This book's central theme is that shared vision, purpose, and inquiry, combined with the use of the collective wisdom of myth, legend, and metaphor, can transform a school. The book profiles six phases of the mythic hero's journey from unconscious innocence to ultimate self-awareness. The text is divided into eight chapters. Chapter 1 summarizes the central themes in the book and outlines the concept of the heroic journey as a framework for exploring change. Chapter 2 presents an overview of the research that informed the book, focusing on the educational implications of change theory, cognitive science, and the power of myth and metaphor. Chapter 3 explores the hero's journey toward educational transformation and educators' tendency to cling to obsolete educational models. Chapter 4 then extends this exploration and shows how current problems in education are forcing a reappraisal of educational methods. Chapter 5 describes some of the objectives in education, and chapter 6 emphasizes the importance of making connections with like-minded colleagues when trying to reform education. The last two chapters discuss common problems educators share as they attempt to initiate change, and synthesize the major insights and implications of the hero's journey. (Contains approximately 110 references and an index.) (RJM)