The Multigenerational Workplace: Communicate, Collaborate, and Create Community

Bridge the generation gap and achieve outstanding results!

You might expect the occasional age-related misunderstanding to find its way into the classroom--after all, if today's kids aren't exactly from another planet, they're definitely from another generation. At least you and your colleagues are all on the same page...right? Not necessarily. In some schools, as many as four generations work side by side, and that means countless chances for crossed wires, miscommunication, and perhaps even mistrust.

Authors Jennifer Abrams and Valerie von Frank are attuned to these generational differences. In this book, based on Abrams' popular workshop, the authors demonstrate how educators can look past their own generational filters to reap the benefits of seeing through a new lens. Focusing on the major contexts in which generational differences play out--including recruitment, coaching, professional learning, and succession planning--this book offers

• Tools, checklists, and recommendations for collaborating, evaluating, and engaging in professional learning that meets multigenerational needs
• Professional development activities that cultivate an understanding of generational differences and strengthen workplace culture
• Real-life stories and case studies that bring the topic to life

With this honest, practical, and often amusing look at generations at work, you'll learn to improve communication, retain staff, and look toward succession--a multigenerational plan for school success.

"Few people today are taking on this topic, particularly in the U.S. One of the greatest leadership challenges of this age is how to work across generations. Newer generations are not flawed versions of previous generations--each has its own compelling perspective to contribute. This is the best book to add to an issue that affects all educators and will open up many people's thinking about leadership."
-- Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair
Lynch School of Education
Boston College, MA

Author: Jennifer B. Abrams,Valerie Von Frank
Publisher: Corwin Publishers
Published: 11/05/2013
Pages: 160
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 10.90h x 8.40w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781452218823

About the Author

Jennifer Abrams is currently a professional developer for Palo Alto Unified School District and a national and international educational consultant for public and private schools, charter schools, universities and non-profits. (Confidential note to Ed Board: she is a taking a year long leave of absence from PAUSD to begin a full-time consulting career. She will most likely leave the district after her leave of absence expires.) An English teacher for nine years, Jennifer, now in her second decade in education, trains and coaches teachers and administrators on successful teaching practices, new teacher support, supervision and evaluation, generational savvy, having hard conversations and effective collaboration skills.

She works with cadres of PAUSD teacher leaders to lead sessions on Elements of Instruction and Equity=Excellence and provides all new teacher trainings and supervisor trainings at the secondary level. Jennifer also is a lead coach for the Palo Alto - Mountain View/Los Altos Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment program.

In her consulting work, Jennifer has presented at annual conferences such as NSDC, ASCD, NCTE, and the New Teacher Center at UC Santa Cruz Annual Symposium, and has trained new teachers in the Stanford Teacher Education Program, new administrators through Santa Clara University′s Masters in Educational Leadership Program and international school leaders at the Principals′ Center for International School Leadership.

Over the last five years, Jennifer has presented the "Being Generational Savvy" session for school districts, county offices, beginning teacher programs, superintendent symposiums and administrator conferences across the USA, at ASCD Annual Conference, New Teacher Center′s Symposium and in a webinar format for the Illinois Principals′ Association.

Jennifer was featured as a generationally savvy expert for "Tune in to What the New Generation of Teachers Can Do," the lead article in the May 2008 edition of National Staff Development Council′s Tools for Schools newsletter and has been interviewed by the Illinois Principals Association′s weekly podcasts focusing on communications between the generations.

Her publications include Having Hard Conversations published by Corwin Press, the chapter, "Habits of Mind for the School Savvy Leader" in Art Costa′s and Bena Kallick′s next book in their Habits of Mind series, Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind: 16 Essential Characteristics for Success, published by ASCD, and a contribution to the book Mentors in the Making: Developing New Leaders for New Teachers (The Series on School Reform) edited by Betty Achinstein and Steven Athanases, published by Teachers College Press.

Jennifer considers herself a "voice coach", helping teachers and administrators learn how to best use their voices, be it in a group, in front of a classroom, coaching a colleague, or in a supervisory role. Jennifer holds a Master′s degree in Education from Stanford University and a Bachelor′s degree in English from Tufts University. She lives in Palo Alto, CA. She can be reached at jennifer@jenniferabrams.com.

Valerie von Frank has written extensively about education over several decades as a daily newspaper reporter in multiple states covering public schools, and, over the last decade, for the National Staff Development Council, now Learning Forward, where she was editor of JSD and interim editor of the organization′s newsletters. She also has worked as a daily newspaper editor, communications director of an urban school district, and communications director at a Michigan nonprofit school reform organization. She is co-author with Ann Delehant of Making Meetings Work: How to Get Started, Get Going, and Get It Done (Corwin Press, 2007) and with Linda Munger of Change, Lead, Succeed (NSDC, 2010).