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Nothing's Impossible: Leadership Lessons From Inside And Outside The Classroom (Paperback)

~ (Author) "If you've heard of me, it's probably because of the Frederick Douglass Academy, a special high school in New York's Harlem that I had the..." (more)
Key Phrases: chapter chair, honor school, clothing closet, New York City, Frederick Douglass Academy, Miss Williams (more...)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
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Nothing's Impossible: Leadership Lessons From Inside And Outside The Classroom + The Monroe Doctrine: An ABC Guide to What Great Bosses Do + Marva Collins' Way: Updated
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  • This item: Nothing's Impossible: Leadership Lessons From Inside And Outside The Classroom by Lorraine Monroe

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This self-described "maniac leader" has written a delightful guide to becoming boss, whether it be in business or your own life. In this case, Lorraine Monroe's line of work is public education--and she possesses some pretty impressive credentials. As founder and principal of Harlem's Frederick Douglass Academy, she turned a wreck of a school into an inner-city success story, raising it to a third-place ranking among 180 New York public schools for student achievement. But her down-home tome of inspirational lists, autobiographical anecdotes, and thoughts on leadership transcends the schoolyard. Many of her tenets, collectively called the "Monroe Doctrine," could apply to management in most any field.

Monroe pulls no punches in her passion, even when describing her own life. She takes issue with the best and worst teachers from her own education, and portrays her parents, particularly her father, as imperfect but inspiring individuals as part of a symbolic lesson about adopting the best traits of those who surround you. Written in a wholesome, conversational style, her sound-bite nuggets of advice come across like a collection of Mom's best words of wisdom. "Worthwhile work is rarely done from 9 to 5," she advises. "Avoid people who envy, complain and drain." Her one-woman pep rally ranks up there with Trump: The Art of the Deal and basketball coaching legend Pat Riley's The Winner Within as a recipe for success. --Jodi Mailander Farrell



Product Description

In 1991, Dr. Lorraine Monroe founded the Frederick Douglass Academy, a public school in Harlem, in the belief that caring instructors, a disciplined but creative environment, and a refusal to accept mediocrity could transform the lives of inner-city kids. Today the Academy is one of the finest schools of its kind in the country, sending graduates to leading colleges and universities. Monroe succeeded in her experiment by developing a unique leadership method through decades as a teacher and principal in some of America's toughest schools, which she calls the "Monroe Doctrine."

In this plainspoken book, Monroe describes her journey as an educator and the evolution of her understanding of leadership through pithy, memorable rules and observations. She offers spiritual and practical advice on how to create a great school or transform a troubled one - however formidable the obstacles. She also shares her own remarkable life story; one which demonstrates how the vicissitudes of life can become great opportunities for growth and achievement.

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Product Details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: PublicAffairs; 1st PublicAffairs ed edition (April 8, 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1891620207
  • ISBN-13: 978-1891620201
  • Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #426,202 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #19 in  Books > Nonfiction > Education > United States

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More About the Author

Lorraine Monroe
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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First Sentence:
If you've heard of me, it's probably because of the Frederick Douglass Academy, a special high school in New York's Harlem that I had the privilege of helping to found and run. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
chapter chair, honor school, clothing closet
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York City, Frederick Douglass Academy, Miss Williams, Day One, Peter Engel, Hunter College, Miss Katz, Miss White, Taft High School, Bank Street College, Board of Education, Livingston Street, Miss Aronoff, Labor Day, Nicholas Avenue, Father Divine, Ford Foundation, Miss Grunfeld, Superintendent Folchi, Central Harlem, Connect Four, Grand Concourse, Julius Caesar, Karole Turner-Stevens, Leonard Littwin
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This book cites 16 books:
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Nothing's Impossible: Leadership Lessons From Inside And Outside The Classroom
91% buy the item featured on this page:
Nothing's Impossible: Leadership Lessons From Inside And Outside The Classroom 4.6 out of 5 stars (11)
$10.17
Marva Collins' Way: Updated
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Marva Collins' Way: Updated 5.0 out of 5 stars (38)
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Ordinary Children, Extraordinary Teachers
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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
5 star:
 (8)
4 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Monroe Doctrine for success !, December 7, 2000
By Darren Burton "virtualbloodhound" (Ogden, Utah United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

I found about Dr. Lorraine Monroe on 60 minutes. She took one of the worst public schools in Harlem, New York and turned it around to the point that it is one of the top three public schools in New York and 96% of it's students are accepted into college. I believe that her insights and strategies can be used to improve any workplace or organization. Remember, she isn't some theorist - she actually has dramatic results in the real world -under some of the toughest odds imaginable!


She has some great strategies that can help anyone. Here is an example:

"I developed the habit of never asking my superiors at the Board of Education for permission to carry out any innovation or other "risky" venture. I felt that if I asked, they would usually say no. After all, they were cautious, conservative people, interested in keeping their present jobs or moving up within the heirarchy. Taking risks isn't a good way of accomplishing either goal.

.....My supervisor would come to the school for periodic visits, and I'd either tell him about our latest venture or let him see it for himself. I figured that it would be hard, even for a dyed-in-the-wool bureaucrat, to try to stop a program that was already running successfully. This approach worked like a charm; the supervisor was generally pleased to realise that the successful new program, whatever it was, had been started under his administration. As the saying goes. "Success has many parents." When something is working, people are always ready and eager to bless it and share the credit."

Some more of the Monroe Doctrine:

"I learned from Mr. Littwin that it's impossible to run any organization from behind a desk in an office. You've got to walk around, watch people work, schmooze with everyone, and make yourself visible. It's the only way to really know what's going on and to have a true impact on the operation."

Pick up this book to get some inspiration on how you can make a dramatic difference in your organization.

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Student's Praise, July 20, 1999
By "lawanda86" (Bronx, New York USA) - See all my reviews
Dr. Lorraine Monroe was my principal at the Frederick Douglass Academy. I was one of the students recruited from other Junior High schools to attend the Frederick Douglass Academy. I have read "Nothing's Impossible" and I enjoyed it. I love understanding the mind that developed FDA. I am one of the products of FDA. According to this book, Dr. Lorraine Monroe and her small band of teachers and faculty goal was to make sure that minorities from Harlem, Bronx, and Brooklyn were able to get into the colleges of their choice. We did just so. I am currently at New York University's Stern School of Business looking towards completing my masters and a career in business. Thank you Dr. Monroe for teaching me how to be a leader.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Leadership Lessons for All, January 20, 2000
By A Customer
This book is wonderful. Dr. Monroe inspires all readers to believe that all children are capable of excellence. The role of educators in our country are highly undervalued. Dr. Monroe reminds us that teaching is "holy work". Teachers have the ability to transform lives. The "Monroe Doctrine" is a standard that all schools should have in place. 5 stars for a book, not only directed toward educators, but directed toward all potential leaders. As a mother, I understand that I can lead my children to success.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book on Leadership
Dr. Monroe's book is part autobiographical, part anecdotal, and thoroughly a pleasure to read. She tells some of her personal background and how that has shaped her world view... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Bond Hsu

4.0 out of 5 stars Some good ideas, but two things are very offensive about Monroe
I am a public school teacher, and I read Nothing's Impossible because my principal attended a conference where she became enchanted with Monroe and her doctrines... Read more
Published on December 26, 2006 by Lisa Wangsgard

3.0 out of 5 stars only good for schools
Great woman and story and excellent for teachers and principals

I thought there would be a lot of good life lessons 'outside of the classroom' but found there weren't... Read more
Published on August 7, 2005 by Joy

5.0 out of 5 stars Leadership , the Key to School Change
Dr. Lorraine Monroe is a force to be reckoned with. Tenacious in all aspects, once she discovered who she was and what power she possessed as a leader, there was no turning back... Read more
Published on April 13, 2003 by bonnie

5.0 out of 5 stars The Enthusiasm Leaps from the Pages
Everyone should read this book. I just started it and I am already hooked. The energy and enthusiasm leaps from the pages and "kicks" you into action. Read more
Published on October 17, 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book to give as a gift -- buy multiple copies!
As an educator I found this book extremely helpful. It contains practical ideas for running effective schools where all children achieve. Read more
Published on October 25, 1998

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for educators!
Lorraine Monroe uses this book as a vehicle to uplift and energize anyone who works with children. Her commonsense and loving approach to education and school are inspiring to... Read more
Published on July 3, 1998

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent Woman with Dynamism to share
Nothing's Impossible by Lorraine Monroe is the finest book on the market today. This book should be required reading for all educators and persons who affect the lives of... Read more
Published on December 27, 1997

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