Teachers' Guide to School Turnarounds

Most guides on the process of turning around low-performing schools typically are addressed to principals and superintendents. Teachers, however, are the individuals expected to conduct the "heavy lifting" of school improvement. Teachers' Guide to School Turnarounds is the first book on the subject written expressly for teachers. It provides a step-by-step introduction to the process of raising student achievement, beginning with diagnosing the causes of low performance and extending beyond the first year of improvement to the factors involved in sustaining high performance.

Based on the authors' experiences with the School Turnaround Specialist Program as well as a review of research on successful school improvement projects, the book contains a wealth of tips and warnings for those engaged in, or anticipating being engaged in, the process of turning around a low-performing school.

Daniel L. Duke has been a high school teacher, school administrator, staff development director, researcher, and consultant. He is currently a professor at the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education.

Pamela D. Tucker is a former special education teacher and school administrator and currently is an associate professor in the Department of Leadership, Foundations, and Policy at the University of Virginia.

Michael J. Salmonowicz is a doctoral student in administration and supervision at the University of Virginia. As a Teach for America corps member, he taught high school English in Chicago Public Schools from 2001 to 2003.

Melissa K. Levy is a doctoral student in social foundations at the University of Virginia. She previously served as a middle school band director.

Stephen Saunders is a veteran high school foreign language teacher and award-winning soccer coach. Currently he is completing his doctoral degree in educational leadership at the University of Virginia.