This work emphasizes collaborative leadership at the district, principal, team, and individual levels, and advocates the professional learning community (PLC) as the best environment for great teaching and leading. The authors, veteran educators, describe the district's role in supporting the PLC process and the principal's role in leading a PLC. They outline the creation of the collaborative culture of a PLC and give ideas for developing a viable curriculum. There are also suggestions for ongoing monitoring of student learning, ensuring effective instruction, and responding when kids don't learn. Dufour received Illinois' Distinguished Educator award as a principal and the state's Award of Excellence as a superintendent. Marzano is an educational researcher. Annotation 2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
