Ken Cooper, a 1982 graduate of the School of Education's former doctoral program in school administration, recently published Becoming a Great School: Harnessing the Powers of Quality Management and Collaborative Leadership with co-authors Nels Gustafson and Joseph Salah. The book draws on Dr. Cooper's 39 years as a professional educator, 22 of which he served as principal of the Paul F. Doyon Memorial School in Ipswich, Massachusetts.
Becoming a Great School (intended for superintendents, principals, and as a text in administrator training programs, but also of interest to teachers and teachers’ associations) describes a process that enables school leaders to transition 'typical' schools into truly 'great' learning communities by harnessing the intrinsic motivation of the staff. The authors describe the process in detail, both in terms of the research that supports it, and the step-by-step sequence for implementation. The outcome is a staff that is energized and focused and a school that is revitalized both in terms of culture and curriculum.