The premise of this book about the new role of the principalship is that the educational system fosters principals' dependency. Effective school administration is based on empowerment and collaboration. This book examines the problem of dependency and how to overcome it. Section 1 describes the nonrational world of the principal, challenges to the principalship, and changes in the principal's role. Conservative practices that limit principals' success and reinforce dependency are identified. The theme of the second section, "New Conceptions of the Principalship," is that the present system is not working. Essential concepts and qualities of the new principal are outlined. Action guidelines for three parts of the problem are offered in section 3: (1) advice to incumbent principals on "what's worth fighting for"; (2) suggestions for school boards and system administrators; and (3) ideas for fostering the central role of perpetual learning. (38 references) (LMI)