"Sergiovanni's book gives life and meaning to the words 'lifeworld' and 'systemsworld'----bringing a new and insightful perspective to the discourse on school reform----and challenges school leaders to gain a more holistic view of students and interaction in the teaching--learning process."----Gerald N. Tirozzi, executive director, The National Association of Secondary School Principals "Once again, Sergiovanni has used his remarkable and unique insight to bring clarity to a major challenge of current leadership----the use of standards. He has managed to contextualize the issue of standards, through looking at the 'lifeworld' of schools, in a way no one else has. This is a fresh and thought--provoking take on a subject school leaders must understand."----Paul D. Houston, executive director, American Association of School Administrators This inspiring book calls for leaders who act according to the unique culture, values, and needs of their schools. Tom Sergiovanni examines why this "lifeworld" is so vital to school success and shows how local leadership can make the difference in creating healthy, rigorous schools.
He explores the crucial link between school character and school improvement. By building institutional character at the local level, principals, superintendents, and policymakers can not only protect the lifeworld of their schools but also craft an educational system based on layered loyalties and shared accountability.

Moral Leadership

by Thomas J. Sergiovanni

Published 17 February 1992
"A vision of what could (and probably should) be...The reader may want to revisit some sections for further reflection." ----Educational Leadership"An excellent book that offers much to the seasoned administrator and should be on the list of required reading for introductory administration classes." ----NASSP Bulletin Moral Leadership shows how creating a new leadership practice----one with a moral dimension built around purpose, values, and beliefs----can transform a school from an organization to a community and inspire the kinds of commitment, devotion, and service that can make our schools great. Sergiovanni explains the importance of legitimizing emotion and getting in touch with basic values and connections with others. He reveals how true collegiality, based on shared work and common goals, leads to a natural interdepAndence among teachers and shows how a public declaration of values and purpose can help turn schools into virtuous communities where teachers are self--managers and professionalism is considered an ideal.

"Sergiovanni documents cases of schools that have successfully reinvented themselves in order to establish a sense of 'community' as the foundation for all curriculum and instruction decisions. . . . Teachers, administrators, teacher educators, and communities seeking advice and motivation for restructuring schools for the 21st century would be well advised to consult this work."
--Choice

"Provides the practitioner with both a theoretical blueprint with which to build learning communities and a rich supply of benchmark illustrations to use as prototypes. . . . thought-provoking and challenging."
--NASSP Bulletin

Both in and out of schools, people are experiencing a loss of community. In this book, Thomas J. Sergiovanni explains why a sense of community is so vital to the success of any school and shows teachers, parents, and administrators what they can do to rebuild it. Filled with case studies and other school examples, Building Community in Schools provides the necessary intellectual framework for understanding the need to create communities that are inclusive, meaningful, and democratic.