Rekindling the Flame

"Refreshing and enlightening! This book is for the teacher concerned about his career, the school administrator concerned about staff morale, and the college instructor concerned about the preparation of aspiring educators. Finally, it is an excellent book for school board members and state level policy makers in understanding the challenges facing school administrators."
Jack McKay, Interim Dean
College of Education and Professional Studies
Central Washington University, Ellensburg

"Rekindling the Flame should be required reading for principals and teachers! Educators will appreciate the practical information to help recognize and manage professional burnout. This book has international appeal for principals, teachers, and those who employ them."
Jennifer Fraser, Principal
St. Michaels Primary School, Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, Australia

A practical guide for administrators to revitalize teachers!

There is no greater loss for a school than to lose a good teacher to burnout. Become a more effective school administrator by helping your teachers stay motivated and vibrant! Rekindling the Flame offers a researched-based but practical approach to recognizing, managing, and preventing one of the great tragedies of education—teacher burnout.

The challenges of education today can send even the best teacher spiraling down and out. Savvy administrators spot the signs of teacher distress and take preventative action before it is too late. Brock and Grady utilize existing research and practice to provide accessible, real-life solutions to help busy administrators understand and prevent staff burnout. Highlights include:

• Recognizing burnout – origins and symptoms
• Personality profile of the susceptible teacher
• Organizational and administrative issues
• Strategies for recovery and prevention
• The principal′s role
• Effective ongoing management—tending the flame

Any administrator concerned about keeping good teachers motivated will want this book. It is an essential guide for principals, school administrators, staff development programs, graduate courses in educational administration—and an inspiration for every teacher!

Barbara L. Brock is a professor of education at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. She has held a variety of positions in education, including education department chair, director of school administration, elementary principal, and K-12 teacher. She presents nationally and internationally on topics of beginning teacher induction, leadership succession, teacher and principal burnout, and educators with disabilities. She is coauthor with Marilyn Grady of Principals in Transition: Tips for Surviving Succession, From First-Year to First-Rate: Principals Guiding New Teachers, Rekindling the Flame: Principals Combating Teacher Burnout, Avoiding Burnout: A Principal’s Guide to Keeping the Fire Alive, and Launching Your First Principalship. She has published in a number of journals, including The Journal of the Mid-Western Research Association, Educational Considerations, Connections, Clearinghouse, and Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiry and Practice. She received her bachelor of arts degree in art education from Briar Cliff University, a master of arts with a specialty in school administration from Creighton University, and a doctorate in administration, curriculum, and instruction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Marilyn L. Grady, is professor of educational administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). She is the author or coauthor of 23 books, including From Difficult Teachers to Dynamic Teamwork (2009) with Brock, Getting it Right from the Start (2009) with Kostelnik From First Year to First Rate (2007) with Brock, 194 High-Impact Letters for Busy Principals (2006), 20 Biggest Mistakes Principals Make and How to Avoid Them (2004) and Launching Your First Principalship (2004) with Brock. Her research areas include leadership, the principalship, and superintendent-board relations. She has more than 175 publications to her credit. She is the editor of the Journal of Women in Educational Leadership. Her editorial board service has included Educational Administration Quarterly, International Studies in Educational Administration, International Journal of Learning, Rural Educator, Journal of At-Risk Issues, Journal of School Leadership, Advancing Women in Leadership On-Line Journal, Journal for Rural School and Community Renewal, International Journal of Learning, and Journal for a Just and Caring Education. She is the recipient of the Stanley Brzezinski Research Award, NCPEA’s Living Legend Award, the Donald R. and Mary Lee Swanson Award for Teaching Excellence, UNL’s Distinguished Teaching Award, and UNL’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Status of Women. Grady coordinates an annual conference on women in educational leadership that attracts national attendance and is in its 24th year. She has been an administrator in K-12 schools as well as at the college and university levels. She received her bachelor’s degree in history from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, and her doctorate in educational administration with a specialty in leadership from The Ohio State University.