Lead Like a PIRATE: Make School Amazing for Your Students and Staff

The media could not be loaded.  As an educator, I tend to read a lot of books on education and leadership. Right now my "To-be-read" and "Finished reading" piles on my desk include works by Tom Hierck, Brad Gustafson, Joe Sanfelippo and Tony Sinanis, Todd Whitaker and Jeffrey Zoul and Jimmy Casas. In fact, last week Tuesday, I was working my way through Peter DeWitt's "Collaborative Leadership," a book that had helped refine some of my thinking heading into interviews for a new position.But I had also started seeing teases for a new book from Dave Burgess Consulting called "Lead Like A Pirate." I love Collaborative Leadership, but this book spoke to me in a way others hadn't. I ordered it on Tuesday, and by Thursday it arrived and I tore open the Amazon packaging. This began my PIRATE journey. (Did I mention that to do this I SET. ASIDE. PETER. DEWITT?) You see, even though I had never read "Teach Like A Pirate," I still felt intrigued. I started reading and creating #BookSnaps to pull out quotes that resonated with me. My first attempts were terrible, but I wanted more people to read the book, so I learned how to get better.Before I knew it, I stopped quoting the book and started sharing my reflections. By Saturday, when Edcamp Elmbrook happened, I wanted to talk about the book, so I suggested a session. When a woman in the crowd (yes, CROWD) asked if this book was for principals only, I said I recommended the book was for ANYONE considering ANY kind of leadership role. Instructional coaches, lead teachers, department chairs, principals, district leaders, and even people not in schools. That seemed to satisfy her and she jotted down the title.And I continued to go a little crazy. I created more #BookSnaps, and even moved on to using the Periscope app to give a preview of the chapter on ANCHOR Conversations.Here's why I cannot recommend this book enough: Shelley and Beth present a CLEAR message about what it means to Lead Like A Pirate, dividing their book into four sections: Lead Like A PIRATE, X Marks the Spot: Leadership Treasure, Coach Like a PIRATE: ANCHOR Conversations [This section, alone, is worth the price of admission.], and Building a Better Captain. Within each chapter, they provide PIRATE Leaders with a "Compass" and point out "Cannonballs to Avoid." Two other elements make this book worth your time and money: Shelley and Beth share actual anecdotes, and links to the Smore flyers, Google Docs, videos, and other resources they discuss in the chapters. They make it SO easy to use their work as a model and make it your own. Each chapter also ends with challenge and or reflection.I finished the book in less than a week and created my own twist on the ANCHOR Conversations in Chapter 18. I created cards out of card stock and personalized the covers with inspirational quotes related to striving for excellence (I'll add some links later once my review publishes). I have stated going into classrooms and being intentional about noticing the good things my teachers do with students: strategies, risks, choices. And I am documenting it on these cards I then give to a student with the warning: Give this to your teacher when I leave, but DON'T look at it. Inevitably, they look as soon as I walk away, and they smile when they see the awesome I saw from their teacher.I will continue to reflect on this book, create #BookSnaps, and share on Periscope, and I believe you will want to read it, TOO.

Lead Like a Pirate addresses leadership characteristics, guiding principles, coaching and communication strategies, improving yourself as a leader, and much more. The authors share anecdotes, advice, and plans to become more effective and efficient as a leader. Although the context is mainly centered on elementary and secondary education, the leadership principles highlighted and elaborated upon in this book, surely apply across all fields.

The thing that I love most about this book is that I can write a review based on what I've seen in action as well as read in the book. Beth Houf doesn't just talk the talk. It's obvious by the culture in her building that she needed to be involved in the writing of this book. I had the distinct pleasure to visit her school this week. As a stranger to the rest of the middle school staff, I was welcomed with open arms, even included in the everyday celebrations of staff members, most of this without Beth being present. With days before spring break, surely the staff and students must be itching for some time off, but the signature fatigue I've come know from other buildings I've worked in or visited did not linger there. Teachers are unafraid when people walk into the rooms. What's more, the kids as well. That says more about the culture than anything else I could see or ask. However, if that isn't enough, she keeps play-dough, stress balls, and "Pirate Gear" readily available in staff workroom, which I quickly took to calling the staff PLAYroom.You don't accomplish this feat (and yes, I'll call it a feat) without walking the walk with your staff and students daily. By reading this book, you are getting a glimpse into two of the best minds I have had the pleasure of being acquainted with in my professional career. Between the (amazingly beautiful) covers of this book, you'll find the "real" not just the "ideal." The reflection questions will have to you pausing while you still want to carry on reading. Take the opportunity to give thought to these questions as you read. You owe it to yourself and your students to do this much.If you're reading this review to figure out if this book is for you: This book is written for classroom teachers and teacher leaders just as much as administrative leaders. Shelley and Beth may not have initially intended it this way, but as a classroom teacher, I have gained a much needed perspective as well. This book is a great resource...pirate treasure!

I have been fortunate enough to follow the evolution of Lead Like A Pirate through social media and conference presentations over the past couple of years, and have been waiting excitedly for this book to appear. It was worth the wait, and I can't recommend it highly enough to any current or aspiring school leader.Lead Like A Pirate is meaningful to me because it allows the opportunity to see what can be possible in a school, rather than what it has always been; to see new paths to moving a school forward, rather than the traditional, tried-but-not-necessarily-true ways of principal work; and how to truly work with teachers as a supporter, rather than just a director or manager. Shelley and Beth have created a tool that is just as useful for a veteran principal as a first-time administrator, and their ideas for collaborative conversations with teachers will give any veteran administrator an ANCHOR for their work with any teacher in their building, at any level.I was fortunate enough to be exposed to the Lead Like A Pirate concept when I saw Shelley and Beth present for the first time together, and it was immediately clear that they would be part of my tribe. This book is a great resource for any principal, and it will be something that I come back to again and again as I continue to strive to make my school a place where students, staff, and parents are beating down the doors to get in, not out!

A must read for all educational leaders . Give insights into everyday working with help from twitter and downloadable formats for smooth running of schools

I loved the style of writing, the tips, the pace of the book. There was no unnecessary repetition. It was to the point and very clear.

Good book

Excellent! Will enhance all people in leadership roles, even minor ones.

Amazing and easy read! Inspirational!