In this 5-minute innovation video, John Schnur shares the thinking behind his organization's award-winning approach. In short, the key is great school leadership. "We've never seen a low-performing school turnaround without a great principal," says Schnur.
How do you fix a dysfunctional school? It starts from the top, with strategies for training and mentoring great leaders, and preparing them for the daunting challenge of running a troubled public school.
Often times in low-performing schools, there are problemss with the staff, the school council and even parent groups that can work as obstacles to a new principal. A culture of despair and acceptance of poor results becomes the norm. But Schnur knows that all this can be changed because he's seen it happen. "A great principal finds a way to focus relentlessly on results," says Schnur. "That means attracting and retaining great teachers, creating a culture of high expectations and establishing accountability for results."
The lessons for revitalizing struggling schools apply to any public agency. Without a leader well prepared for the challenge, the results can be disappointing, but a strong leader can make a tremendous impact.
