These stories are remarkable in their clarity, drama, passion, and insight. Most of all, they are remarkable because they are the voices of practicing school leaders. This is an experience far too rare in our profession: a conversation about writing about school practice among practitioners. I was moved by the courage of these educators and by what they had to say.

From the Foreword by Roland Barth

Founder of the International Network of Principals’ Centers

Harvard University

This small but powerful book will inspire all educators who seek an elusive dream: to create schools that function more productively and humanely for children and adults.

A dedicated group of Maine educators–teacher leaders, teaching principals, and principals–wanted to lead their schools toward this dream. They first met at the Maine Academy for School Leaders (MASL) in 1992 to share their experiences and frustrations and to help each other improve their understanding and practice of educational leadership. In the years since then, they have made remarkable progress. This stimulating book recounts the journeys and describes the enlightening discoveries made by ten of the MASL participants.

Through a series of stories as varied as the schools and the groups they represent, you see how MASL participants successfully forged working teams out of faculty groups greatly divided by philosophies and personal histories. These pioneering educators developed many new skills, including the ability to respond more constructively to angry and demanding parents and colleagues.

These are their stories, personal accounts of the twists and turns of their evolving identities as leaders. Each of these vignettes shares one goal: to make sense of the toughest leadership challenges so that all of us can see the path more clearly.

Throughout this unique book, you will recognize challenges that you too are facing. You’ll also see challenges that lie ahead of you and, as a result, will be better prepared to handle them when the time comes. Designed as a companion to Becoming Better Leaders, every page of this book is a sobering yet compelling lesson in educational leadership.