Contents: The Problem, Theoretical Background, Review of Related Literature, Research Procedure, Data Analyses and Results, Retrospects and Prospects.

"What strategies do great principals use to influence teachers, students, and classroom instruction? This best-selling book by Joseph Blase and Peggy C. Kirby, now in its third edition, provides the answers from the teachers themselves. New material in this revised edition compares the authors' original research findings with recent literature on transformational leadership, school productivity, and adult learning, as well as the ISLLC and ELCC standards. Such comparisons underscore the continued timeliness and timelessness of this teacher's-eye view of effective school leadership. The book offers strategies and related practices that allow leaders to use the power of praise, influence others by using expectations and involvement, encourage professional autonomy lead by standing behind, suggest rather than direct, use formal authority positively, ideal for experienced or aspiring school principals, this enlightening and compact resource provides invaluable perspectives on how to motivate and inspire classroom teachers."--PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE.

This book examines major issues in theory and research related to leader succession. It looks at the persistent problems confronted by people assigned to lead established social and professional groups like those found in schools. The author demonstrates how interaction between new leaders and established school organizations shape succession events (with illustrations drawn from educational administration) and provides a framework for understanding succession as a dynamic and interactive process.

"Fullan shows how moral leadership can reinvent the principalship and bring about large-scale school improvement. This is a masterfully crafted and accessible book by North America′s foremost expert on change." —Thomas J. Sergiovanni, Lillian Radford Professor of Education Trinity University, San Antonio, TX "Fullan challenges all who work in education to rethink the critical role of the principal as school leader in the current era of accountability. With clarity and insight, he offers a series of strategies to reshape the culture and context of leadership in schools to create learning communities where both students and teachers can excel." —Paul D. Houston, Executive Director American Association of School Administrators "Once again, the writing of Michael Fullan is a tour de force. The Moral Imperative of School Leadership is a must-read for those who want to make a difference!" —Gerald N. Tirozzi, Executive Director National Association of Secondary School Principals The time has come to change the context of school leadership! The role of the principal is pivotal to systemic school change. That is the fundamental message of The Moral Imperative of School Leadership, which extends the discussion begun in Fullan′s earlier publication, What′s Worth Fighting for in the Principalship? The author examines the moral purpose of school leadership and its critical role in "changing the context" in which the role is embedded. In this bold step forward, Fullan calls for principals to become agents as well as beneficiaries of the processes of school change. In an effort to make the position more rewarding and exciting, he shifts the principal′s role from one of a site-based superman or superwoman, and recasts it as one in which principals figure prominently both within their school and within the larger school system that surrounds them. Concepts explored in-depth include: Why "changing the context" should be the main agenda for the principalship Why barriers to the principalship exist Why the principal should be seen as the COO (chief operating officer) of a school Why the role of the principal should figure more prominently within the system What individuals and the system can do to transform school leadership to a powerful new force The challenge, and moral imperative, for today′s principal is to lead system transformations to resolve the top-down/bottom-up dilemma that exists in systemic change. To end the exodus from the principalship, and for great school leaders to evolve in large numbers, the time to redefine the position is now!

This book offers suggestions on how to retain good teachers, from strategies for welcoming new teachers to ideas for how to make veteran teachers feel valued.