";This is excellent material. It is easy to read and comprehend and it is arranged in a useful manner."; Dr. Sandra Lowery Stephen F. Austin State University Professional Development for School Improvement: Empowering Learning Communities, First Edition integrates knowledge from professional development and school improvement to describe frameworks that can increase the capacity of individuals, teams, and organizations to grow and develop. The book argues that both professional development and school improvement should have as their primary purpose the improvement of teaching and learning. Eleven frameworks for professional development are presented, along with strategies for integrating multiple frameworks in comprehensive programs. These frameworks of successful professional development programs include: training, peer coaching, collaborative work teams, co-teaching, study groups, action research, teacher writing, teacher leadership, partnerships, networks, and teacher centers. School leader development is addressed as a prerequisite for professional and school development. Leader, cultural, team, and teacher development are described as capacity building functions of professional development. Abundant learning tools such as Case Studies, Chapter Problems, Discussion Questions, Charts, and Summaries in every chapter help reinforce chapter concepts. Find more books on related topics at www.ablongman.com/edresources.