Transforming Schools and Systems Using Assessment: A Practical Guide

Research shows that the single most powerful solution to improving education today is quality assessment for learning. Using stories and samples, the authors illustrate the assessment processes that enable leaders to successfully work toward school transformation and identify trouble before it happens. Also featured are practical ideas and tools to support every leader and leadership team to problem solve along the way.

Using the principles of assessment for learning, you will explore:

Systemic focus and alignment
- Professional development
- Staff and student resistance
- Parents and community
- Quality feedback
- Standards-based reporting

Anne Davies, PhD, is an author, a consultant, and a researcher. With more than 30 years of experience in education, Dr. Davies has worked in a variety of positions, including classroom teacher, school district coordinator, department of education planner, school administrator, and university instructor. A world-renowned keynote presenter, her genuine care and commitment to support educators and their important work make her an approachable and insightful specialist.

Educators at every grade level throughout Canada, the United States, and other countries have benefited from the high-touch support Dr. Davies provides during professional development events and multiyear projects. She has worked with the University of Southern Maine; University of Victoria, Victoria, BC; University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK; McGill University, Montreal, QC; Lewis and Clark College, Portland, Oregon; and the University of New England, Portland, Maine.

Dr. Davies is author/coauthor of more than 30 books and resources, including the Knowing What Counts series and the award-winning two-book set, Classroom Assessment and The Facilitator s Guide to Classroom Assessment K-12. One of her most recent projects is the popular multimedia resource kit Workshop-in-a-Box. She has written book chapters and articles for educational journals and publications worldwide.

Dr. Davies earned a doctorate in education from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.

Sandra Herbst is a noted system leader, author, speaker, and consultant. An experienced educator, she has worked in both elementary and secondary schools and is a former classroom and specialty teacher, school administrator, program consultant, and, for the past several years, an assistant superintendent of a large urban school district. Sandra is a past president of the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents and Manitoba ASCD.

She engages her audiences by connecting people to practical strategies and approaches and by building on the expertise and passion that lies within each of us. Sandra shares stories and examples drawn from her deep understanding of leadership and how schools and systems learn. She is coauthor of books on assessment, including the Leaders Series.

Beth Parrott Reynolds, PhD, is a school improvement specialist. She is also a former English teacher, high school principal, and assistant superintendent with more than 30 years of experience in leading schools and districts to develop the internal capacity needed to drive change for student and organizational success.

A company president and performance consultant, Dr. Parrott Reynolds is also a speaker who is often asked to lead deep work with schools and districts in the areas of standards, assessment, instruction, and grading. She is coauthor of Leading the Way to Making Classroom Assessment Work and Transforming Barriers to Assessment for Learning.