This book provides a bridge from learning the theory of school administration to the practical problem solving in which school principals and other leaders engage.

The Principal is organized into four parts centered on the six Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) Standards developed specifically for school leaders. Each of the four major parts of the book is framed with one or two of the Standards as its major theme.

This text continues to be based on the research indicating linkages between educational leadership and productive schools, especially in terms of outcomes for children. It supports the understanding that formal leadership in schools is a complex, multi-faceted task that requires continual learning and that effective school leaders must be strong educators focused on the central issues of learning, teaching, and school improvement. School leaders must also be moral agents and social advocates for the children and communities they serve while working with community stakeholders to create learning communities that value and care for others as individuals and as members of the educational community.