"The author shares stories of historical figures from the past as well as contemporary school superintendents and principals. The present nature and complexity of leadership is heavily dependent on the past, as we cannot fully understand or appreciate the current context without going back and exploring the past. To ignore great leaders from the past would run the risk of having current and aspiring school leaders not completely knowing, understanding, and appreciating these exemplary lessons in the contemporary context. These stories help us to understand the values, beliefs, and morals of contemporary school leaders; they help us define what it means to be a school leader in contemporary America."--Publisher's description.