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Renegade Leadership
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Renegade Leadership
Creating Innovative Schools for Digital-Age Students

  • Brad R. Gustafson - Greenwood Elementary School (Principal), Adjusting Course, LLC (Owner)

Foreword by George Couros

Additional resources:


August 2016 | 192 pages | Corwin

Get ready to be a renegade with this how-to leadership guide.

We’re all looking for the next best app and what’s just beyond the tech horizon. But why don’t we have the same progressive appetite for pedagogy that we have for technology? Renegade leadership may just be the answer we’ve been searching for.

Merging best practice with innovation, renegade leadership demands a call to action in the digital age by creating student-centered instructional leadership that connects equity, culture, and technology. After reading this book, you will learn how to:

  • Apply transformational tenets of connected pedagogy to your work
  • Increase your leadership capacity in curriculum, instruction, cultural proficiency, and school improvement
  • Lead staff meetings, plan personalized professional development, and improve student learning through more responsive teaching practices

Using the latest research, vignettes from educational leaders, and profiles of inspiring renegades, this book challenges you to lead in the digital age. The only real question is…are you ready to become a renegade?

Don’t miss the free podcasts, flipped book study, and more on the Renegade Leadership website.

"Renegade Leadership is so crucial to the work that we do in education.  Why can’t schools be the place that other organizations look to for innovation?"
George Couros, Innovative teaching, learning, and leadership consultant  and Author of The Innovator’s Mindset; Alberta, Canada

"Dr. Brad Gustafson provides invigorating, concrete examples of strategic thinking and skills for educational leaders to fill the vacuum that exists in many educational settings. Gustafson asserts that leadership and change in education are irrevocably intertwined."
Jon Corippo, Director of Academic Innovation, CUE

"Renegade Leadership demonstrates what student-centered schools look like in the digital age. When we get relationships and pedagogy right, we can transform the very nature of learning. This is a book our students desperately need us all to read."
Erin Klein, Scholastic Top Teacher and Michigan Teacher of the Year


 
LIST OF FIGURES
 
FOREWORD
 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 
INTRODUCTION: RENEGADES NEEDED
What Is Renegade Leadership?

 
Why Renegade Leadership?

 
The Renegade CODE

 
Special Features

 
Outcomes

 
 
CHAPTER 1. RENEGADE LEADERSHIP DEFINED
Renegade Leadership Defined

 
Epic Fail: Neglecting to Acknowledge Standard Work

 
The Code of the West

 
The Renegade CODE

 
Best Practice and Innovation

 
The Renegade Leadership Difference

 
Equity in Action

 
Instructional Leadership in Action

 
What Renegade Leadership Is Not

 
Real-Life Renegade: Atul Gawande

 
What Are We Saying “Yes” To?

 
Renegade Leadership Scale Directions

 
Double Down on Self-Reflection

 
 
CHAPTER 2. RELATIONSHIPS AND CULTURE
Relationships and Connectedness

 
Real-Life Renegade: Lucy Stone

 
Understanding School Culture

 
The Science of Accelerated Change

 
Starting a New Leadership Position

 
Equity in Action

 
Renegade Profile: Sarah Thomas

 
Traditions Perpetuate Mindsets

 
Putting People First

 
How to “Flip” Your Open House

 
Epic Fail: Putting Paperwork Before People

 
How to Reprioritize Relationships Through Relational Rounds

 
Best Practice and Innovation

 
Instructional Leadership in Action

 
Renegade Research

 
Double Down on School Culture

 
 
CHAPTER 3. THE RENEGADE CODE
The Renegade CODE

 
The Renegade CODE in Action

 
Epic Fail: Talking Technology Without the Mention of Pedagogy

 
Best Practice and Innovation

 
Inherently Connected

 
Understanding the Status Quo

 
Understanding State Standards

 
Real-Life Renegade: Jackson Pollock

 
Where Pedagogy Meets Innovation

 
Renegade Research

 
Modeling the Renegade CODE

 
Creating Culture

 
Renegade Profile: Adam Welcome

 
How to Practice the Renegade CODE

 
Double Down on Modeling Connected Learning

 
 
CHAPTER 4. COLLABORATION FOR DIGITAL-AGE STUDENTS
Collaboration

 
Real-Life Renegade: Rosa Parks

 
Modeling the Renegade CODE

 
Creating Student Wins

 
Creating Culture

 
How to Start a Collaborative Podcast

 
Parent Partnerships

 
Digital-Age Communications

 
Renegade Profile: Jen Hegna

 
Understanding the Status Quo

 
Fearless Collaboration

 
Great Minds Think Differently

 
Passport to Passion

 
Equity in Action

 
Trickle-Down Collaboration

 
Instructional Leadership in Action

 
Double Down on Collaboration

 
 
CHAPTER 5. OWNERSHIP: EMPOWERING DIGITAL-AGE STUDENTS
Ownership

 
Real-Life Renegade: Patsy Sherman

 
Creating Culture

 
Epic Fail: Underestimating What Kids Are Capable Of

 
Students as Stakeholders

 
Renegade Profile: Jennie Magiera

 
Amplify Student Voice

 
Potential Pitfalls

 
Creating Student Wins

 
How to Bring Student Ownership to Board Meetings

 
The Renegade Leadership Difference

 
True Learner Empowerment

 
Traditions Perpetuate Mindsets

 
Double Down on Student Ownership

 
 
CHAPTER 6. DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY FOR DIGITAL-AGE STUDENTS
Digital Connectivity

 
Real-Life Renegade: Ole Kirk Christiansen

 
Classrooms as Mirrors

 
Deeper Learning Through Flipped Instruction

 
Consider the Positives

 
How to Live-Stream a School Event

 
Transparency Transforms Learning

 
Relationships and Connectedness

 
Potential Pitfalls

 
Parent Partnerships

 
THINK

 
Social Media Scaffolding

 
Equity in Action

 
Renegade Profile: Daisy Dyer Duerr

 
Creating a Culture

 
How to Create a Culture of Connectedness Using a School Hashtag

 
Where Pedagogy Meets Innovation

 
Double Down on Digital Connectivity

 
 
CHAPTER 7. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IS DEEPER LEARNING
Experiential Learning

 
Real-Life Renegade: Noah Webster

 
Relationships and Connectedness

 
Understanding State Standards

 
Best Practice and Innovation

 
How to Facilitate Experiential Learning With Drone Technology

 
Where Pedagogy Meets Innovation

 
Creating Student Wins

 
Instructional Leadership in Action

 
Creating a Culture

 
Modeling the Renegade CODE

 
Relationships Are the Experience

 
Renegade Profile: Sandy Otto

 
Double Down on the Learning Experience

 
 
CHAPTER 8. INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP FOR THE DIGITAL AGE
Improving Practice

 
Real-Life Renegade: Dick Fosbury

 
Instructional Leadership in Action

 
Renegade Profile: Jill Johnson

 
Best Practice and Innovation

 
Improving Practice Through Conversation

 
Equity in Action

 
Epic Fail: Being Unprepared to Respond to Culturally Insensitive Comments

 
Confronting Racism Through Conversation

 
How to Hold a Culturally Responsive Conversation

 
Creating Culture

 
True Learner Empowerment

 
How to Bring MakerSpace Learning to Your School

 
How to Fund a MakerSpace

 
Transforming Learning Spaces

 
Improving Practice Through Renegade Leadership

 
Double Down on Improving Practice

 
 
CHAPTER 9. PERSONALIZED PD TO EMPOWER EDUCATORS
Microcredentialing and Digital Badges

 
Real-Life Renegade: Dave Grohl

 
Amplify Student Voice

 
True Learner Empowerment

 
Renegade Profile: Sheilah Jefferson-Isaac

 
How to Create Breakout Sessions for Staff PD

 
Instructional Leadership in Action

 
Creating Culture

 
Modeling the Renegade CODE

 
Renegade Profile: Todd Nesloney

 
Renegade Research

 
How to Cultivate Connected PD

 
How to Organize an Edcamp

 
Bring the Edcamp Experience to Your Staff

 
Creating Student Wins

 
Putting People First

 
Best Practice and Innovation

 
Epic Fail: Undercommunicating Change

 
Double Down on PD

 
 
CHAPTER 10. ACTIVATE YOUR RENEGADE LEADERSHIP
Six Subtle Shifts

 
Subtle Shift 1: Help Mentor Teachers

 
Double Down on Mentoring

 
Subtle Shift 2: Make Our Own Learning Visible

 
Renegade Profile: Jon Corippo

 
Double Down on Learning

 
Subtle Shift 3: Celebrate and Support New Teachers

 
Renegade Profile: Jimmy Casas

 
Double Down on Support

 
Subtle Shift 4: Prioritize 10 Percent–Type Conversations

 
Double Down on 10 Percent–Type Conversations

 
Subtle Shift 5: Revitalize Hiring Practices

 
Double Down on Hiring

 
Subtle Shift 6: Focus on a Pedagogy That Amplifies Learning

 
Double Down on Focus

 
Call to Action

 
 
RESOURCES
 
REFERENCES
 
INDEX

Supplements

It is important that we start to think differently about leadership.  Renegade Leadership is so crucial to the work that we do in education.  If we do change right, schools can be a place where we are not just trying to catch up to the innovation around us, but we can be leading it for the entire world.  Think about it . . . why can’t schools be the place that other organizations look to for innovation?

George Couros
Innovative teaching, learning, and leadership consultant and Author of The Innovator’s Mindset

"Renegade Leadership is a gold mine of inspiring stories, practical ideas and authentic examples of school transformation. It's a book that all educators should read, as we can all be leaders in improving schools no matter what our title or position." 

Jennie Magiera, Author of Courageous Edventures

"Renegade Leadership demonstrates what student-centered schools look like in the digital age. When we get relationships and pedagogy right, we can transform the very nature of learning. The vulnerability of Brad Gustafson's open sharing combined with his practical advice make this an incredible classroom resource. This is a book our students desperately need us all to read."

Erin Klein, Scholastic Top Teacher and Michigan Teacher of the Year

"WOW! Renegade Leadership is loaded with great ideas that any educator could adapt in their own space. I particularly loved the concrete examples of innovation happening in Brad’s school; from the drone challenges, and community service group, to the live-streaming of events so students with sensory issues can join from their classrooms. This book offers a glimpse into the future of best practice. The pedagogy is presented by a practitioner who understands the importance of purpose and higher-level learning. I am so inspired by this text and cannot wait to try some of the ideas in our own district. This is a MUST READ for all educators and especially educational leaders!"

Tony Sinanis, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and Author

In Renegade Leadership, Dr. Brad Gustafson provides invigorating, concrete examples of strategic thinking and skills for educational leaders to fill the vacuum that exists in many educational settings. Gustafson asserts that leadership and change in education are irrevocably intertwined. Renegade Leadership is there for everyone to partake - you just have to decide to commit.

Jon Corippo
Director of Academic Innovation, CUE

"Dr. Brad Gustafson’s compendium of workable ideas will provide school leaders with guidance and the best PD they will have had for a long time. Readers will be moved by his contagious enthusiasm as he shares the great ideas that worked in his school."

Neil MacNeill, Head Master
Ellenbrook Independent Primary School

"A great combination of discussion on pedagogy, professional learning, digital age instructional leadership, culture, and relationships – this book provides so many opportunities for reflection as well as turnkey strategies that will impact the cultures of our schools. The power of the instructional leader is captured in inspiring ways; I found myself wanting to put this in the hands of all my principals for immediate use in their buildings."

Rich Hall, Director of Elementary Education
Henrico County Public Schools

"The concept of renegade leadership is an idea whose time has come in an age of educational volatility and insecurity."

John Robinson, High School Principal
Newton-Conover City Schools

"Engaging, sincere. Creative ideas are presented within every chapter as well as rich possibilities for innovating student and staff learning . . . This text contains content with the potency of a time machine many school leaders dream of having:  take me to relevant, simple yet profound ideas to bring instruction and curriculum at my  school into the new realm of learning to prepare students for their world."

Virginia E. Kelsen, Executive Director, College and Careers
Chaffey Joint Union High School District

“Be prepared to be inspired! I’m a huge fan of Brad Gustafson because of the energy and passion he puts into his leadership. In Renegade Leadership: Creating Innovative Schools for Digital-Age Students, readers will feel that energy and passion in each and every page. Gustafson offers a step-by-step how to guide for school leaders. Read, learn and innovate!”

Peter DeWitt, Author and Consultant

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