Simple Solutions to Stubborn School Problems - by Garett Smith & Stenette Byrd (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Simple Solutions to Stubborn School Problems introduces the "70 in 7 Journey," a seven-year commitment to steady, human-centered improvement that helped one school division rise 70 places in state rankings through intentional, sustainable change.

We've all seen it -- students who struggle and systems that feel stuck. We ask ourselves, What are we doing wrong? How can we truly make a difference?

This book tackles those questions head-on.

Inside, the focus is on three core areas: student success, school culture, and continuous improvement. You'll explore how schools can help every child attend consistently, behave positively, and reach their full learning potential, while building environments where students and staff feel safe, respected, and motivated to learn. The emphasis throughout is on steady improvement and practical steps that lead to real change.

This isn't just a book of ideas -- it's a guide to action. Grounded in humanistic principles and real-world practice, the strategies in these pages were applied in Staunton City Schools, resulting in measurable success. Over seven years, the division rose from 105th to 35th in Virginia state rankings, earned the No. 1 spot for improvement in SOL pass rates, achieved a 93% graduation rate in 2024, closed achievement gaps across student groups, and was recognized among Virginia's top 10% of school systems as a Good Place to Work.

Simple Solutions to Stubborn School Problems shows what's possible when educators commit to people-first change -- and invites you to begin your own journey toward a school environment where every student, every day, has the chance to succeed.