Challenging the Status Quo in Education

Lean methodologies, when applied to education, can address issues such as resource waste, inefficient processes, and lack of student engagement by focusing on streamlining workflows, identifying and eliminating non–value-added activities, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Through interviews with the superintendent of a school district, this book relates the journey of learning and growth as shared through storytelling, reflecting, and releasing tested wisdom. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement, this Great Lean Leader unfolds the truths for how he achieved sustainable success— and continues the relentless pursuit of value creation. As part of the Great Lean Leaders series, this book is designed to provide several reference points for reading and learning about the what’s, why’s, and how’s of Lean Leadership. The chapters are realistic and represent stories shared with authenticity and transparency based on two interviews with the Lean Leader. Each chapter has five sections: an overview of the interview, a referenced section of six Great Lean Leader strategies and tactics and nine benefits, a summary of observed Great Lean Leader competencies, and links to the interviews and transcripts of the interviews. A final summary chapter is based on a group panel session and contains a detailed summary of intensive interviews, along with a set of detailed teaching lessons. A description of Lean principles and Lean tools is scattered throughout the book to add relevance and expand the reader’s knowledge of lean methodologies.