School Leadership and Administration: Important Concepts, Case Studies, and Simulations

by Richard Gorton, Judy Alston

This text helps prospective and experienced principals, administrators, and supervisors increase their knowledge and skills through concepts, case-studies, and simulations. Part I presents important theoretical concepts and research findings that can improve educators’ problem-solving and leadership effectiveness. Part II consists of over 65 reality-based case studies, “In-Basket Exercises,” simulations, and role-plays to illustrate problems and issues. The case studies, simulations, and exercises stimulate class discussion and reflection on key issues facing today’s school administrator and offer guidelines for thoughtful problem-solving and resolution. The new edition has been updated to include the most current research on areas such as leadership, as well as refocused chapters to more accurately address real life school situations.

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Yari · Rating 3 out of 5]

First half of the book is spot on- relevant to the field of school administration. The other half is just a listing of case studies with possible solutions left to the reader (some were extreme to the point of being unrealistic) - not helpful at all. My professor did not utilize any of the case studies which made it even more useless. An expensive book.. yet only half was worth anything. Not impressed.

[Mandie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the most obnoxious and pretentious books I’ve had the displeasure of reading. It was so awful I stopped reading and only skimmed the necessary pages for my coursework. The authors try way too hard to sound highly intelligent and all it does is make for unnatural sentences. In one table explaining types of power, they just say “similar to what we discussed earlier”. Similar in what way? Discussed when? 🙄 just awful.

[Hillary Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I had the 9th edition that is quite dated, on loan from Amazon and it is absolutely falling apart, this book has so many important lessons on roles, skills, responsibilities and practical scenarios that educational leaders face daily. It was 1 of 2 textbooks that I found very useful in my EWU Principal's Certification program.

[Reuel · Rating 2 out of 5]

More of a K-12 focus than I cared for.