In this text, two highly respected authors offer insight and inspiration that will be of benefit to both aspiring and practicing educational leaders. Leaders who seek to develop a culture of collaborative leadership and a system-wide commitment to improving an individual school or school system will find in these pages not only important implications from research, but-more critically-encouragement and hope.

Frank Davidson, Arizona school superintendent and 2006 Arizona Superintendent of the Year

Papa and English clearly understand the limitations of, and our overemphasis on, data-based decision making (test scores and other local and federal accountability measures). They state throughout their book a shift to evidence-based decision making and the critical reasons why successful leaders MUST look further below the surface (for the evidence) to ensure all students receive fair, equitable, rigorous, and appropriate instruction in our schools. Turnaround Principals for Underperforming Schools needs to be in every university principal preparation program in the country.

Theodore Creighton, professor, Virginia Tech and former executive director of the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration (NCPE

Turnaround Principals for Underperforming Schools presents an informative and provocative look at the scaffolding and structure supporting and confronting turnaround principals. There is limited understanding about how to create and sustain the practice of "turnaround principals." Papa and English have filled the understanding gap with a reliable and realistic guide that effectively grasps the intricacies of the role.

Richard A. Flanary, senior director, Leadership Programs & Services, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)