Paul D. Houston has established himself as one of the leading spokespersons for American education through his extensive speaking engagements, published articles, and his regular appearances on national radio and television. Formerly executive director of the American Association of School Administrators from 1994 to 2008, Houston has served as a teacher and building administrator in North Carolina and New Jersey. He has also served as assistant superintendent in Birmingham, Alabama, and as superintendent of schools in Princeton, NJ; Tucson, AZ; and Riverside, CA. Houston has served in an adjunct capacity for the University of North Carolina, Harvard University, Brigham Young University, and Princeton University. He has served as a consultant and speaker throughout the United States and overseas, and he has published more than 100 articles in professional journals.

“This brilliant distillation of the best thinking from one of the great minds in our field reconnects the reader to his moral purpose while providing the passion, clarity, and pithy language to act on it. This funny, uplifting page-turner inspires profound ‘aha’ moments needed to be a ‘hope-pusher’ internally while effectively advocating for children in the larger community.”

• Foreword by Terrence E. DealIntroductionAcknowledgmentsAbout the Author1. The Building Blocks of LeadershipSo?...But Not So What!Finding Our VoiceBreaking AwayRisking Our SignificanceDaily BlessingsLiving in a Jerry Springer WorldThe Samurai SuperintendentThe Axis of EvilOn Becoming a Hope PusherA View From the TopLife′s Lessons From My Dog Holly2. New Role: Superintendent of EducationGetting It RightRevenge of the BlobNearly FamousA Critical Position in Critical ConditionOn the Penguin March Through LifeWho You Gonna Call?Building Fields of DreamsTo Lead My Trek, I Pick Scotty3. Transforming Public Education: Challenges and SolutionsLessons From Room 411Burning Thoughts on a Snowy DayThe Seven Deadly Sins of No Child Left BehindAuthentic AccountabilityBarking Up the Right TreeIntelligent Redesign: Reframing the Discussion on High School ReformEinstein′s BrainAdvancing System LeadershipMaking Great Time on a Lost HighwayDiverse LearnersButchers or TailorsThe Bigotry of ExpectationsRunning Schools Like BusinessNCLB: Dreams and Nightmares4. Lessons From the RoadBagpipes and a Spot of GraceFinding the Right WordsSnow BlindIs Possible?A Pint of Good SenseThe Road to HanaWater and IceSeeing the Forest and the TreesOde to JoyNegotiating the Past and the FutureThe Fantasy and Flow of VietnamA Worthy Import From SingaporeDigging My Way to ChinaIndex

Paul D. Houston has established himself as one of the leading spokespersons for American education through his extensive speaking engagements, published articles, and his regular appearances on national radio and television. Formerly executive director of the American Association of School Administrators from 1994 to 2008, Houston has served as a teacher and building administrator in North Carolina and New Jersey. He has also served as assistant superintendent in Birmingham, Alabama, and as superintendent of schools in Princeton, NJ; Tucson, AZ; and Riverside, CA. Houston has served in an adjunct capacity for the University of North Carolina, Harvard University, Brigham Young University, and Princeton University. He has served as a consultant and speaker throughout the United States and overseas, and he has published more than 100 articles in professional journals.

“This brilliant distillation of the best thinking from one of the great minds in our field reconnects the reader to his moral purpose while providing the passion, clarity, and pithy language to act on it. This funny, uplifting page-turner inspires profound ‘aha’ moments needed to be a ‘hope-pusher’ internally while effectively advocating for children in the larger community.”

• Foreword by Terrence E. DealIntroductionAcknowledgmentsAbout the Author1. The Building Blocks of LeadershipSo?...But Not So What!Finding Our VoiceBreaking AwayRisking Our SignificanceDaily BlessingsLiving in a Jerry Springer WorldThe Samurai SuperintendentThe Axis of EvilOn Becoming a Hope PusherA View From the TopLife′s Lessons From My Dog Holly2. New Role: Superintendent of EducationGetting It RightRevenge of the BlobNearly FamousA Critical Position in Critical ConditionOn the Penguin March Through LifeWho You Gonna Call?Building Fields of DreamsTo Lead My Trek, I Pick Scotty3. Transforming Public Education: Challenges and SolutionsLessons From Room 411Burning Thoughts on a Snowy DayThe Seven Deadly Sins of No Child Left BehindAuthentic AccountabilityBarking Up the Right TreeIntelligent Redesign: Reframing the Discussion on High School ReformEinstein′s BrainAdvancing System LeadershipMaking Great Time on a Lost HighwayDiverse LearnersButchers or TailorsThe Bigotry of ExpectationsRunning Schools Like BusinessNCLB: Dreams and Nightmares4. Lessons From the RoadBagpipes and a Spot of GraceFinding the Right WordsSnow BlindIs Possible?A Pint of Good SenseThe Road to HanaWater and IceSeeing the Forest and the TreesOde to JoyNegotiating the Past and the FutureThe Fantasy and Flow of VietnamA Worthy Import From SingaporeDigging My Way to ChinaIndex

Paul D. Houston has established himself as one of the leading spokespersons for American education through his extensive speaking engagements, published articles, and his regular appearances on national radio and television. Formerly executive director of the American Association of School Administrators from 1994 to 2008, Houston has served as a teacher and building administrator in North Carolina and New Jersey. He has also served as assistant superintendent in Birmingham, Alabama, and as superintendent of schools in Princeton, NJ; Tucson, AZ; and Riverside, CA. Houston has served in an adjunct capacity for the University of North Carolina, Harvard University, Brigham Young University, and Princeton University. He has served as a consultant and speaker throughout the United States and overseas, and he has published more than 100 articles in professional journals.

“This brilliant distillation of the best thinking from one of the great minds in our field reconnects the reader to his moral purpose while providing the passion, clarity, and pithy language to act on it. This funny, uplifting page-turner inspires profound ‘aha’ moments needed to be a ‘hope-pusher’ internally while effectively advocating for children in the larger community.”

• Foreword by Terrence E. DealIntroductionAcknowledgmentsAbout the Author1. The Building Blocks of LeadershipSo?...But Not So What!Finding Our VoiceBreaking AwayRisking Our SignificanceDaily BlessingsLiving in a Jerry Springer WorldThe Samurai SuperintendentThe Axis of EvilOn Becoming a Hope PusherA View From the TopLife′s Lessons From My Dog Holly2. New Role: Superintendent of EducationGetting It RightRevenge of the BlobNearly FamousA Critical Position in Critical ConditionOn the Penguin March Through LifeWho You Gonna Call?Building Fields of DreamsTo Lead My Trek, I Pick Scotty3. Transforming Public Education: Challenges and SolutionsLessons From Room 411Burning Thoughts on a Snowy DayThe Seven Deadly Sins of No Child Left BehindAuthentic AccountabilityBarking Up the Right TreeIntelligent Redesign: Reframing the Discussion on High School ReformEinstein′s BrainAdvancing System LeadershipMaking Great Time on a Lost HighwayDiverse LearnersButchers or TailorsThe Bigotry of ExpectationsRunning Schools Like BusinessNCLB: Dreams and Nightmares4. Lessons From the RoadBagpipes and a Spot of GraceFinding the Right WordsSnow BlindIs Possible?A Pint of Good SenseThe Road to HanaWater and IceSeeing the Forest and the TreesOde to JoyNegotiating the Past and the FutureThe Fantasy and Flow of VietnamA Worthy Import From SingaporeDigging My Way to ChinaIndex