In Raise Student Achievement: Become a Leader of Leaders Drs. Freeley and Scircca have created a guide to leadership that is refreshing in its non-prescriptive nature. It offers constant opportunities for the reader to analyze and reflect on her/his own practice and progress in developing a complete instructional leadership climate and culture with reference to the ISSLC standards throughout and with emphasis on the total landscape of leading instructional improvement from classroom to boardroom. The idea that there is no one way to lead as there is no one way to teach illustrates the power of reflection on practice as opposed to slavish pursuit of a model. As useful and powerful as any aspect of the book is the constant use of stories to illustrate problems and successes in various leadership situations. The final chapter is a masterful summary of characteristics of effective leaders supported by vignettes of effective practice for each characteristic. Professional educators must read, re-read and reflect upon this book and then collaborate with others to incorporate its tenets if we are to move classroom observation from simple evaluation to meaningful professional development that results in the best student learning.

Dr. Richard Hanzelka, Professor, St. Ambrose University, Past President of ASCD

This publication provides an interrelated discussion of topics critical to effective leadership. It is a practical guide to leadership at the district and building levels supported by a research base and national standards with examples that have been successfully used. The discussion includes the roles and behaviors necessary for successful school leaders as well as the actions and processes for district leaders to perform to make building leaders more effective. This comprehensive guide includes critical factors rarely addressed such as effective leadership strategies, sustaining and growth strategies for leaders through professional development, hiring practices and strategies to sustain strong schools. It is a must have guide for everyone seeking to make schools more effective.

Marcia Knoll, professor of education at Hunter College

For too long, we have heard the criticism that the field of educational leadership lacks a repertoire of effective practices that are the hallmark of professionalism. Diane Scriccia and Mary Ellen Freeley, in their book, Raise Student Achievement: Become a Leader of Leaders, have clearly and thoughtfully responded, by pulling together research and expert guidance on the core leadership practices for continuous school improvement. By weaving in scenarios and reflective questions, they help the reader make connections to the framing ideas of the book—that developing leaders effectiveness is equally essential to developing teachers and that educator quality comes through well focused selection, professional development, observation and feedback. I highly recommend this book for aspiring and current school and district leaders as a springboard for planning for and enacting the guidance it so succinctly offers.

Margaret Terry Orr, director, Future School Leaders Academy, Bank Street College of Education, co-author of "Preparing Principals for a Changing World"