School administrators' roles are being re-conceptualized, and this text focuses on the skills, values, and assumptions that principals and assistant principals employ as leaders and reformers.

The roles of administrators are conceptualized as being learners, mentors, supervisors, leaders, managers, politicians and advocates. Administrators enact these roles directly or indirectly as facilitators to others. Thus, this text views administrators more broadly as transformational leaders who include the entire school community in reform. This text uses cases and activities to provide a bridge from learning the theory of school administration to the practical problem solving in which school leaders engage.

Many students become assistant principals before they become principals. Separating the assistant principal's role often divorces the assistant from the leadership side of administration. This text emphasizes both positions to provide a more coherent conception of school leadership.