What do you think?
Rate this book
School Leadership from A to Z: How to Lead Well Without Losing Your Way
School leadership is hard, and it’s hard on school leaders.
More and more school leaders are struggling with the ever-expanding expectations and associated stressors of the role. In School Leadership from A to Z, Bradley James Davies hopes to turn the tide and bring more joy and wellness back to the principal’s office.
Through a series of short, alphabetized essays like "C is for Culture," "I is for Introverts Beware," "L is for Lifeguard Parenting," "T is for Tender Tough Teflon," and "Y is for You're Really Not That Funny," Davies draws on his two decades of serving elementary, middle, and high schools as a teacher, coach, and administrator to bring you the best practices, most effective approaches, and tried-and-true tricks of the trade. Via stories of his struggles and successes, Davies’ refreshingly funny insights offer a way forward toward a place where both leading well and living well need not be as rare as a copy machine that never breaks down.
School Leadership from A to Z is a must-read insider’s peek behind the curtain of the good, bad, and ugly of school leadership. Part how-to, part memoir, this humble and humorous guide will prove powerfully helpful for school leaders in every stage of their careers.
More and more school leaders are struggling with the ever-expanding expectations and associated stressors of the role. In School Leadership from A to Z, Bradley James Davies hopes to turn the tide and bring more joy and wellness back to the principal’s office.
Through a series of short, alphabetized essays like "C is for Culture," "I is for Introverts Beware," "L is for Lifeguard Parenting," "T is for Tender Tough Teflon," and "Y is for You're Really Not That Funny," Davies draws on his two decades of serving elementary, middle, and high schools as a teacher, coach, and administrator to bring you the best practices, most effective approaches, and tried-and-true tricks of the trade. Via stories of his struggles and successes, Davies’ refreshingly funny insights offer a way forward toward a place where both leading well and living well need not be as rare as a copy machine that never breaks down.
School Leadership from A to Z is a must-read insider’s peek behind the curtain of the good, bad, and ugly of school leadership. Part how-to, part memoir, this humble and humorous guide will prove powerfully helpful for school leaders in every stage of their careers.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2022
60 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Bradley James Davies
3 booksBradley James Davies is an expert listener, award-winning and best-selling author, and sought-after keynote speaker who helps leaders and teams leverage the one thing that changes everything: Next-Level Listening™.
With humor, soul, and a hands-on approach, Bradley offers keynotes and workshops on the transformational power of listening and how it can level up every area of our lives. From improved sales and team chemistry at work to deeper intimacy and peace at home, Bradley gives audiences practical tips, tools, and strategies proven to have an immediate, real-world impact.
As an ICF-certified coach trained at Georgetown University's Institute for Transformational Leadership, Bradley works with clients across sectors and at every level of leadership, from rising stars to C-suite veterans, helping them optimize what matters most.
Bradley’s debut book, School Leadership from A to Z: How to Lead Well Without Losing Your Way, draws on his two-decade career in education and explores the ups, downs, and all-arounds of school life and leadership.
Bradley’s second book, Next-Level Listening: How to Have Better Sex, Make More Money, Improve Your Marriage, Elevate Your Leadership, Connect with Your Kids, Win the Election, & Survive the Zombie Apocalypse, is due out in 2026.
Peaking way too early in life, Bradley’s claim to fame remains his first job out of college: driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
Bradley calls Crested Butte, USA, and Madrid, España home. When not writing, working with leaders, or on the road speaking, you'll likely find Bradley listening to Gregory Alan Isakov, reading, hiking, flirting with photography, or dreaming of someday adding a therapy dog named Fred to his family.
You can connect with Bradley via his website at bradleyjamesdavies.com, on Instagram @bradleyjamesdavies, and on Facebook at Bradley James Davies.
With humor, soul, and a hands-on approach, Bradley offers keynotes and workshops on the transformational power of listening and how it can level up every area of our lives. From improved sales and team chemistry at work to deeper intimacy and peace at home, Bradley gives audiences practical tips, tools, and strategies proven to have an immediate, real-world impact.
As an ICF-certified coach trained at Georgetown University's Institute for Transformational Leadership, Bradley works with clients across sectors and at every level of leadership, from rising stars to C-suite veterans, helping them optimize what matters most.
Bradley’s debut book, School Leadership from A to Z: How to Lead Well Without Losing Your Way, draws on his two-decade career in education and explores the ups, downs, and all-arounds of school life and leadership.
Bradley’s second book, Next-Level Listening: How to Have Better Sex, Make More Money, Improve Your Marriage, Elevate Your Leadership, Connect with Your Kids, Win the Election, & Survive the Zombie Apocalypse, is due out in 2026.
Peaking way too early in life, Bradley’s claim to fame remains his first job out of college: driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
Bradley calls Crested Butte, USA, and Madrid, España home. When not writing, working with leaders, or on the road speaking, you'll likely find Bradley listening to Gregory Alan Isakov, reading, hiking, flirting with photography, or dreaming of someday adding a therapy dog named Fred to his family.
You can connect with Bradley via his website at bradleyjamesdavies.com, on Instagram @bradleyjamesdavies, and on Facebook at Bradley James Davies.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 2, 2025
Bite size, practical, relatable
This book is a must-read for anyone in education leadership or aspiring for education leadership. Bradley's writing style is easy to digest, and he gets straight to the point with useful, practical tips that are easily actionable. The book includes many real-world examples and should be kept close as a reference guide for those tricky times when we all need a gentle reminder to qtip and revert to rule #6 (read the book to find out what this means!)
This book is a must-read for anyone in education leadership or aspiring for education leadership. Bradley's writing style is easy to digest, and he gets straight to the point with useful, practical tips that are easily actionable. The book includes many real-world examples and should be kept close as a reference guide for those tricky times when we all need a gentle reminder to qtip and revert to rule #6 (read the book to find out what this means!)
December 9, 2022
Great resource for ed leaders
Such a great resource for current and aspiring leaders in education. Loaded with examples from the author’s own journey in ed leadership, this book provides wonderful perspective and actionable ideas to lead well and not burn out. But what I most appreciated was the author’s self-effacing humor - an important reminder to laugh during our own (often messy!) learning journeys.
Such a great resource for current and aspiring leaders in education. Loaded with examples from the author’s own journey in ed leadership, this book provides wonderful perspective and actionable ideas to lead well and not burn out. But what I most appreciated was the author’s self-effacing humor - an important reminder to laugh during our own (often messy!) learning journeys.
December 13, 2022
Raw and vulnerable… something all leaders can learn
This deeply personal book is a fantastic, practical field guide for school leaders as well as anyone else who finds themselves leading others through demanding circumstances. Davies’ funny style and bite sized structure make this book easy to digest, but also disguise some painfully raw experiences. This is a great and recommended read for servant leaders and aspiring servant leaders.
This deeply personal book is a fantastic, practical field guide for school leaders as well as anyone else who finds themselves leading others through demanding circumstances. Davies’ funny style and bite sized structure make this book easy to digest, but also disguise some painfully raw experiences. This is a great and recommended read for servant leaders and aspiring servant leaders.
December 6, 2022
Franklin D. Roosevelt said “we cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future”. This is a timely book that offers sage advice for educators on how to handle the stresses and challenges of school life from someone who has actually spent time in the trenches. It’s also a light hearted enjoyable read.
March 3, 2023
The commitment, sincerity, and desire to be his best that are described in these pages are consistent with the school leader I knew. Whether new to the school environment or a veteran, there is wisdom that can be learned and applied. Kudos on this achievement!
December 9, 2022
Get this book!
In a world of uncertainty, Davies presents thought-provoking discussions, and real world applications that truly help. I'd give it 10 stars if I could
In a world of uncertainty, Davies presents thought-provoking discussions, and real world applications that truly help. I'd give it 10 stars if I could
February 23, 2023
Outstanding. A valuable, must read for anyone in school leadership. Funny and authentic.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews