School principals face new challenges in regard to leadership responsibilities, goals and objectives. M. Scott Norton underscores the need to gain new knowledge and skills to create more effective leadership that emphasizes a collaboration with faculty in setting a mission to which all members can commit. Aspiring educational leaders will learn how to tackle the ever-changing challenges and trends encountered by school principals, and how to create a vision needed to succeed.

District Administration

Dr. Norton has focused on the key responsibility of school principals today, that of leadership as an agent of change. The issues and problems that school principals encounter today are realistically viewed as symptoms of change. As the book clearly emphasizes, new leadership knowledge and skills will be an on-going requirement for the practicing principal. School improvement is tied directly to the extent that school leaders and their staffs continue to grow and develop. Norton speaks boldly of the program changes that must be implemented to prepare potential school leaders to meet the new challenges facing education and to assure that practicing principals are highly effective in the role of a learning leader. His recommendations for planning and implementing new models for preparing school principals are revolutionary. Although the school principal’s leading role in improving the education programs for children and youth is set forth clearly, the book’s message is significantly important for those educators that assume the responsible roles of preparing school leaders and providing meaningful programs for continuous administrative improvement.

Mike Andersen, EdD, principal, Barry Goldwater High School, Phoenix, Arizona

The Changing Landscape of School Leadership: Recalibrating the School Principalship is one of those books that should be on the reading list of all practicing school principals as well as those individuals in positions of preparing school leaders. The book’s message is one that must be read, studied, and digested by educators that truly want to improve the quality of leadership in America’s schools. As Dr. Norton emphasizes, the work of the contemporary school principal has evolved into a leadership role that differs greatly from that of only a few decades ago. The book serves as a guide for meeting the ever-changing responsibilities of the school principal. However, the book provides much more than a list of recommendations for meeting on-going problems that must be resolved. Rather, it strongly asserts that preparation programs for potential school leaders must receive foundational review and restructuring. Thus, the book is much more than a list of recommendations for meeting contemporary issues and problems, it sets forth models and leadership changes for school success.

Barry L. Fritch, M.Ed, educator, principal/learning leader, Broadmor Elementary School, Tempe, Arizona

This book does a great service toward answering the growing national concerns for improved educational programs for children and youth in America’s schools. Although national concerns regarding the need for improving student learning in schools continues, the specific ways and means for realizing the needed improvement are not always established. Dr. Norton clearly establishes the need for improving administrative leadership. This book gives the reader clear, precise and coherent models for planning, organizing and implementing effective administrator preparation programs that provide the skills and knowledge that are needed to meet the changes that are onoing in American’s society. Dr. Norton’s book will be a welcomed addition to one’s professional library.

Larry K. Kelly, Ed.D., author, educator, international consultant