James H. "Torch" Lytle is practice professor of educational leadership at the Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania. From 1998–2006 Lytle was superintendent of the Trenton, NJ Public Schools; prior to his appointment in Trenton, he served in a variety of capacities in the School District of Philadelphia as an elementary, middle, and high school principal; executive director for planning, research, and evaluation; regional superintendent; and assistant superintendent.