Contours of Great Leadership

The authors of this book have taken a holistic view of school leadership as a twenty-first century approach to leading schools. Leadership is presented as an individualized approach that requires operationalizing—and meshing—one’s skills with the educational system in a symbiotic relationship. How one gains insight and understanding about one’s role and impact as a leader is a valuable contribution to the field of educational leadership preparation. -- James Berry, executive director, National Council of Professors of Educational Administration and Professor of Educational Leadership, Eastern Michigan University
Papa and her coauthors have done a thorough job of helping readers understand with depth and clarity how leadership is both science and art. This book reveals creative considerations of leadership as resting on the deliberate act of converging experiences, knowledge, values, and skills into ways of knowing that result in the rare phenomenon of great leadership. This central concept, known as accoutering, is considered with elegance and accessibility. This book is a must read for those interested in the study of leadership and leadership preparation. In sum, I found myself haunted and inspired by the ideas and possibilities offered by the authors. -- Dr. Autumn Cypres, director, of The Center for Educational Leadership, The University of Tennessee
In this timely book on relational leadership in the educational system, leading Endowed Chair Professors, Rosemary Papa and Fenwick English along with co-authors Davidson, Culver and Brown challenge readers to ask, “What does it take to become an exceptional leader?” The authors advance that a socially and culturally constructed community of practice, comprised of knowledge, skills and values frames the context that characterizes notable leadership. However, professional training is second only to the most critical knowledge, which begins with self. More than being a professionally trained individual, great leaders reach out to co-create with others. They are collaborators. The authors posit that educational leaders need to reach a distinguished level in their work, achieved when they “refine their skills” and serve as beacons in the field. In their book, that reads like an inspiring story of leadership, aspiring as well as seasoned leaders will discover empowering lessons to build human capital in their communities. -- Concha Delgado Gaitan, Ph.D., educational researcher and author