The Human Side of School Change: Reform, Resistance, and the Real-Life Problems of Innovation (Jossey-Bass Education Series) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "At a conference on school reform, the principal of an urban high school, unable to contain himself, burst out, "We've spent all morning discussing which..." (more)
Key Phrases: strategic biases, authentic leaders, multiple improvement, Tom Russell, Declaration of Independence, Joan Blackwell (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A unique, superb, and penetrating analysis of the human side of educational change. Evans knows the human realities of change and portrays them vividly in both individual and organizational terms. His discussion of hope and realism in the final chapter is a gem." (Michael Fullan, dean, Faculty of Education, University of Toronto)

"Evans certainly understands what gets in the way of real school change and what the simple, key elements are that can make it happen. No board member, superintendent, or school principal should make one more decision or host one more meeting without reading this book." (Judy Cunningham, principal, South Lake Middle School, Irvine, Calif.)

Evans has written a realistic yet hopeful book that sets a new standard for providing the leadership needed to implement school improvements. An engaging and much-needed update of the critical, but often overlooked, human side of change. (Thomas J. Sergiovanni, Lillian Radford Professor of Education and senior fellow, Center for Educational Leadership, Trinity University)

School leaders will find this book realistic about the difficulties of change, rich in practical advice about school improvement, and useful in showing how to transcend the limits of their own experience to practice effective leadership. (Thomas W. Payzant, superintendent, Boston Public Schools)

Product Description

In this insightful look at school reform, Robert Evans examines the real-life hurdles to implementing innovation and explains how the best-intended efforts can be stalled by educators who too often feel burdened and conflicted by the change process. He provides a new model of leadership along with practical management strategies for building a framework of cooperation between leaders of change and the people they depend upon to implement it.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (January 18, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787956112
• ISBN-13: 978-0787956110
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #148,009 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a niity-gritty but research-based primer on change., June 9, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Human Side of School Change: Reform, Resistance, and the Real-Life Problems of Innovation (Jossey Bass Education Series) (Hardcover)

This is a very practical yet inspiring book on the management of change in schools. Evans really understands the dynamics of schools and brings the best of the relevant research to guide the reader through the minefield of change management particularly with veteran faculty members.

I am a high school principal in a 3500 student school and wish that I had read the book two years ago (when it came out) because I can now more clearly see what we could have done to introduce and nurture our comprehensive school improvement plan in a less conflictual fashion. Evans does not shy away from the hard choices and tough decisions that must be made when a school commits itself to introducing innovations. Conflict and confusion are normal and to be expected. However, he provides some very good advice on how leaders should respond to encourage more and more teachers to join the improvement program.

This is a highly readable book which I recommend to all school leaders who are interested in authentic school improvement that actually "sticks" and improves student achievement.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent review of change and leadership, May 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Human Side of School Change: Reform, Resistance, and the Real-Life Problems of Innovation (Jossey Bass Education Series) (Hardcover)

A staggeringly good book.Easily the best analysis of the change process in education that I've read-and I've 'force-read' a few. Evans' adopts a holistic approach concentrating on why real innovation is so difficult to achieve successfully. However,there is much sage advice and many cogent observations that are enormously thought-provoking. Although ostensibly about change it is also a marvellous examination of leadership,how educational institutions function and how public policy should be implemented.This is an excellent book in every respect.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars group behavioral changes in public school setting, July 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Human Side of School Change: Reform, Resistance, and the Real-Life Problems of Innovation (Jossey Bass Education Series) (Hardcover)

Dr. Evans Book is an excellent guide to change making in established organizations; where the carrot and the whip cannot be applied. The main contribution, after an extended anthropological analysis of group dynamics in defined institutional settings, is the postulation about authentic leadership as a catalyst for making changes. This requires the nurturing of positives among teachers. Evans gives examples of situations of conflict and ways to resolve them.