This concise volume offers educational leaders key concepts and strategies for framing discussions about closing the equity gap and ensuring high achievement for all learners. As the first volume in "The Soul of Educational Leadership" series, this unique collection presents: (1) Pedro Noguera and Alan Blankstein on essential questions and themes; (2) Randall and Delores Lindsey on culturally proficient equity audits; (3) Antoinette Mitchell on the knowledge base for teaching diverse learners in big-city schools; (4) Stephen Peters on how to capture, inspire, and teach every learner; (5) Thomas Guskey on rethinking the work of Benjamin S. Bloom; (6) Karen Pittman and Merita Irby on readiness for college, work, and life; (7) Alan Boyle on helping failing schools to turn around; and (8) Richard Farson on the paradoxes of risk, challenge, failure, and innovation. Pioneering educators and series editors Alan M. Blankstein, Robert W. Cole, and Paul D. Houston offer thought-provoking ideas applicable to all schools, districts, and learning communities, and include a complete index for browsing and easy reference. Following an introduction, this book is divided into nine chapters: (1) Terms of Engagement: Where Failure Is Not an Option (Alan M. Blankstein); (2) From Vision to Reality: Pedro Noguera Discusses Engaging Every Learner with Alan Blankstein (Pedro A. Noguera and Alan M. Blankstein); (3) Culturally Proficient Equity Audits: A Tool for Engaging Every Learner (Delores B. Lindsey and Randall B. Lindsey); (4) The Emergence of a Knowledge Base for Teaching Diverse Learners in Big-City Schools: From Practice to Theory to Practice (Antoinette Mitchell); (5) Capture, Inspire, Teach! Reflections on High Expectations for Every Learner (Stephen Peters); (6) All Our Children Learning: New Views on the Work of Benjamin S. Bloom (Thomas R. Guskey); (7) Engaging Every Learner: Blurring the Lines for Learning to Ensure that All Young People Are Ready for College, Work, and Life (Karen J. Pittman and Merita Irby); (8) Compassionate Intervention: Helping Failing Schools to Turn Around (Alan Boyle); and (9) The Case for Failure: Risk, Innovation, and Engagement (Richard Farson). [This book is also a joint publication with The HOPE Foundation.]