Foreword by Dr Terrence Deal In a highly readable, conversational tone, and using numerous real-life examples, the authors explain what it means to be a visionary, inspiring, and truly effective leader - guiding the reader through a process of self-assessment and professional development. They help the reader to take responsibility for his or her own personal/professional development through "reflection, activities, and exercises." In particular, the book is a response to those participants in the authors' leadership seminars who want practical ideas for improving their leadership. Brubaker and Coble have take each concept and make it come alive for the practising leader as a perpetual learner. They provide a range of instructional and learning materials which can be used as a personal guide to the reader, and as tools for training.

'An exciting guide to help aspiring educational leaders develop' - Terrence E. Deal, Professor of Education, University of Southern California 'Moving, realistic, and candid. Every would-be and present administrator would benefit from reading this book' - Seymour B. Sarason, Author and Professor of Psychology Emeritus, Yale University 'Filled with practical, useful ideas to help you get (and keep!) your career going in the right direction. All school administrators should make this book a part of their personal learning plan. We are using it as a part of our intensive leadership training program' - Richard E. Maxwell, Deputy Executive Director, Buckeye Association of School Administrators Is your administrative career moving along as you intended? Are you getting closer to your ideal job? This book will help you deal with the pressures, pitfalls, and opportunities that face educational administration leaders. If you are on track, and especially if you're not, Brubaker and Coble will teach you how to identify and prevent "derailment." This second edition is completely updated and two new chapters - "Accountability and High-Stakes Testing" and "The Seasons of an Educational Leader's Career" - address the new political realities of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Use this guide to assess your chances for derailing. The authors provide precise information for avoiding potential career derailment and direction for continuing your self-development in order to become a more valuable asset to your school district and your board. You'll gain strategies to help start or keep your forward momentum, learn what you may be doing to sabotage prospects for promotion (or retention), and discover how to take steps to remedy the situation. Become - or remain - an effective, creative school administrator. Help colleagues and staff use their talents to benefit themselves and the organization. This practical, step-by-step guide is designed to help you create an atmosphere in which derailment can be prevented or minimized. Professors of educational administration and curriculum will find this book a valuable asset for courses that focus on teacher and administrator leadership. This text serves as an insightful and practical addition to existing supervision and instructional leadership literature by emphasizing the link between leadership and student-centred learning