Rating: 
Summary: Quality reflections on the essence of school leadership.
Review: Deal & Peterson recognize that school culture are those values, activities and habits that persist with in the day to day life of schools. They discuss the range of cultures from those that are toxic to the learning process to such self-improving cultures wherein even the most challanged learners thrive. Through the use of illustrative stories, the complexities of school culture and its power to contribute the national wellbeing are examined. Several themes emanate. They include respect for learning, learners, teachers, parents and the larger community.
The essence of leadership is variously portrayed as themes of vision, committment and consistent action. The unstated thesis is 1. perceive, 2. behave, and 3. become. It is a clarion call to reestablish school culture as the central issue to school reform.
Rating:
Summary: Quality reflections on the essence of school leadership.
Review: Deal & Peterson recognize that school culture are those values, activities and habits that persist with in the day to day life of schools. They discuss the range of cultures from those that are toxic to the learning process to such self-improving cultures wherein even the most challanged learners thrive. Through the use of illustrative stories, the complexities of school culture and its power to contribute the national wellbeing are examined. Several themes emanate. They include respect for learning, learners, teachers, parents and the larger community.
The essence of leadership is variously portrayed as themes of vision, committment and consistent action. The unstated thesis is 1. perceive, 2. behave, and 3. become. It is a clarion call to reestablish school culture as the central issue to school reform.
Rating: 
Summary: The power of school cultures
Review: Deal and Peterson provide an insightful look into the complex world of school cultures. The concepts of culture are presented in informative stories that cause the reader to be reflective of the cultures that they exist in and help to create.
School leaders will find the information given both beneficial and valuable. The range of models used helps you to identify your school's culture, whether it is supportive or toxic to the learning process. The authors offer perceptive thoughts to help leaders reach rewarding achievements within their schools.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Resource
Review: I found this to be an excellent resource for any educational leader who is looking to create a positive school environment. The authors give many real life examples of leaders who changed the culture of their school and detail how they went about making this change. There are many practical ideas that any leader could begin incorporating right away.In addition, the book is well written. This is not "heavy" reading, but nonetheless I have found myself returning to it time and time again for ideas and inspiration. If you are wondering how one person could possibly make a difference in a school, this book will help show you the way.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Resource
Review: I found this to be an excellent resource for any educational leader who is looking to create a positive school environment. The authors give many real life examples of leaders who changed the culture of their school and detail how they went about making this change. There are many practical ideas that any leader could begin incorporating right away. In addition, the book is well written. This is not "heavy" reading, but nonetheless I have found myself returning to it time and time again for ideas and inspiration. If you are wondering how one person could possibly make a difference in a school, this book will help show you the way.
Rating: 
Summary: Well worth a read.
Review: I was pleasantly surprised with the content of this book. It is well thought out and concises. There are lots of examples of the points being raised. Everyone should read this book in particular educators who are or desire to be administrators of schools. Parents who are actively involved with their child's education would benefit as well. Superb and well done. If only I could write as well.
Rating:
Summary: A Landmark production
Review: The book is about harnessing the power of school culture to create a climate and ethos of growth for our children, where every teacher can make a difference. From their broad repertoire of leadership skills and experience, Terrence E. Deal and Kent D. Peterson presents School culture as the strong predictor of educational success and reform. At the heart of a school's culture are its mission and purpose. Without ritual and ceremony, any culture will wither and die. "Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear." History not only shapes the present, but they also outlines the future. Hence, we need to celebrate history, and recount stories of success and growth as we cruise along. Culture is enshrined not only in persons, but also in architecture and artifacts. The author believes that by combining these and other elements of culture, we are creating a cohesive school identity. The book is replete with inspiring stories about people and events, with which one can easily identify on various occasions. That makes it a compelling work. The anecdotal responses to success and failure, positive and toxic culture in the schools makes this a very relevant book.
Rating:
Summary: Shaping School Culture: The Heart of Leadership
Review: This book is a must read for any individual who wishes to create positive change within a school environment. It is written with clarity and wit, appropriate for any agent of change within the field of education. All who have experienced serving in an administrative capacity for a school district or educational service agency will quickly relate and definitely benefit from both the information and insight that is provided by Terrence E. Deal and Kent D. Peterson. In particular, principals will find this book to be an invaluable resource in understanding the potency of school culture and how it relates to leadership techniques, issues, and decisions. Deal and Peterson uncover the impact and consequence of school culture with lucid and powerful examples that support their perspective while entertaining the reader. They unravel the intangible mystery of why those that choose to lead seldom make any real progress toward credible and sustainable changes in our schools. The functions and impact of the values, belief-systems and norms within school buildings are discussed and explained in terms of their hierarchy in the creation of positive and negative school cultures. The authors provide a multitude of scenarios of actual school environments that lucidly illustrate the numerous "hidden" messages that provide the infrastructure and mindsets of school culture. Surprisingly, many of the determinants of school culture will provide the reader with instant (and many times humorous) personalized images drawn from their own experiences. Principals and administrators who read this book will inevitably view their own schools with a refined and newly directed perspective. In addition, they will view their role as a leader within the context of culture. The authors force a leader to consider the dynamics of culture through exploration of school rituals, artifacts, ceremonies and the implications of their symbolism. The authors map out a strategy for change using the regularly ignored mundane routines of the school as the underpinnings for reshaping school culture. This book will "change" and broaden the way any leader comprehends "change".
Rating:
Summary: Shaping School Culture: The Heart of Leadership
Review: This book is a must read for any individual who wishes to create positive change within a school environment. It is written with clarity and wit, appropriate for any agent of change within the field of education. All who have experienced serving in an administrative capacity for a school district or educational service agency will quickly relate and definitely benefit from both the information and insight that is provided by Terrence E. Deal and Kent D. Peterson. In particular, principals will find this book to be an invaluable resource in understanding the potency of school culture and how it relates to leadership techniques, issues, and decisions. Deal and Peterson uncover the impact and consequence of school culture with lucid and powerful examples that support their perspective while entertaining the reader. They unravel the intangible mystery of why those that choose to lead seldom make any real progress toward credible and sustainable changes in our schools. The functions and impact of the values, belief-systems and norms within school buildings are discussed and explained in terms of their hierarchy in the creation of positive and negative school cultures. The authors provide a multitude of scenarios of actual school environments that lucidly illustrate the numerous "hidden" messages that provide the infrastructure and mindsets of school culture. Surprisingly, many of the determinants of school culture will provide the reader with instant (and many times humorous) personalized images drawn from their own experiences. Principals and administrators who read this book will inevitably view their own schools with a refined and newly directed perspective. In addition, they will view their role as a leader within the context of culture. The authors force a leader to consider the dynamics of culture through exploration of school rituals, artifacts, ceremonies and the implications of their symbolism. The authors map out a strategy for change using the regularly ignored mundane routines of the school as the underpinnings for reshaping school culture. This book will "change" and broaden the way any leader comprehends "change".
Rating:
Summary: Very Insightful
Review: This book was used in a graduate class I was attending while pursuing a Master of School Administration degree. It is very easy to read and is a resource that every school administrator should have. Schools are a community and have a culture all their own. The authors provide a wealth of information that enables one to understand what "school culture" is and how to build a positive school culture. I highly recommend this book to anyone who works in a school or other organization that serves children and adolescents.
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