These days, you can get cookie-cutter-style reform books just about anywhere. But your school district is unique and needs specific strategies that affect your students and fit your mission and goals. Focused Leadership is a guidebook that your school system can use to improve student achievement—not by sweeping changes that don't stick, but by adapting the traditional roles of people involved in operating schools. From this book you can build a systemic, need-specific approach that is a collaborative effort between school board, administration and teaching staff. Castallo provides specific examples, descriptions of leadership roles and real-life examples of three important principles: honest assessment of student performance, systems building, and ongoing collaboration.