Daniel M. Perna is an educational consultant concentrating on school improvement and achievement. His work focuses on implementing high standards in classrooms, helping teachers develop strategies to increase student comprehension, and designing goal-oriented leadership for schools. Perna has over 30 years of experience in public education. He has been an English teacher, basketball coach, athletic director, high school principal, and assistant superintendent. He currently serves as an adjunct teacher in graduate education for Wilkes University and as an advisor to doctoral students in educational leadership at NOVA Southeastern University. Perna has received the Pennsylvania Association of Supervision and Curriculum Directors award for research and publications. He has presented professional development workshops, keynote addresses, and conference presentations in both the United States and Canada. He is noted for his motivational approach to developing a passion for success in the school and classroom. He was granted a master’s in educational administration from McDaniel College and a doctorate from NOVA Southeastern University. Dr. Davis is a retired public school administrator, thus far having spent 43 years in education, and is still very actively involved in education as a consultant and as an advisor to Doctoral students in Educational Leadership at NOVA Southeastern University. His educational consultant thrust concentrates on curriculum and staff development, especially as it relates to teaching and supervision in standards-based education. Dr. Davis has taught mathematics at the high school level, Education at the undergraduate level and Educational Administration and Supervision at the graduate level. He has written articles for various educational publications, including New Voices in Education, Education New Mexico, Pennsylvania Journal of Teacher Leadership, and Learning & Media. He has received the Pennsylvania Association of Supervision and Curriculum Directors award for research and publications. Dr. Davis earned his Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling at Alfred University and his Ed.D. in Educational Administration at New Mexico State University.
The authors have designed a process that respects the teacher's professionalism and works to collaborate with parents in a discussion about standards and possible educational outcomes without becoming mechanical. -- From the Foreword by Fenwick W. English It seems you can't talk to any American teacher today without hearing about the pressure to raise test scores and `cover' standards. Perna and Davis help schools and teachers navigate the standards movement by creating a common language and step-by-step approach that brings state standards from an abstract--and sometimes feared--document to a powerful classroom tool. -- Billie Donegan, School Improvement Coach This book is a distinct contribution to the field given today's accountability-heavy educational environment. An understanding of how to work successfully with standards is critical to student and teacher success. -- Stacey Edmonson, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership