This collection of papers examines the issue of minority and female deans in colleges of education, offering the current thinking by a group of minority and female deans of education. Part 1, "Changing Leadership: Tensions within Academic and Social Roles," presents the first four chapters: (1) "Surviving the Middle Passage: The Absent Legacy of African American Women Education Deans?" (Beverly Lindsay); (2) "The Contemporary Challenge: Family and Work Issues for Women in Higher Education" (Nancy Hensel); (3) "Recharting the Paths of Women and Minority Leaders: A Journey of Consequence" (Jane Stallings); and (4) "Deaning at a Historically Black Institution: Challenges, Opportunities, and Promise" (Portia H. Shields). Part 2, "Changing Schools: Issues of Power, Conflict, Race, and Gender," offers the last five chapters: (5) "A Profession at Risk: Changing the Image and Substance of Teacher Education" (Fannie Wiley Preston); (6) "Site-Based Management and Teacher Empowerment in Educational Reform: Can the Power be Shifted?" (Marilyn J. Haring); (7) "Academics and Cultural Excellence for African American Students: Imperatives for Public Education" (Hugh J. Scott); (8) "Developing a Multicultural Focus in Teacher Education: One Department's Story" (Barbara J. Shade); and (9) "Restructuring American Schools: A Perspective on Testing and Assessment" (Trevor E. Sewell and Constance V. Hines). (All papers contain references.) (SM)