Based on the authors' research on the behaviour and thinking of school leaders, this volume presents arguments about the natue of expert school leadership. It parallels developments in the field from the early 1980s when the emphasis was on identifying the behaviours of effective principals, to the early 1990s, when the focus shifted to understanding the thinking underlying those behaviours. The ideas contained in this book should be useful in helping practising educationalists develop the skills involved in school leadership.

Part 1 A perspective on developing expert leadership for future schools: a conception of expert leadership for future schools; what research tells us about the present state of schools leadership. Part 2 The nature of expert leadership for future schools: envisioning the future schools; expert school leadership on the high ground and in the swamp; expert leadership on the high ground; expert leadership in the swamp; the special role of values in school leadership; teacher development - a central problem for leaders of future schools; collaborative school cultures - a key part of the solution. Part 3 Developing expert leadership for future schools: the socialization of school-leaders; characteristics of formal programs for developing leadership on the high ground; characteristics of formal programmes for developing expert school leadership in the swamp; performance appraisal and selection of school leaders - performance appraisal for growth; performance appraisal and selection of school leaders - selection processes and measurement issues; implications for district leaders.

Kenneth Leithwood, Paul T. Begley, J. Bradley Cousins