Today's educational leaders are often caught in a world of rising expectations and diminishing resources-the political pressures are enormous. Those in the business of education often feel ill prepared and apprehensive about their ability to deal with a high-stakes political environment. The Politically Intelligent Leader helps leaders at all levels learn more about themselves and their own political styles. It provides strategies for delivering a personal educational vision, diagnosing others' styles, and customizing strategies to influence those who can help or hinder one's organizational goals as well as providing groundwork for leaders to understand how to operate ethically with all groups-elected boards, citizen groups, unions and volunteers-during politically volatile times.

A chapbook by Patricia Clark, Poet-in-Residence and Professor in the Department of Writing at Grand Valley State University; author of four poetry books: Sunday Rising, She Walks Into the Sea, My Father on a Bicycle, and North of Wondering. "This stirring collection offers respite from the strife-filled atmosphere we live in. And it firms Patricia Clark's status. She is one of the best poets that America presents today." -Marilyn Kallet, author of 17 books, including The Love That Moves Me "She brings us a world still fresh as spring and deep in mystery." -Kenneth Pobo, winner of the Blue Light Book Prize and author of When the Light Turns Green. "In the best moments in this remarkable collection, the creatures of the world call the poet back into herself, into reflection, into a new understanding, richer and more nuanced." -Keith Taylor, author of If the World Becomes So Bright. Published by Spruce Alley Press, 2016

In the sequel to The Secret of Baiting Hollow, thirteen-year-old Brigit, a fourth generation descendent of Irish-American potato farmers on eastern Long Island, New York, continues on her journey through imagination and wonder as she holds a precious secret close to her heart-the secret of the Baiting Hollow merpeople.

Soon Brigit's family will head back to Long Island for their two-week vacation in the Twomey farmhouse. In the meantime, Brigit's thoughts wander to Kevin O'Connell and the secret about the Twomey legacy he shared with both Brigit and her sister, Barbara, during their vacation the previous summer. Knowing that she is the adopted daughter of a mermaid makes her return to the Twomey farm for the strawberry harvest even more special, but tragedy strikes when Brigit learns that her friend, Kevin O'Connell, has been lost at sea during a terrible storm.

As the two sisters begin their getaway on their relatives' farm, Brigit suddenly realizes that others may know the secret of Baiting Hollow as stories about mermaids, a banshee, wishing stones, and the enchantment of slack tide lead the two girls on another exciting adventure through a world of fantasy.