June 2003 (Revised July 2003)
Case
HBS Case Collection

Union City Schools: Sustaining The Turnaround

By: Rosabeth M. Kanter and Ryan Raffaelli

Format:Print
| Language:English
| Pages:21

Abstract

Under the leadership of Superintendent Thomas Highton, Union City Schools, New Jersey, underwent a 14-year turnaround. In 1989, the Union City School District was the second-worst-performing district in New Jersey. As Mr. Highton prepared to retire, 2002 student test scores had increased to the point where Union City was the highest among New Jersey cities with a population of 50,000 or more. Teachers, parents, and administrators pondered whether his district would be able to sustain the changes after his departure.

Keywords

Leadership; Leading Change; Performance Consistency; Change Management; New Jersey

Citation

Kanter, Rosabeth M., and Ryan Raffaelli. "Union City Schools: Sustaining The Turnaround." Harvard Business School Case 303-137, June 2003. (Revised July 2003.)