Learning First!: A School Leader's Guide to Closing Achievement Gaps

Table of CasesTable of ToolsPrefacePart I. Introduction1. The Case for Learning First2. The Road Map for Learning FirstPart II. Socio-Cognitive Leadership3. Setting Direction and Building Commitment4. Evidence-Based Plan, Value-Added Results, and Reflection for Continuous ImprovementsPart III. The Dimensions of Leadership for Learning5. Advancing Equity and Excellence in Student Learning6. Developing Teacher Capacity7. Managing and Aligning Resources8. Engaging CommunityPart IV. Levers of Change9. The Principal's Role10. The District RoleResource A. Socio-Cognitive Leadership RubricsResource B. Socio-Cognitive Leadership Friendly Observer Site Visit ProtocolReferencesIndex

Carolyn Kelley is a professor of educational leadership and policy analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is an internationally recognized scholar in teacher compensation policy whose research focuses on the preparation and professional development of school leaders, and teacher evaluation and compensation as elements of strategic human resource management in schools. Her current research attempts to build a shared conception of mastery in educational leadership by examining the practices of principals who have closed achievement gaps and significantly improved learning for all students. Through this work, she seeks to build formative assessment tools and intervention strategies to improve leadership practice in schools. Kelley earned her PhD from Stanford University (1993) and conducted research with Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE) from 1989 to 2002. Her publications include over 30 journal articles, book chapters, and research reports, and she is the coauthor of two books: Learning First! A School Leader's Field Guide to Closing Achievement Gaps (with James J. Shaw, Corwin Press, 2009), and Paying Teachers for What they Know and Do: New and Smarter Compensation Strategies to Improve Schools (with Allan Odden, Corwin Press, 1997 and 2001). She has provided consulting services to numerous states, school districts, and policy and practitioner organizations, including national and state teacher unions.

"In a time when the spotlight is on schools and the achievement of subgroups of students, educators need to read this book and reflect on the guiding questions. Then we need to take the challenge and do what we know is right so we are doubling student performance and closing achievement gaps."