Peter M. DeWitt, EdD is a former K-5 teacher (eleven years) and princi pal (eight years). He is a school leader ship coach who runs competency-based workshops and provides keynotes nationally and internationally, focus ing on school leadership (collaborative cultures and instructional leadership), as well as fostering inclusive school climates. Additionally, Peter coaches school-based leaders, directors, instructional coaches, teacher leaders, and school-based leadership teams both in per son and remotely. In summer 2021 Peter created a yearlong on-demand asynchronous coaching course through Thinkific where he has fostered a community of learners that includes K-12 educators in leadership positions. Peter's work has been adopted at the state and university level, and he works with numerous school districts, school boards, regional networks, and ministries of education around North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the UK. Peter writes the Finding Common Ground column for Education Week, which has been in circulation since 2011. In 2020 Peter co-created Education Week's A Seat at the Table series, where he moderates con versations with experts around the topics of race, gender, sexual orienta tion, research, trauma, and many other educational topics. Additionally, Peter is the editor for the Connected Educator series (Corwin) and the Impact series (Corwin), which include books by Viviane Robinson, Andy Hargreaves, Pasi Sahlberg, Yong Zhao, and Michael Fullan. He is the 2013 School Administrators Association of New York State's (SAANYS) Outstanding Educator of the Year and the 2015 Education Blogger of the Year (Academy of Education Arts & Sciences), and he sits on numerous advisory boards. Peter is the author, co-author, or contributor of numerous books, including the following: * Dignity for All: Safeguarding LGBT Students (Corwin, 2012) * School Climate Change (co-authored with Sean Slade; ASCD, 2014) * Flipping Leadership Doesn't Mean Reinventing the Wheel (Corwin, 2014) * Collaborative Leadership: Six Influences That Matter Most (Corwin/Learning Forward, 2016) * School Climate: Leading With Collective Teacher Efficacy (Corwin/Ontario Principals Council, 2017) * Coach It Further: Using the Art of Coaching to Improve School Leadership (Corwin, 2018) * Instructional Leadership: Creating Practice Out of Theory (Corwin, 2020) * 10 Mindframes for Leaders: The Visible Learning Approach to School Success (edited by John Hattie and Ray Smith; Corwin, 2020) * Collective Leader Efficacy: Strengthening the Impact of Instructional Leadership Teams (Corwin/Learning Forward, 2021) Peter's articles have appeared in educational research journals at the state, national, and international level. His books have been translated into four languages. Some of the organizations Peter has worked with are the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), Arkansas State University, EDUTAS, University of Oklahoma, Victoria Department of Education (Australia), University of Rotterdam (Netherlands), Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA), Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), the National Education Association (NEA), New Brunswick Teacher's Association (Canada), the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), Education Scotland (Scotland), Glasgow City Council (Scotland), Kuwait Technical College (Kuwait), the National Association of School Psychologists, ASCD, l'Association des directions et directions adjointes des ecoles franco-ontariennes (ADFO), the Catholic Principals' Council of Ontario (CPCO), the Ontario Principals' Council (OPC), National School Climate Center, GLSEN, PBS, NPR, BAM Radio Network, ABC, and NBC's Education Nation.
Peter DeWitt has provided us with a powerful and timely book on the growing phenomenon of 'Collective Efficacy'. The Six Chapters contain a goldmine of ideas, resources, tools, surveys, action steps and reflective questions. What I like best is that the book is grounded equally in research and practice. This is an urgently needed book, and you will learn a lot from it!
-- Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus
While schools focus on common standards, data analysis, and increasing achievement, Peter DeWitt explains the critical nature of school climate and why, as the 5th C, it is imperative for school success. As a school leader, Peter often asked thought-provoking questions, engaged in challenging conversations, and encouraged reflection, much as he does in Collaborative Leadership: A Collective Efficacy Approach to Improving School Climate. Through interesting vignettes, personal experience, and a variety of research, Peter provides a practical approach for growing a rich, safe environment.
-- Melissa J. Weatherwax, M.S.Ed., Former classroom teacher
If you are a fan of cooperative learning like I am and believe in the power of team work, this book is for you. Whether you are a district leader, school principal or classroom teacher, you will find numerous examples and practical ideas that Peter DeWitt offers in this book useful. Collaborative Leadership shows how one plus one can sometimes be three in collectively led schools.
-- Pasi Sahlberg, Author
Peter's book provides hands-on information on how collaborative leadership can help you create a school climate with the focus on learning. One in which all students (and teachers) feel they belong and are able to grow. Each chapter ends with action steps and questions to help me find the confidence to lead my team towards collective efficacy, including my own, without avoiding the tough topics.
-- Claire Ohlenschlager, M.Ed., English Department Chair
This is a fabulous book by a renowned expert in the field of leadership. Peter DeWitt explains the complex and credible in a way that is thought-provoking, challenging and inspiring. I love how he gives insights in what successful collaborative leadership is and shows how we can all build our skills and mindset for leading towards collective efficacy.
-- James Nottingham, Challenging Learning author and creator of #TheLearningPit
In School Climate: Leading With Collective Efficacy, Peter DeWitt delivers in print what he so readily delivers in person -- clarity and coherence around a most important topic. As a former high school principal and district leader, DeWitt leaves me with both the confidence that I can do this, and the understanding of how I can make progress, starting today. This is a must read for any school leader.
-- Kerry Alcorn, Teacher/Author/Leader
Peter DeWitt gives school leaders exactly what they need, research-based school improvement strategies that work effectively in schools today. Our instructional leadership teams, working with Peter over the past year building teachers' self-efficacy and collective teacher efficacy, are now co-constructing a school culture where everyone not only grows, but thrives. School Climate: Leading With Collective Efficacy is a roadmap to this proven approach to student success.
-- Matthew Bolduc, Director of Curriculum and Professional Development
Supported by current educational research, and grounded in powerful leadership narratives, Dewitt offers a compelling case for leaders and learning communities to collaborate to achieve collective efficacy for student success. The practical strategies, research citations, conceptual frameworks, rubrics, and self-assessment tools provide leaders with practical instruments for reflection, setting intentions, securing accountability, and measuring the impact of a collaborative climate and culture.
-- Jill Ott, Project Lead-Supporting LGBTQ Students
As educators we consistently hear about the importance of collaboration, critical thinking, communication and creatively and in School Climate, Peter DeWitt highlights the additional key element 'Climate'. By providing action steps, discussion questions and reflective tools, this book helps guide teachers, leaders and those teachers who aspire to be leaders, to develop a positive school climate. Increased self-awareness encourages teachers to become more reflective and effective, which develops a more collaborative school climate. Providing effective strategies throughout, this book is relevant and applicable to all school contexts, teams and individuals.
-- Andrea Stringer, Professional Learning Coach
After reading DeWitt's book on collaborative leadership and school climate, my own self-efficacy improved. I closed the cover feeling empowered and eager to share what I've learned. The discussion questions bring practicality to the possibility of implementation and excitement about the potential results.
-- Sera Deo, MST, 4th Grade Teacher
Where am I going? How am I going? Where to next? Simple, yet aspirational questions we ask our students to answer daily, but are we ready to ask this of ourselves in relation to our leadership of school climate and collective efficacy? Peter Dewitt is comprehensive, yet succinct, producing a practical guide for developing individual and collective efficacy in an inclusive, positive school climate. Research-based strategies, thought-provoking questions and effective tools at your fingertips, ready for immediate use. If you're after a good read, that's exactly what you'll get here....but if you're after an essential resource to empower your school community through the strength of belief that they can make learning happen, you will get that and more.
-- Ben Walsh, Principal
Collaborative Leadership: A Collective Efficacy Approach to Improving School Climate is an impressive follow-up to DeWitt's previous book, Collaborative Leadership: Six Influences That Matter Most. In his latest offering, DeWitt offers practical yet deep advice and strategies for improving school climate for the benefit of students, families, teachers, and administrators. Throughout the book, he communicates by seamlessly combining research with his experiences and the accounts of other professionals in the field. Many ideas can be implemented tomorrow, and DeWitt's main points are those with which any educational leader could identify. If you are looking for a book to assist you on your journey to advancing your leadership abilities, your school, and/or your district, look no further!
-- Ross Cooper, Supervisor of Instructional Practice K-12
School Climate: Leading With Collective Efficacy combines the research, anecdotes, reflection questions, and action steps necessary to become a high-impact, capacity-building school leader. DeWitt's style, all-at-once relatable and grounded in the work of John Hattie and so many others, will prompt readers to consider the essential aspects to our work together to be catalysts for progress in teacher, and community learning, and in student achievement.
-- Dennis J. Schug, Jr., Principal
