This gold mine of wisdom from top education researcher and the best-selling author of "Turning Around Failing Schools and Connecting Teacher Leadership and School Improvement" contains key tips and strategies every school leader should know. Award-winning professor and former school administrator Joseph F. Murphy's concise and instructive lessons will help you stay focused on what matters most as you navigate the hectic world of high-stakes testing and accountability: (1) It really is all about the kids; (2) Optimism is essential; (3) Caring counts a lot; (4) Listen--let people finish talking; and (5) Don't confuse excuses and explanations. Each lesson is coupled with context in a few sentences taken from Murphy's extensive real-world experiences. This collection is ideal for use in daily reflections, speeches, staff meetings, presentations, or as a gift to anyone who works with children.