School leaders can play powerful roles in igniting student learning,but all too often policy-makers have advocated technical approachesto leadership development that are blind to the cultural and contextualdynamics of schools. Leading Futures provides the intellectualarmamentarium for a refreshing contrast to this general pattern.Based upon an ambitious international study of school leadershippracticesincluding those in under- investigated nations such asIndonesia, Malaysia and Russiathe authors provide a series ofnuanced analysis in a single book that will catapult the whole field ofeducational leadership forward. This book is true tour de force thatwill be read and re-read many times by all of us endeavouring to keepabreast of the exciting new transformations in education around theworld today.
-- Dennis Shirley
Leadership is undoubtedly one of the most important factors in producingsuccessful and widespread educational change. But leadershipdoes not look the same in all contexts and cultures. LeadingFutures brings together scholars and writers on educational leadershipfrom around the world to remind us that more and bettercomparative studies are needed that look at leadership from manyangles. The editors of this book are themselves leaders of change ona global scale. Like them, this book challenges all of us to rethinkall the things we thought were universally true about leadership andits effectiveness. A mustread for anyone who wants to extend theirunderstanding of leadership beyond their own domain.
-- Andy Hargreaves
While it has been readily acknowledged for some time that schoolleaders play a significant role in educational success, their roles andquality of leadership have become even more significant in thepresent context of important new demands being made on schools,teachers and pupils. Significant and ambitious reform initiatives are being launched by governments globally in response to globalizationsopportunities and challenges.Leading Futures is a very welcome contribution to studying leadershipchallenges in this new context. Drawing on an internationalstudy of school leadership, its careful attention to the interplay of cultureand context throws up interesting insights, which will move thestudy and practice of school leadership forward in significant ways.An important new book that deserves wide readership and carefulstudy.
-- S. Gopinathan
This book is true tour de force that will be read and re-read many times by all of us endeavouring to keep abreast of the exciting new transformations in education around the world today.
-- Dennis Shirley
"A must read for anyone who wants to extend their understanding of leadership beyond their own domain."
-- Andy Hargreaves,
