This is a highly valuable book for professional educators. Empowered teams have been shown to have a tremendous impact on performance in the private sector. The author shows how many of these same principles can be used to transform our views of education. This book contains not only a solid foundation, but is full of practical tips.
Richard S. Wellins, author of Empowered Teams and senior vice president of programs and marketing at Development Dimensions International (DDI) Mary Ann Smialek's book is an important tool in education reform. There is a lot of talk about turning education into a profession in which teams work together to change organizational practice. Smialek's book provides a clear set of process suggestions for turning talk about teamwork into real, effective, productive collaboration.
Alan Lesgold Ph.D., dean of the University of Pittsburgh's School of Education As director of a doctoral program in educational leadership, I agree with two truths promoted by Mary Ann Smialek: you have what it takes to initiate teams in your organization and no one is going to do it for you. What is often needed, however, is the knowledge of how to do it. Smialek provides that in a succinct and interesting way—basing it in both research and practice.
Dr. Helen C. Sobehart, director of the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program for Educational Leaders and the Leadership Institute, Dusquesne University