Casas - Culturize: every student, every day, whatever it takes

J immy Casas is definitely willing to do whatever it takes. In Culturize, he draws on deep personal reasons for caring about the culture of school and the relationships that shape it. He provides tools, anecdotes, and the voices of other practitioners to hone in on students and the power and influence of adult relationships on the lives of the students we serve. His approach is powerful, and it guides readers to understand that school culture must be a daily focal point for all school leaders. I walked the experiences of his journey with him, and I learned some powerful lessons along the way. I see things differently now !

Beverly Hutton, Ed.D., deputy executive director, National Association of Secondary School Principals ( NASSP )

A s a classroom teacher and education leader, Culturize resonated with me on multiple levels. I am constantly striving for my actions to reflect better than average both inside and outside of my school. Culturize serves as a true compass north for anyone aiming to create a culture where outstanding leadership is the standard at all levels. Jimmy shares personal stories of his childhood as well as highlights of his vast experience as an educational leader on his journey to empower leaders. No matter your title or profession, page after page of this book will inspire you .

Kayla Delzer, CEO, Top Dog Teaching Inc., author and globally awarded teacher

T his book reads like a good conversation. A conversation that, while comfortable, is also compelling, affirming, reflective, challenging, and expectant. The messages in Culturize hit you directly in the space between your heart, your head, and your hands. What separates this book from others of a similar theme is how strengthening our culture is in the service of ensuring high levels of learning for all students and adults. Very few books succeed in being everything to everyone. And while this is not what Jimmy sought to do, the fact is, this book is for ALL educators. In every chapter, I thought I had the target audience figured out. Is he speaking to school leaders? Teacher leaders? Instructional Coaches? Collaborative Teams? Support Professionals? The answer is YES. I found myself relating to one message that spoke to the classroom teacher in me. Another message spoke to me as a school leader. Most importantly, the book spoke to me as a champion for students. Culturize is a call to doing more of what works, a call to seeing the person behind every data point, and a call for educators to be fully awake and intentional about leveraging our power as influencers in the lives of the students we serve .

Kenneth C. Williams, Unfold the Soul, Inc .

N othing can short circuit innovative ideas and practices in schools like a toxic culture. Creating the schools and experiences todays modern learners both need and deserve is difficult work, and its up to leaders to bring these aspirations to fruition. In this book, Jimmy Casas leverages his long-time, award-winning leadership experience alongside dynamic and effective culture builders to challenge and inspire leaders to identify the average in their schools, move past the status quo, model the way, and lead and love with passion, purpose, and pride. Read this book to culturize your school and to live your excellenceevery day .

Thomas C. Murray, co-author, Learning Transformed, Director of Innovation, Future Ready Schools

F or all those committed to improving student performance, Culturize is a must-read! The number one lesson learned through ongoing studies at The International Center for Leadership in Education of the nations most rapidly improving schools reveal that culture trumps strategy. The culture in these schools is anchored first and foremost on students, not simply on standards. School improvement begins by creating relationships. These relationships enable us to determine what is relevant to each student. Relevance then enables us to achieve academic rigor with our students. In Culturize, Jimmy Casas tells us how to set this in motion. It should be a handbook for all educators .

Dr. Bill Daggett, founder and chairman, International Center for Leadership in Education

O ne of the most influential leaders I have ever met comes through with a manifesto that reads as if he were sitting right next to you. From carrying the banner of your school to delivering on the promise a student makes when you believe in them, Jimmy Casas brings passion, purpose, and pride to the world. Culturize will not only inspire you to think differently, it will give you the practical tools to empower those around you and build capacity for leadership in your school, district, or community. Its absolutely brilliant and has the opportunity to change the way we look at schools .

Joe Sanfelippo, superintendent, Fall Creek, Wisconsin, author and speaker

C ulturize is so much more than a book about how school leaders create strong culture in schools. It is a book written by someone who has walked the walk. Through the illustrative examples of practicehis and othersJimmy Casas paints the picture of a school leaders higher calling. School leaders there to work with adults and students as they go about the business of learning, but Casas urges us to look beyond the responsibility of leadership and focus on the gift of leadership. Those who work in schools know it is not an eight-hour-a-day job. (The hours are long and the work exhausting.) Casas implores us to embrace the work from a servant leader perspective and to focus on the fact that with every word and every action you are making a difference in the lives of the people with whom you work. The critical work of being a culture builder, as he describes it, is supported with ideas and examples of how to embrace becoming a culture leader in your school. Casas knows the work of the school leader is never finished, and throughout the book he poses thought-provoking self-reflection questions that cause the leader to become the learner. Great leaders are also great teachers, and in this respect Jimmy Casas teaches us all that when you work at something you love, it isnt really work at all !

Jana Frieler, former president of NASSP

I f you are a student of school culture, this book must be on your shelf as a daily reference tool and reflection guide. Building school culture happens as a result of thoughtful, intentional, and reflective leadership. Culturize takes leaders on a reflective journey by using practical vignettes to illustrate solid approaches for building school culture in a variety of ways. This book is a must-read for those who are committed to building and sustaining a culture of excellence .

Sanee Bell, Ed.D., principal, Morton Ranch Junior High

J immy does it again!! Jimmy shares personal stories, practical strategies, and most importantly, a direct challenge to the status quo. He asserts that average is not okay for our students, and he helps the reader understand how to move past whatever has become their status quo. This book is tremendous and will have a profound impact on its readers and the schools they serve .

Dr. P.J. Caposey, superintendent, Meridian 223, author, Making Evaluation Meaningful

S eth Godin taught me that you get the culture you deserve as a leader. Ouch! That's quite a statement and an overwhelming idea, especially if your current culture stinks! Fortunately, in your hands is a book from a personal hero of mine, Jimmy Casas. Use this text as a playbook to build the culture of your dreams and the culture you deserve .