Dr. Muhammad is recognized as one of the field’s leading experts in the areas of school culture and organizational climate. His work has allowed him to work with schools in all 50 U.S. states, 10 Canadian provinces, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Dr. Muhammad is a best-selling author of several books, including: Overcoming the Achievement Gap Trap: Liberating Mindsets to Effect Change; The Will to Lead and the Skill to Teach; Transforming Schools at Every Level (2011); Transforming School Culture: How to Overcome Staff Division (2009); and a contributing author to the book The Collaborative Administrator: Working Together as a Professional Learning Community (2008). Anthony has also published 26 articles in education journals and publications in seven different countries.
Anthony talks about his background, dedicating his life to make sure kids get a fair shake in education, getting a track scholarship to Michigan State, and his love of TV shows about judges (2:36)
Anthony explains why he wrote his book Overcoming the Achievement Gap Trap (5:05)
An extended discussion of some of Dr. Muhammad’s ideas and proposals for closing the achievement gap (7:54)
All about New Frontier 21 , Anthony’s team of consultants, which is widely considered to be one of America’s best provider of services to teachers and administrators to schools of all kinds across the country (16:29)
Anthony discusses his career path, starting with growing up in Flint, Michigan, requesting to be assigned to the most disadvantaged school in Lansing for his first teaching job, to where he is today, and some of his major motivations that spurred him on (19:25)
Moving from teaching into school administration, which he never envisioned early in his education career (23:30)
Some of the reasons Anthony moved into administration and then into consulting (28:43)
Some of the obstacles Anthony has faced and overcome in his career as a school leader (30:09)
How Anthony balanced his school leader responsibilities with raising six kids (36:13)
Anthony’s greatest moment came from setting the Big Hairy Audacious Goal of seeing every student pass every course and then making it happen (38:33)
The best leadership advice Dr. Muhammad ever received – every day, spend some time reading a book or magazine or website about education (40:39)
A clear vision and great relationships with students, teachers and parents were Anthony’s greatest strengths (41:40)
Anthony discusses several books that have made a big impact on his career (42:30)
His advice for school administrators on working with students – you can’t truly serve someone you don’t understand or don’t respect (43:36)
His advice for school administrators on working with teachers – don’t ever forget what it was like to be a teacher (44:53)
If Dr. Muhammad had a time machine and could magically transport himself back to when he was just starting out in school administration, the most important thing he would do differently would be to get parents involved in their child’s education much earlier (45:16)
Books mentioned in this episode
Transforming School Culture: How to Overcome Staff Division
The Will to Lead, the Skill to Teach: Transforming Schools at Every Level
The Moral Imperative of School Leadership
Leaders of Learning: How District, School, and Classroom Leaders Improve Student Achievement
Starting a Movement: Building Culture From the Inside Out in Professional Learning Communities
The Pedagogy of Confidence: Inspiring High Intellectual Performance in Urban Schools
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t
How The Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In
Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies
Connect with Dr. Anthony Muhammad
About EducatorsLead:
Educators Lead is a podcast created to help launch educators into the next level of leadership. This show is for you if you are interested in educational leadership as an assistant principal, principal, superintendent, teacher or someone who hopes to be a school leader one day. Educators Lead offers inspiration and practical advice to help you lead more effectively. Jay Willis interviews school leaders three days a week to discuss why and when these educators made the decision to move into school leadership, challenges along the journey, and stories that made it all worthwhile. Educators Lead is a great resource for any educator looking to make a greater impact.
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I heard Anthony Muhamad speak at the ASCD conference in Atlanta last spring. He talked about an intervention called Homework lunch and I wanted more specifics about how they implemented the intervention — got teachers on board with it etc. I’d like to know if there is any place I can go to to find out more about this specific intervention. Thank you! Sara