The Courage to Collaborate: The Case for Labor-Management Partnerships in Education - Tapa blanda

In this bold, insightful book, school turnaround expert Ken Futernick makes the case that collaboration between district management and teacher unions is a necessary condition for educational improvement. Futernick details key features and benefits of labor-management collaboration, and addresses obstacles preventing its widespread adoption. The Courage to Collaborate recommends strategies and tactics for educators, policy makers, and others interested in embracing collaboration over confrontation.

“For those of us who have been in the trenches, working hard on labor-management collaboration, Futernick’s book comes as a clear, refreshing, and balanced analysis of this complex work. The book features an abundance of practical advice, ‘how to’ tips, and tangible evidence of successful, collaborative strategies. In the end, it’s a lucid and compelling call to action.”
—Paul Reville, Francis Keppel Professor of Practice of Educational Policy, and founding director, Education Redesign Lab, Harvard Graduate School of Education

“The us-against-them mentality between labor and management or teachers and administrators works against the primary mission of every school district: educating all students. Instead of giving priority to adult issues, broad collaboration puts students first. As Ken Futernick documents, working with one another leads to better academic outcomes for all students, including minority children from low-income families. When students are the winners, there are no losers.”
—Ramon C. Cortines, superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District

“Labor-management collaboration remains our best hope for addressing and resolving impediments to better student learning.... Only together can we access the needed resources and persuade others—the public, the politicians, and our communities—that we’ll make good use of the resources we seek.”
—From the foreword by Adam Urbanski, president, Rochester Teachers Association; vice president, American Federation of Teachers; and cofounder, Teacher Union Reform Network

Ken Futernick is an educational consultant to schools, school districts, and policy makers across the United States. He is a cofounder and past director of the School Turnaround Center at WestEd.