Robert Evans is a clinical and organizational psychologist and director of the Human Relations Service in Wellesley,
Mass. A former high school and preschool teacher, he has consulted to hundreds of schools and districts throughout
America and around the world and has worked extensively with teachers, administrators, school boards, and state
education officials.
Review
"A unique, superb, and penetrating analysis of the human side of educational change. Evans knows the human
realities of change and portrays them vividly in both individual and organizational terms. His discussion of hope
and realism in the final chapter is a gem."
--Michael Fullan, dean, Faculty of Education, University of Toronto
"I wish I had had this resource ten years ago. Rob Evans certainly understands what gets in the way of
real school change and what the simple, key elements are that can make it happen. No board member, superintendent,
or school principal should make one more decision or host one more meeting without reading this book."
--Judy Cunningham, principal, South Lake Middle School, Irvine, California
"Evans has written a realistic yet hopeful book that sets a new standard for providing the leadership needed
to implement school improvements. An engaging and much-needed update of the critical, but often overlooked, human
side of change."
--Thomas J. Sergiovanni, Lillian Radford Professor of Education and senior fellow, Center for Educational Leadership,
Trinity University
"School leaders will find this book realistic about the difficulties of change, rich in practical advice
about school improvement, and useful in showing how to transcend the limits of their own experience to practice
effective leadership."
--Thomas W. Payzant, superintendent, Boston Public Schools
Submitted by Publisher, March, 2001
Summary
Even the best-intentioned school reform efforts can be stalled by the resistance of educators who feel burdened
and conflicted when trying to implement the change process. In this book, Robert Evans draws on an expert understanding
of human behavior and organizational functioning to provide practical guidance on leading schools through the varied
dimensions of change. The Human Side of School Change presents realistic advice on problem solving, communication,
and staff motivation, offering a range of leadership strategies for building trust, confidence, capacity, and inspiration
in schools.
