Unshakable Leadership

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:

• Planning and preparation.
• High-quality teaching and coaching.
• Creating and sustaining an effective school culture.
• 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.

Michael Sonbert is a bestselling author, speaker, and educator. He is the founder and CEO of Skyrocket Education and Rebel Culture and the coauthor of Unshakable Leadership: 21 Strategies for Success in Urban Schools and Beyond. Sonbert has turned his passion for educational reform into a global call to action for educational and corporate leadership transformation. He’s dedicated the past 20 years to coaching, partnering with, and researching leaders from public schools around the globe to Fortune 500 companies. He's committed to helping leaders grow thriving, impactful, and purposeful organizations.

Dr. M. Antonio Vance is an educator, organizational leader, and scholar with more than 15 years of experience strengthening schools and school systems in the United States and internationally. He currently serves as Chief Schools Officer at Skyrocket Education, where he partners with district and charter leaders to drive instructional improvement, develop leadership capacity, and design systems that advance equity and student success. Vance is the coauthor of Unshakable Leadership: 21 Strategies for Success in Urban Schools and Beyond.