Reframing Decision Making in Education: Democratic Empowerment of Teachers and Parents [Paperback]

American schools should be laboratories for modeling democratic concepts. However, our school systems are the antithesis of democratically run organizations. Teaching professionals, students and parents have very little power or genuine influence in decision making. Reframing Decision Making in Education begins by describing the current status of American schools and concludes with a description of the organizational structure, leadership, and decision making practices necessary to make our schools operate in a manner congruent with those democratic principles we espouse as a country.

This book describe a democratic structure and a decision making matrix to help reform leaders begin such an endeavor. Woven through each chapter is a fictional story of Principal Samantha Levy. We see Ms. Levys struggles as she begins the process of making change in her high school and its impact on those around her.

Reframing Decision Making provides a new and thought-provoking perspective about school leadership and the way schools should be organized and governed. This isnt your typical leadership book with the same ideas and concepts packaged in different ways. Rettigs theoretical argument for using the principles of democracy to transform public schools is sure to ignite a new wave of conversations and actions in our quest to educate future generations. Erin Kohl, principal of Oshkosh West High School in Oshkosh, Wisconsin

This book provides many practical democratic ideas for school leaders to read and reflect upon. I found Rettigs ideas extremely useful. Reframing Decision Making will help people in my school not only to feel empowered but to be empowered. This book has truly helped me rethink how I orgl!