A comprehensive analysis of the astonishing changes that elevated the Chicago public school system from one of the worst in the nation to one of the most improved. How a City Learned to Improve Its Schools tells the story of the extraordinary thirty-year school reform effort that changed the landscape of public education in Chicago. Acclaimed educational researcher Anthony S. Bryk joins five coauthors directly involved in Chicago’s education reform efforts, Sharon Greenberg, Albert Bertani, Penny Sebring, Steven E. Tozer, and Timothy Knowles, to illuminate the many factors that led to this transformation of the Chicago Public Schools. Beginning in 1987, Bryk and colleagues lay out the civic context for reform, outlining the systemic challenges such as segregation, institutional racism, and income and resource disparities that reformers grappled with as well as the social conflicts they faced. Next, they describe how fundamental changes occurred at every level of schooling: enhancing classroom instruction; organizing more engaged and effective local school communities; strengthening the preparation, recruitment, and support of teachers and school leaders; and sustaining an ambitious evidence-based campaign to keep the public informed on the progress of key reform initiatives and the challenges still ahead. The power of this capacity building is validated by unprecedented increases in benchmarks such as graduation rates and college matriculation. This riveting account introduces key actors within the schools, city government, and business community, and the partnerships they forged. It also reveals the surprising yet essential role of Chicago's innovative information infrastructure in aligning disparate initiatives. In making clear how elements such as advocacy, civic capacity, improvement research, and strong democracy contributed to large-scale progress in the system's 600-plus schools, the book highlights the greater lessons that the Chicago story offers for system improvement overall.
Jason Knowles must reconcile the demons from his past, as he experiences a week where his life was held in the balance ... and he was the only one to blame for it. "The UnAbsolved is a contemporary tale of redemption and the search for an inner peace. It also provides a realistic image of today's post 9/11 world.
Recent and current crises in health, ecology, society and spirituality have lent the whole arena of liminality a new urgency and relevancy. Those who traverse the great transitions are rediscovering new ways of interpreting life through the liminal lens, a way to make sense of the great voluntary and unchosen transitions that characterize modern life. This anthology provides a unique overview of liminality as it gathers a diverse coterie of authors, disciplines, and contexts to explore its many facets. Distinct in its interdisciplinary approach, The Liminal Loop serves as an important source book for general readers, teachers, students, artists, counselors, spiritual guides, and social transformers. From liminal poetry and musical traditions to the strange vertical world of the rock climber, The Liminal Loop explores the swirling chaos on the other side of critical thresholds and suggests a pathway through the daunting middle passages of the in-between. With what can only be described as courage, the many authors of this collection dare to look uncertainty in the eye, knowing that this is a necessary journey, and that it is better to travel with a common band of pilgrims than to go it alone.
What would you do if you only had only thirty days to live? What if that time was shortened to twenty-four hours or even one hour? You can't control the amount of time you have left, but you can control how you spend that time. Timothy J. Brill, a pilot, philosopher, and adventure seeker, examines the nature of existence and humanity in a series of essays, considering how you can prevent fear from dominating your life, avoid being a victim by seeking answers, recognize the detrimental nature of feelings of entitlement, and stand up for what is right. We live in a world of increasing isolation, self-delusion and hatred, where any moral voice is labeled as a freak. We only live an illusion of freedom, and we need a new worldview that promotes the dignity of every person and all of creation. Join Tim as he explores how to create this new worldview with a spirit of charity, love, and, most importantly, a whole new attitude.
Become the focal point of your lifetime, be selective, choose only that which is positive, work to enjoy freedom for yourself and demand and talk of freedom for other humans" These words are from the chapter called...'Universe and Birth' ~ They provide the insight to the book.My work is concise, if I write that I use the spell checkers to find smaller words not longer and more complex ones. Then you will have discovered the whole idea of the work ~ Ian Timothy
Do you long to have a more powerful spiritual life? Have you hesitated to pursue this life because you are afraid that the promises given in the Bible are not for you? If so, then journey with Timothy Maloney as he reveals the deception that has kept many Christians unfulfilled and directs you toward a more vibrant spiritual connection. Through careful examination of Scripture, Timothy shows that the promises found in the Bible are still valid for believers today. If your spirit is willing but your flesh is weak, then you will find encouragement in this motivational exploration of the gifts of the Spirit. Timothy acknowledges that biblical scholarship has its place, but he points out that only by engaging spiritually can believers hope to ever really know God. When you seek the full expression of the gifts of the Spirit, you will find a worship that is fulfilling and empowering. Let God fulfill his promises in your life today. You will find that what seems like Gibberish is actually a powerful, God-given tool.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.