Michael Stokes – författare

Written for staff in schools and colleges, this book offers the challenge and support necessary to understand, analyze and adopt coaching, mentoring and peer-networking mechanisms as an essential part of the development of professional learning within an organisation. Drawing on the new national strategy for professional development, it emphasises the importance of learning with and from other colleagues, helping your organisation to become a professional learning community and supporting the drive to raise standards and attainment.

Organised into nine distinct but interrelated chapters, this is an invaluable sourcebook of practical information for in-service training. It contains a range of stimulating activities which engage the reader and encourages reflection on:

* the nature and importance of professional development in schools and colleges* the potential benefits and difficulties associated with coaching, mentoring and peer-networking* factors essential to the successful establishment and management of coaching and mentoring programmes* team leadership and leadership coaching* the role of the coach, mentor and networker with respect to the creation of professional learning communities.

Written for staff in schools and colleges, this book offers the challenge and support necessary to understand, analyze and adopt coaching, mentoring and peer-networking mechanisms as an essential part of the development of professional learning within an organisation. Drawing on the new national strategy for professional development, it emphasises the importance of learning with and from other colleagues, helping your organisation to become a professional learning community and supporting the drive to raise standards and attainment.

Organised into nine distinct but interrelated chapters, this is an invaluable sourcebook of practical information for in-service training. It contains a range of stimulating activities which engage the reader and encourages reflection on:

* the nature and importance of professional development in schools and colleges* the potential benefits and difficulties associated with coaching, mentoring and peer-networking* factors essential to the successful establishment and management of coaching and mentoring programmes* team leadership and leadership coaching* the role of the coach, mentor and networker with respect to the creation of professional learning communities.

In crime and thriller novel, Blackmail, Michael explores the lives of a group of criminals who pull off a daring robbery. However, one of them becomes involved in a struggle with a security guard who is shot and seriously injured.

The gang leader, Michael Doyle, establishes a seemingly perfect alibi to escape, but their carefully prepared plans begin to unravel when the DNA of the robber who struggled with the injured guard is detected. The investigators are able to link him with Doyle through CCTV and both of them are arrested. Clever lawyers seek to exclude the DNA evidence but Doyle’s girlfriend, who has some legal knowledge, is sceptical that the ploy will work. Desperate measures become necessary...

Then, things take a turn for the worse when a judge’s home is raided and his wife and young son kidnapped. It turns out they will only be released if he rules against the prosecution. Will the judge do what the kidnappers demand? Will Blackmail reveal who was behind the kidnapping? Was it Doyle’s girlfriend or someone from his past? Someone he had crossed? Only time will tell...

Blackmail will appeal to fans of chilling crime and thriller novels.