This study on leadership for second order change and improved student achievement represents interview and observational research with 62 leaders at the district and school levels in 10 states. Seven consistent leader action themes emerged across all participants regardless of demographics of the school, demographics of the leader, or position assignment. First and foremost all attributed the positive improvement to the first leader action theme: focusing the culture on learning. The remaining 6 leader action themes supported the accomplishment of the first. These 6 are: make decisions for student learning, stimulate intellectual growth, invest personally in the change, expect collaboration, strategize for consistency, and expect and support data-based decision making. (Contains 1 table.)