Robert Hess, D.Ed.
Author, Consultant, & School Improvement Specialist

Workshops, Presentations, Keynotes: Rob is a former secondary teacher (10 years), principal (8 years), and current district office administrator with experience at all levels, K-12, and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Oregon. His workshops and presentations are research-based, grounded in best practice, thought provoking, and come from a wealth of experience in actually helping schools and districts improve. He has presented at state and national school conferences. Utilizing audience participation, technology, and humor, Rob presents ideas in ways that are engaging and easily applied. He also has experience helping site councils and school improvement teams develop and implement action plans that will lead to measurable results.

Work: Student Achievement Leader Springfield Public Schools 525 Mill Street Springfield, OR 97477 Ph: 541.726-3305

Home: 30749 SW Larson Rd. Lebanon, OR 97355 541.970-2432 e-mail: robhess@comcast.net website: www.breakthroughschools.org

Topic: Generating School Improvement in the Midst of Shrinking Budgets
School improvement can be achieved in the midst of declining budgets by discovering efficiencies
within the system. The answer lies in utilizing the resource of time to its fullest potential through the
Quality School Improvement Framework. The QSI makes meeting individual student needs the top
priority. Learn about after school clubs, team structures, small group instruction, summer school, small
learning communities, and intersessions that can be developed to meet student needs without additional
funding.
Audience: Teachers and Administrators

Topic: The Talented Teacher
The number one correlate for school improvement is quality instruction. Talented teachers are the key
to quality instruction, but what are the critical indicators of talented teachers? In this research-based
presentation, learn the five keys to becoming a talented teacher and how to develop those core
competencies. Participants will be able to reflect upon their abilities as a teacher through a selfassessment
tool and learn ways they can develop their own talents as a teacher.
Audience: Teachers

Topic: School and District Improvement via Priority Leadership
School and district improvement is systemic. The most effective way to generate continuous improvement is
by identifying and pursuing key priorities that will drive the system toward change and growth. Proven by
demonstrated success over a seven-year period of district and school improvement, learn about three
priorities that will generate significant gains in student achievement. This coaching model of staff
development is for schools and districts that are committed to long-term improvement over time.
Audience: Administrators

Topic: Priority Leadership
The innovative concept of Priority Leadership is driven by the vision of creating meaningful, enduring,
and effective change by focusing on improving a spectrum of leadership skills. Priority Leadership is
based upon ten continuums. Each continuum focuses on specific areas of research-based leadership
actions and attitudes that generate increased results in the field of education and world of business. The
ten continuums are as follows:

	• From planning to vision
	• From goal setting to priorities
	• From policy to targets of opportunity
	• From problem solving to capacity building
	• From separation to relationship
	• From controlled management to shared leadership
	• From hidden agendas to authentic listening
	• From conformance to performance
	• From tradition to data to reflection
	• From arrival to growth

This new leadership framework places an emphasis on building the capacity of organizations through
continuous improvement. The ten continuums of Priority Leadership will change the way you think
about management, leadership, and the crucial business of school and district improvement in the 21st
Century. A series of questions and responses enable potential leaders the opportunity to place
themselves on each of the continuums and highlight areas for specific growth and development.
Audience: Administrators

Topic: Supporting Academic Excellence Through Positive Behavior
It is no mystery that well-behaved students and safe schools have a direct impact on improved test
scores. Positive Behavior Support (PBS) is a systemic way to improve student learning by improving
student behavior. Through PBS, all staff in the building learn to speak the same language and have the
same three behavior goals for all students: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible. In PBS schools,
students are taught expected behavior, recognized for exhibiting proper behavior, and experience logical
consequences for inappropriate behavior. Developed by researchers from University of Oregon and
proven effective in schools across the country, schools that effectively implement PBS generally reduce
their office referrals by 50% in the first year while at the same time increasing attendance, student
satisfaction rates, and test scores.
Audience: Teachers and Administrators

Topic: Inspiring Teacher Leadership
The next generation of school improvement will occur when we learn to harness the massive leadership
potential that naturally exists within our schools—teacher leadership. Discover a variety of ways that
teacher leadership can be encouraged and developed that will directly impact school improvement.
Audience: Teachers and Administrators

Books by Dr. Hess:
Excellence, Equity, Efficiency: How Principals and Policymakers Can Survive the Triangle of Tension
Published by ScarecrowEducation, January 2005.

Priority Leadership: Generating School and District Improvement Through Systemic Change
Published by Rowman & Littlefield Education, May 2006.