Curing Student Underachievement Clinical Practice for School Leaders

Cure Student Underachievement is the culmination of the authors' research, practice, and experience as principals, superintendents, graduate professors, and consultants in efforts to improve school performance and increase student achievement. Searching for the real causes of underperformance, the authors explored problem-solving strategies in several fields. The authors find that clinical practice identifies the root causes rather than the symptoms of problems, focusing valuable time, resource, and energy on prescriptions with greater promise for improved performance health. The concepts of diagnosis, prescription, and prognosis establish a foundation for improved planning and problem solving. This book introduces practicing leaders and leaders-in-training to the protocols of clinical practice by taking the reader through the twelve steps of the clinical cycle with specific strategies and exercises to provide practice in the application, use, and assessment of the model.

Philip Esbrandt has served in all line positions in public education from teacher through superintendent in very challenging schools and districts. He is known as a "performance turnaround" specialist. Bruce Hayes has been involved in the study and application of educational reform strategies on five continents. He has served as a teacher, coach, superintendent of schools, and graduate adjunct professor.