The Cage-Busting Teacher (Educational Innovations Series)

The Cage-Busting Teacher adopts the logic of Cage-Busting Leadership and applies it to the unique challenges and opportunities of classroom teachers. Detailed, accessible, and thoroughly engaging, it uncovers the many ways in which teachers can break out of familiar constraints in order to influence school and classroom practice, education policy, and school reform. "Cage-busting is concrete, precise, and practical," writes Frederick M. Hess. This invaluable book helps teachers understand why and how to revisit their assumptions and enables them to have greater impacts upon their schools and beyond.

Based on interviews with hundreds of teachers, teacher advocates, union leaders, and others, Hess identifies the challenges teachers face, seeks concrete and workable solutions, and offers recommendations to put those solutions in place. A uniquely practical and inspiring book, The Cage-Busting Teacher is for educators who want to shape the schools and systems in which they work.

"The Cage-Busting Teacher is filled with practical ideas on how teachers can lead outside of the classroom to create school environments where they are free to do their best work. This book is a must-read for all teachers and school leaders."
--Rebecca Mieliwocki, 2012 National Teacher of the Year

"I loved this book--even the parts I hated. Finally someone (besides me) is talking about the power and authority of teachers, teachers, teachers! As educators, we have to reject the suggestion that 'You can't do that.' Push back, come up with your own ideas, and 96.4 percent (more or less) of the time, you'll find that you can do important things to improve schools. Such are the cage-busters. They don't accept the imaginary bars of the cage."
--Lily Eskelsen Garcia, president, National Education Association