Leading for Equity

Leading for Equity The Pursuit of Excellence in Montgomery County Public Schools

Stacey M. Childress, Denis P. Doyle, and David A. Thomas, foreword by David Gergen

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Leading for Equity tells the compelling story of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools and its transformation—in less than a decade—into a system committed to breaking the links between race and class and academic achievement.

Praise

Every person working to improve America’s schools should consider the real-world lessons in this book. — Randi Weingarten, president, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO

An exceedingly tight, targeted, and well-told story . . . MCPS got it right. Will we? — Arlene C. Ackerman, superintendent of schools, School District of Philadelphia

As this book shows, closing the achievement gap is doable; the question is whether we have the will to get it done. — Joel I. Klein, chancellor, New York City Schools

Leading for Equity is a game-changer. Every school board member, county official, superintendent, union, and business leader should take note. — Anne L. Bryant, executive director, National School Boards Association

Leading for Equity is a must-read for anyone who still doubts that a school district can enable students of all backgrounds to perform at high levels. — Dan Katzir, managing director, The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation

The district’s success in improving the achievement levels of minority and low-income students and dismantling barriers to high performance have made it a model for other districts nationwide. — Daniel A. Domenech, executive director, American Association of School Administrators

Leading for Equity shows what it is going to take to begin to close the achievement gap: courageous, collaborative, wise, and creative leadership. Useful to scholars and practitioners alike, this book is a valuable addition to the literature of change. — James P. Comer, Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry, Yale University Child Study Center

Leading for Equity is not just a story of bold, visionary leadership, it’s a road map for helping all schools succeed. — Jim Hunt, former governor of North Carolina (1977–1985, 1993–2001)

The writers demonstrate what happens when a school district aims high and lines up everything to reach the ‘North Star’ of high academic achievement for all students. Superintendent Jerry Weast and the Montgomery County education community lead the way for school districts everywhere. — Richard W. Riley, former U. S. secretary of education

This behind-the-scenes look at the leadership, vision, and determination of superintendent Jerry Weast and his colleagues presents a practical blueprint for superintendents and everyone else concerned about education reform. — Charles Kolb, president, Committee for Economic Development

Some educators believe that there is no remedy for the achievement gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged school children. Dr. Jerry Weast, the hard-charging superintendent of Montgomery County Schools is not one of them . . . This book carries a message that all serious educators and all who care about America’s future should take to heart. — Roger Wilkins, Clarence J. Robinson Professor Emeritus, George Mason University

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About the Authors

Stacey M. Childress is a lecturer at Harvard Business School and a cofounder of the Public Education Leadership Project at Harvard University.

Denis P. Doyle is cofounder and Chief Academic Officer of SchoolNet.

David A. Thomas is the H. Naylor Fitzhugh Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School.

David Gergen is a professor of public service and the director of the Center for Public Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is also editor-at-large at U.S. News & World Report and is a Senior Political Analyst for CNN.