Excellence

Excellence: Every Classroom, Every Lesson, Every Day is the story of the transformation of a principal from new and inexperienced but good-hearted to a highly effective leader and motivator. The realistic fiction story is based upon the author’s experience coaching administrators and working with both underperforming schools and high-achieving schools while weaving in lessons from foundational leadership books from both business and education. The principal, Dr. Esposito, demonstrates throughout how she uses these lessons to solve common problems in schools as she gradually changes her leadership philosophy and style. Her lessons come from a variety of leadership books including Drive, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Practice Perfect, The Art of Influence, Radical Candor, and many others.

So many times we read leadership books but aren't sure of the impact or how they might influence our practice. This book addresses that mystery in an engaging and easy-to-read format. Using the reflective journey of a high-impact retiring superintendent as the basis, impactful professional reading is referenced and applied. This is the perfect read for any school administrator who is looking to broaden their horizons and learn to apply leadership literature to their profession., Loved it! The real, compelling narrative keeps me turning the pages looking for more. The way leadership advice is intertwined and anchored in the story gives it the perfect context to make learning relatable and relevant., A must-read for every school leader or anyone considering a career in school leadership. Excellence: Every Classroom, Every Lesson, Every Day is masterfully written, providing us with meaningful, engaging and relevant stories linking school-related issues with practical solutions from some of the greatest leaderships books written in our modern era. Through a creatively crafted story, Michael provides clear actions and responses that every school leader can benefit from., Education is poised for a renaissance and it’s long overdue. Teacher professional development and classroom instruction have changed little since the dawn of public education. In Excellence: Every Classroom, Every Lesson, Every Day Michael Horton shows how school administrators and teachers can benefit from the vast material available in the areas of motivation, leadership, networking, and continuous improvement. John Dewey pointed out more than a hundred years ago that “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself”. Mr. Horton shows how an educational leader can use timeless leadership literature to truly be a lifelong learner and a better leader.

Michael Horton is the Assistant Principal of a highly-acclaimed charter school in an impoverished area of Southern California and a School Ambassador Fellow with the U.S. Department of Education. Previously, he has been a coordinator and administrator at two county offices where he coached administrators and worked with more than 200 schools.