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Deliberate Excellence
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Deliberate Excellence
Three Fundamental Strategies That Drive Educational Leadership

First Edition
  • S. Dallas Dance - President & CEO, The DDance Group; former Superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools

Foreword by Rod Paige



January 2018 | 160 pages | Corwin

Leadership isn’t just a title

What could you do with a $1 billion budget if you had 100,000+ students and one of the largest school systems in America?  Imagining is his reality. Learn along from Dallas Dance as he shares the successful change efforts he employed to transform Baltimore Public Schools.  

Deliberate Excellence is a true story of success in a challenging school environment that delivers great insight and inspiration. Readers will be moved and changed by three key success principles:

  • Establishing equity over equality by providing exactly what individuals need to be successful
  • Understanding change, how it happens, and what one needs to make it so
  • Knowing people deeply and how that leads to accomplishment and organizational change  

Be inspired by this passion for progress and the drive to maximize latent potential in all people.

"For 20 years, Dr. Dallas Dance has been an inspiration to me as a leader. He understands that true leaders inspire others to lead, galvanize their audience, and provide practical applications to difficult situations. Regardless of the political climate, Dr. Dance has always kept students first. After reading Deliberate Excellence, educators will take away successful strategies to increase student achievement."
Dr. John B. Gordon III, Chief of Schools
Chesterfield County Public Schools, Chesterfield, VA

"Leaders are desperate for books that offer techniques from educational leaders who still practice and hone their craft from the trenches and a proven record of success. Dallas Dance offers educational leaders a unique, candid, and welcome perspective."
LaQuita Outlaw, Principal – Grades 6-8
Bay Shore Middle School, Bay Shore, NY

 


 
Foreword
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
INTRODUCTION
 
Success Principle 1
 
LEADING FOR EQUITY: FOCUSING ON EACH CHILD, EVERY DAY
Know What Your Values Are

 
Demonstrate a Strong Appreciation for People

 
Addressing Equity Takes Leadership

 
Addressing Equity Will Guarantee Resistance

 
Equity Is the Work, Not an “Add-on” to the Work

 
Students Want Us to Focus on Equity, Not Equality

 
 
Success Principle 2
 
LEADING THE CHANGE: IMPLEMENTING SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES
Understand the History of the Organization

 
Acknowledge the Current State of the Organization

 
Understand the “Players” Within the Organization

 
Ensure People Understand What Change Means

 
Have an Effective Strategy to Implement Change

 
Success Principle 3

 
LEADING THROUGH COMMUNICATION: TELLING YOUR OWN STORY

 
Communicate Openly, Honestly, and in a Timely Manner

 
Communicate Your Story, or Someone Else Will!

 
Organize Your Communication Efforts

 
Individualize Your Communications

 
Use Every Available Resource to Communicate

 
View Communication as a Two-Way Street

 
Have an Open-Door Policy

 
 
CONCLUSION
 
Avoiding Pitfalls
Mistake 1: Knowing All the Answers

 
Mistake 2: Bashing the Previous Leadership

 
Mistake 3: Speaking Before You Think

 
 
Index

"Deliberate Excellence captures the essence of why successful leaders grow people and organizations:  it’s all about relationships."

Tanna Nicely, Principal
South Knoxville Elementary, Knoxville, TN

This book is a must-read for leaders and future leaders who want to avoid the pitfalls that can derail success.  Through the story of his rise as a successful leader, Dallas Dance provides invaluable principles for successfully leading and implementing change.  He also exemplifies a growth-minded perspective to stakeholders who are not quite ready for change by encouraging them to remember that 'no' really means, 'not yet.'"

Kathy Rhodes, Principal
Hinton Elementary, Hinton, IA

"Leaders are desperate for books that offer techniques from educational leaders who still practice and hone their craft from the trenches and a proven record of success. Dallas Dance offers educational leaders a unique, candid, and welcome perspective."

LaQuita Outlaw, Principal – Grades 6-8
Bay Shore Middle School, Bay Shore, NY

"Deliberate Excellence is a thoroughly enjoyable personal account about affecting change by being committed and engaged in the institution you presently serve . . . The author makes it clear that caring for the work opens up opportunities for advancement that allow the individual to affect change in more meaningful ways.  It should also be required reading for all principals, assistant principals, and CEOs."

Veronica Rodriguez, Special Education Coordinator
Chester W. Nimitz Middle School, Huntington Park, CA

"Dynamic leadership matters! Dr. Dance’s remarkable journey has inspired him to develop a blueprint for educational leadership excellence. Fighting for equitable practices and outcomes for all children is clearly his passion. Every administrator or aspiring leader will flourish if these principles are put into action!"

Cheryl R. Brooks, Principal
Berkshire Elementary School, Baltimore, MD

"I wish I had read “Deliberate Excellence” 20 years ago!  Providing a roadmap for leaders wishing to affect significant change, Dallas Dance’s book balances theory with practical experiences.  Dr. Dance outlines his bold and successful tactics to address the complex equity issues that plague school districts. His strategic approach to communications is a model for all school administrators."

Dr. Luvelle Brown, Superintendent
Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, NY

"For 20 years, Dr. Dallas Dance has been an inspiration to me as a leader. He understands that true leaders inspire others to lead, galvanize their audience, and provide practical applications to difficult situations. Regardless of the political climate, Dr. Dance has always kept students first. After reading Deliberate Excellence, educators will take away successful strategies to increase student achievement."

Dr. John B. Gordon III, Chief of Schools
Chesterfield County Public Schools, Chesterfield, VA

"Deliberate Excellence is a book written for all leaders. Dr. Dallas Dance speaks from real life experiences that are relatable and from the heart.  His leadership steps have helped him develop into one of the most accomplished administrative leaders in the country.  The three specific strategies outlined in this book will transform your leadership skills and help you stay on track to ensure success."

Susan Monaghan, Principal
Westbury High School, Houston, TX

"As an educational leader with 30 years’ experience, I've read many books on leadership. Dr. Dance's book is a must-read for all educators. By sharing real stories, he keeps the focus on equity, change management, and communication. Deliberate Excellence is an insightful read from the heart of a leader on the fundamental strategies that should drive educational leaders."

Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora, Superintendent of Schools
Tomball ISD, Tomball, TX

"In education today, the question is not whether or not we must embrace and lead for change—the question is how we do that in a way that changes lives and secures a real future for our students.  In Deliberate excellence, we are given a resource that answers this question for every leader seeking to understand what it takes to move his or her district forward. Dr. Dance makes an inspiring case for why we should be doing this work and the important role our leadership has to play in the lives of our children and our communities.  Fortunately for us, he draws on his experiences as a model leader to create a guidebook filled with compelling anecdotes and positive advice that can be used right away."

Dr. Aaron C. Spence, Superintendent
Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Virginia Beach, VA
Key features
  • The focus on the 3 Key Principles makes the message concise, clear, and ready to implement.
  • Many, many tips, stories, and examples show readers that the lessons can be learned and accomplished.
  • Dallas Dance writes realistically about what works and what does not. See the Conclusion – Avoiding Pitfalls.
  • Select a Purchasing Option


    eBook
    ISBN: 9781506392004

    Paperback
    ISBN: 9781506392011
    $28.95

    This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge, the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.