lead to lasting change.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWritten with both empathy and conviction, \u003ci\u003eLeading With Urgency\u003c\/i\u003e affirms that while the challenges of school improvement are complex, \u003cb\u003ethe path forward is clear and attainable\u003c\/b\u003e. More than a guidebook, this is a call to action for leaders who refuse to settle for incremental progress and are determined to make a meaningful difference for students, teachers, and communities.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Features:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Practical, Field-Tested Framework:\u003c\/b\u003e Unlike theory-heavy texts, this book introduces actionable levers grounded in real school contexts, offering principals concrete strategies they can immediately apply to drive meaningful change.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eRelevant Across All School Contexts:\u003c\/b\u003e While deeply valuable for leaders in schools facing persistent performance gaps, the five levers provide universal guidance for any principal leading school transformation—whether urban, rural, tribal, or suburban.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBlends Research With Real-World Application:\u003c\/b\u003e Each lever is supported by the latest research in school improvement and leadership, paired with vivid case studies and authentic examples from schools nationwide, making the work both evidence-based and relatable.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eUser-Friendly Tools for Leaders:\u003c\/b\u003e The book includes principal action tools, reflection questions, and implementation resources that are easy to use, enabling leaders to translate big ideas into practical daily steps.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFocus on Lasting, Sustainable Change:\u003c\/b\u003e Rather than offering “quick fixes,” \u003ci\u003ethis guide\u003c\/i\u003e emphasizes building systems of trust, clarity, and capacity, equipping leaders to create improvements that endure beyond individual initiatives or leadership transitions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003ePart of the VITAL Education Series:\u003c\/b\u003e Builds on the success of WestEd’s \u003ci\u003eVITAL Collaboration\u003c\/i\u003e to help educators visibly improve teaching and learning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Joseph G. Sassone","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44337403560038,"sku":"9780807783894","price":117.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0650\/4051\/5174\/files\/9780807783894.jpg?v=1777049284","url":"https:\/\/www.tcpress.com\/products\/leading-with-urgency_9780807783894","provider":"Teachers College Press","version":"1.0","type":"link"}