Hard Truth

Dr. Sean B. Yisrael has spent his entire career serving students and families. He believes every child deserves a quality education regardless of their family’s socio-economic status.

This book is appropriately titled. Dr. Yisrael tells it like it is without watering it down. This is one of the poignant books about urban school reform that I’ve ever read.

• AcknowledgementsPrefaceIntroductionChapter One: The Leadership Void in Today’s Urban SchoolsCourageous LeadershipChapter Two: Conflict and FrictionThe Process for Resolving ConflictsChapter Three: Individual EntrapmentsChapter Four: Learn the School’s Culture (Before Trying to Improve It)Gathering InformationChapter Five: Irate ParentsParental EngagementChapter Six: Troublemakers on the StaffDiehard Reform AntagonistThe ProcessApplying Progressive DisciplineChapter Seven: Stagnation and InefficiencyDisrupt Their RoutinesGive Deadlines for Completing TasksChapter Eight: Disruptive Students The ProcessCreate a School-Wide Discipline PlanChapter Nine: Academic InstructionHiring the “Right” TeachersProvide Teachers with Adequate SupportChapter Ten: Standardized Testing Learn All the Parameters of the TestCreate Two Testing CohortsAlign the StandardsSchedule a Pre-test DateHire a Testing CoordinatorEstablish a Before- or After-School Tutoring ProgramThe Principal’s ActionsChapter Eleven: Central Office StaffChapter Twelve: The School’s BudgetChapter Thirteen: Social MediaChapter Fourteen: Practice Self-ReflectionReflect on Past EventsBe Honest with Yourself