Five Stars (Paperback)

Schools thrive when people feel valued. Author Nathaniel Provencio has experienced this firsthand. In his book, he shows educators how to build a five-star culture grounded in trust, connection, and service. Through powerful stories and practical leadership guidance, this book helps strengthen school culture and belonging for staff, students, and families. Learn how small, intentional shifts create lasting impact across the school community.

• Understand emotional intelligence and its impact on school culture, relationships, and trust
• Engage students, staff, and families in meaningful ways that foster connection and shared ownership
• Create a culture of service where students, staff, and families feel valued and supported
• Align leadership practices and school systems with the mission, vision, and values of the school
• Feel confident navigating conflict, difficult conversations, and emotionally charged situations

Contents:
Introduction: Searching for Five-Star Excellence
Chapter 1: Follow a Path to a Five-Star School
Chapter 2: Elevate Your Awareness
Chapter 3: Excite Their Experience
Chapter 4: Honor Your People
Chapter 5: Commit to Cohesion
Chapter 6: Serve the Physical Spaces
Chapter 7: Seek the Feedback
Chapter 8: De-Escalate With Dignity
Chapter 9: Amplify the Empowerment
Epilogue: Putting It All Together
References and Resources
Index

Nathaniel Provencio, MEd, is an educator, author, TEDx speaker, and leadership coach with more than 25 years of experience in public education. A former school principal in Virginia, he led collaborative school-improvement efforts that resulted in regional and national recognition, including the Prince William County Public Schools Principal of the Year award, the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals National Distinguished Principal award, the Washington Post Principal of the Year, and the DuFour Award.
Provencio is the author of Community Connections and Your PLC at Work®: A Guide to Engaging Families and presents in the United States on professional learning communities, family engagement, school leadership, and collaborative cultures focused on student learning. He is also the host of the U.S. leadership podcast The Community Connection, where he engages educators in conversations about leadership, culture, and meaningful collaboration.
Provencio earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of North Alabama and a master’s degree in educational leadership from George Mason University, where he was recognized as the 2007 Alumnus of the Year.