Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Chapter 1. Building a Positive Culture
Chapter 2. Structured Visibility
Chapter 3. From Delegation to Collaboration
Chapter 4. From Collaboration to Change
Chapter 5. Supporting Students at Risk
Chapter 6. Let′s Celebrate
Chapter 7. Coaching Strategies at Work
Chapter 8. Parents Welcome
Chapter 9. Where We Are Now
References
Index
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Dr. Allan R. Bonilla was born in Orlando, FL, a bit before Disney,
and was raised in NYC, where he graduated from Forest Hills High
School. After a brief stint at Hofstra College in NY, as well as a
year and a half at Cal Poly in Pomona, CA, Allan returned to his
home state of Florida where he earned his B.A from the University
of Miami. Not knowing what career direction to take, he was told
that Miami was in great need of teachers, and so there he began a
career in education which lasted 40 years.
Teaching both English and Spanish at the middle and high school
levels, led this educator to a role as a counselor, after earning a
Master’s at Barry University, and then to an assistant principal
position in a half dozen middle schools. Feeling that he had the
ideas and beliefs that could lead to creating successful schools,
Allan pursued his doctorate in education at Nova University and was
appointed principal of one of the largest and most troubled middle
schools in the 4th largest school district in the nation.
Dr. Bonilla was indeed a “turnaround principal” and was recognized
for his school’s accomplishments by being selected Principal of the
Year out of a field of over 300 K-12 principals. Upon retiring from
the Miami-Dade School System, Allan became a mentor to principals
in the district and also a trainer with Southern Regional Education
Board (SREB).
Upon relocating to Austin, TX, Allan became one of the first
educators in the state to be trained through Region X111 Education
Service Center as a Leadership Coach. He has worked with some 50
educators in assisting them to work through difficult situations,
to achieve goals, and to celebrate their accomplishments. In
addition to Coaching, Allan is a frequent speaker at state and
national conferences including ASCD, NAESP, NASSP, High Schools
That Work, National Charters, Texas Charters, and Florida Charters.
He is also a faculty member of the National Principals Leadership
Institute in NYC.
Allan’s family includes his wife, two sons and their wives, and
three genius grandchildren. Spare time, if any, is taken with
reading to keep current with the changes and latest developments in
the world of education.
"The theme of visibility presented has already challenged my
thinking and provoked reflection on my current and previous
practice. It has helped me to see gaps and holes that may
have been there. This text would support my work with principals in
helping them to see these as key traits/practices."
*Arnna Graham, Leadership Coach*
"As a professor in the graduate school of education, these
strategies would be an excellent addition to teacher education
courses, school operations, and management."
*Steven Roth, Professor*
"The how-to guide, coupled with practical experience, adds
authority to the author’s voice. With essential questions at the
end of the chapters, this work will provide a thoughtful and
compelling read for new and veteran administrators alike."
*Rick Yee, Principal*
"I am taken by Allan’s approach to learning and leadership. He
recognizes that culture matters – a lot – and he offers specific
strategies to help everyone in a school learn and grow."
*Thomas R. Hoerr, Author, Columnist, and Head of the New City
School*
"I′m in the Principal′s Seat, Now What? provides a practical guide
for building a school on the vision that each student matters.
Given the right organizational structure and climate, teachers will
take ownership of problems, will implement proven, practical
solutions and will grow from good to great when they are supported
by their principals. Middle grades and high school principals
serving in low-performing, challenging schools will gain great
wisdom and insight for creating a high-touch, high-performance
culture for students and teachers that will result in improved
outcomes in attendance, performance, and student engagement. This
book provides a vision for making parents a partner in the process,
celebrating student and faculty growth experiences, and
building healthy competition."
*Dr. Gene Bottoms, Founder/Director*
"I’m in the Principal’s Seat, Now What? by Dr. Allan Bonilla is the
kind of book that appears once in a decade. Bonilla became the
principal of a large, failing school in Dade County, Florida,
succeeded in turning the school into an exemplary school, remained
in that school for fourteen years, and tells his story through
evidence-based examples of team building, school culture, principal
visibility and so much more. This book will appeal to any school
administrator interested in leadership and practical options for
helping a failing school become better to making a gifted school
better and anything in between. It is destined to become a landmark
book."
*Mark F. Goldberg, Ph.D., Education Writer and Education Book
Editor*
"I am taken by Allan’s approach to learning and leadership. He
recognizes that culture matters – a lot – and he offers specific
strategies to help everyone in a school learn and grow."
*Thomas R. Hoerr, Author, Columnist, and Head of the New City
School*
"In this immensely practical and powerful book, Dr. Allan Bonilla
avoids the typical slogans about school culture and instead
provides readers with the hard truths of leadership. Although
Bonilla is a successful turnaround school leader, this book is
valuable for leaders of high-performing schools as well as those in
need of significant change. Moreover, both new and
experienced leaders will benefit from the relentless emphasis on
human connections in these pages. I particularly appreciate
the author′s iconoclastic approach to leadership visibility, as he
demonstrates that visibility in the lunchroom, hallways, and
sidewalks is as important as visibility in the classroom.
Looking through the eyes of the student, Bonilla appeals to leaders
to make a human connection, preferring relationships over
checklists and impact over appearances. Finally, this book
provides an impressive mandate for the support of elective
subjects, including arts and athletics, to save students from
academic failure. Bonilla poignantly reminds us that
electives are not a competitor for academic achievement, but a
necessary support for them. The "afterthoughts and
reflections" at the end of each chapter make this an ideal book for
faculty book studies. I hope that it will generate vigorous
discussions, constructive controversy, and as the author suggests,
a few tears, all in the pursuit of a better understanding of
helping our students."
*Dr. Douglas Reeves*
"This book is sure to be a must-have for every beginning and
experienced principal. With Allan′s experience as a successful
principal in a struggling school, combined with his knowledge of
leadership coaching, readers will gain inspiration and solid
strategies to be equally successful."
*Karla Reiss, President*
"As a veteran of twenty-one years in the principalship, I recommend
this work to new and even seasoned principals who wish to continue
to grow professional. This is a thought-provoking work- one
from which we can all learn."
*David G. Daniels, Principal*
"I’m in the Principal’s Seat, Now What? provides a realistic,
relevant view of how to be a principal in a changing
environment. The power of the ideas and strategies is seen in
the success of the school! This book is a must read for those
studying to be a principal or newly placed in a principalship."
*Dr. Elizabeth J. Lolli, Superintendent*
"I′m In the Principal′s Seat, Now What? is a structured recipe for
what matters most in school turnaround. The significant
strategies are a visual road map for leading change and providing a
quality education and high achievement for all students."
*Suzanne Link Gimenez, Retired School Turnaround Principal*
"It has been a privilege and pleasure over the past two years to
listen to Allan as he shared with me his dream of writing a book
that would assist in the transformation of low-performing
schools. I quickly realized how much value this book would be
to leaders of the many low-performing schools I was visiting as a
turnaround consultant. I look forward to recommending this book to
all my clients!"
*Mike Cave, MEd, School Turnaround Specialist and Certified
Educational Leadership Coach*
"I′m in the Principal′s Seat, Now What? is a practical, yet
powerful book that provides valuable insight into time-tested
principles needed to turnaround any institution of
learning. This back-to-basics book is designed to help school
leaders create a culture of academic excellence."
*Eric Acosta, Ed.S., Principal*
"As a rookie administrator, I was placed under the supervision of
Dr. Bonilla. I quickly learned that creating a positive
culture, establishing a mission of academic success, and being
visible are essential keys to being an effective school leader.
Dr. Bonilla uses simple and pragmatic approaches to
organizational leadership that promotes universal buy-in from all
stakeholders. His experience and on-the-job strategies should
be a guide for all school and/or district administrators."
*Manuel Ferrer, Ed.D.*
"In his book I’m in the Principal’s Seat, Now What?, Dr. Allan
Bonilla has done a masterful job of depicting responsibilities and
duties that a school principal faces on a daily basis in the
performance of his or her duties. I consider this book a "must
read" for every aspiring school principal who wishes to gain an
insight into the role that he or she will play as a school
principal."
*Dr. Ada B. Hernandez, Retired Principal*
"For ten years I′ve had the personal and professional gratification
of closely and enthusiastically observing Dr. Allan Bonilla "walk
the talk" and "be in the Principal′s seat" at Palm Springs Middle
School in Miami. As his consultant on instruction, curriculum, and
student learning, his leadership engendered one of the most
exciting and productive learning communities I′ve encountered as a
consultant, teacher, leader, and professor. This book, I′m in the
Principal′s Seat, Now What? is a ′must-resource′ for every serious
school leader!"
*Dr. Clint Bunke, President*
"′If you talk the talk, then you must walk the walk.′ Dr.
Allan Bonilla is one prime example of an administrator who did just
that in turning around a school that was at the lower rungs of a
ladder and elevated the staff and students through the prescription
he set forth. The triad of relationships, collaboration, and team
building are the key ingredients to changing a school′s
culture. Allan orchestrated and coordinated the faculty, the
staff, and all of the stakeholders so the students could achieve
their best. His plan was carried out daily by being visible
throughout the day (morning, afternoons, evenings, & weekends) to
parents, teachers, students, community leaders and this was
accomplished before me as one of Dr. Bonilla′s assistant
principals. It is a prescription that will work at any school, any
business, or at place where "teamwork" is the key to
success. The principles Allan sets forth are the key
ingredients for success in any setting where people working
together can achieve anything if they work as a team. I, for one,
am proud to have been a part of the success that Dr. Allan Bonilla
achieved through his vision many years before this educational
trend came into being."
*Howard Popowitz, Retired Administrator*
"I’m in the Principal’s Seat, Now What? is a must read for all
current and aspiring school site administrators. The book focuses
on developing and implementing effective strategies that will
transform schools from ordinary to exemplary learning institutions.
The book was authored by Dr. Allan Bonilla who distinguished
himself serving as Principal of one of the district′s most
challenging schools. Dr. Bonilla is recognized as an effective
Principal, having received the Principal of the Year distinction
from the nation′s fourth largest school district."
*Delio G. Diaz, Executive Director*
"Dr. Bonilla′s book is a true and refreshing account and how-to
guide. His extensive experience and knowledge result in a powerful
combination that guarantees achievement and educational
excellence."
*Martha Montiel, Administrative Director*
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