Collaborative Professionalism

In many countries, the preferred political strategy to raise standards in education is relentless competition: between students, teachers, schools and districts. On the whole, it isn′t working. There is a better way. One that works: collaboration. Human beings are intensely social creatures and much of what we can and do achieve comes from our capacity for working together. In this illuminating and highly practical book, Andy Hargreaves and Michael T O′Connor show why and how collaboration can and should be the real driver of educational transformation, for our students, teachers, and schools alike. An important and timely work for anyone with a genuine interest in making the changes that matter in schools. 

-- Sir Ken Robinson, Educator and New York Times Best Selling Author of You, Your Child, and School

Collaborative Professionalism makes an impressive contribution to the development of teaching and improving schools by stressing the importance of investing in social capital in and between schools. Building on their rich experiences and vivid case studies from around the world, Andy Hargreaves and Michael O’Connor promote collaborative professionalism as the next big step in the global movement for educational improvement. This brilliantly written book is a must-read for teachers, leaders, policy-makers, and those who wish to become collaborative professionals. 

-- Pasi Sahlberg, Professor, Gonski Institute for Education, UNSW Sydney, Australia

I strongly recommend Collaborative Professionalism to education policy makers, school leaders, and teacher activists.  It has helped me reflect on how to strengthen the teaching profession, at a time of unprecedented threat from technology, retention, and narrow accountability.  The book combines a readable style, with tangible case studies and clear recommendations on what should be done now to foster a healthy future for the most important of professions – working in alliance, with trusted autonomy, and an agility to deal with a time of unprecedented change.

-- Lord Jim Knight, former Schools Minister and Chief Education Officer, Times Education Supplement, UK
This wonderful book starts with the proposition that our central question is not whether educators can make a significant difference in the well-being and capabilities of the children we serve and the communities in which they live, but whether we are willing to do so. Our work as educators is urgent; every minute matters for our most school-dependent children. This book is a powerful reminder that getting better is something we do together. -- Rebecca Holcombe, former Secretary of Education for Vermont

Hargreaves and O’Connor have written an extraordinary book explaining, deepening, and teaching us how to transform teaching and learning in schools. We learn how people collaborate in five different contexts and cultures across the globe. And we finally understand the important stages of building positive, trusting, thoughtful, and lasting collaborative professionalism with all its significant details.

-- Ann Lieberman, Senior Scholar at Stanford University
Accessible and deep in equal measure. Collaborative Professionalism gives us vivid, creative designs for engaging in lasting collaboration. This is a book that will have the ear of teachers, teachers′ leaders, and policy makers all over the world.
-- Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus OISE/University of Tor