The Power of Experience: Principals Talk about School Improvement is a guide for principals, both aspiring and established, who hope to make a measurable difference in the achievement of all students, and who strive to create a positive, safe, and student-centered learning environment in their schools. Gleaned from interviews with more than fifty principals who have been either instrumental in bringing a school to US Department of Education National Blue Ribbon status or who were identified as National Distinguished Principals by the National Association of Elementary School Principals, this critical source draws on the wisdom and experience of school leaders from across the nation and from select locations around the world. From Kenya to California, Alaska to Wisconsin, these principals reflect great diversity but unity of purpose: reaching and teaching all children by building exceptional schools through exemplary leadership. Whether new to the field or a veteran principal, readers will benefit from the collective wisdom, insight, and experience of principals who have built remarkable schools designed to promote student achievement.

The Savvy Superintendent examines the art of district leadership from the perspective of top practitioners in the field of education. Insights and comments from in-depth interviews with over fifty current and former successful superintendents_including American Association of School Administrators (AASA) Superintendents of the Year and runners up for the award_are woven throughout the narrative to exemplify best-in-class, real-world applications of the behaviors, attitudes, and attributes that great instructional leaders employ as they carry out their most important work: instructional leadership. This book provides practical, hands-on advice for school district superintendents. It is designed to provide needed but rarely taught ideas, insights, and information that superintendents can use to incorporate effective practices into their own school districts.