Lifelong Leadership by Design

Robert D. Ramsey is a lifelong educator who has served as a "leader of leaders" in three award-winning school districts in two different states. His frontline experience includes positions a teacher, counselor, assistant principal, curriculum director, assistant superintendent, acting superintendent, and adjunct professor. Most recently, he has served as associate superintendent in the St. Louis Park (MN) schools, where every school has been designated by the federal government as a National School of Excellence. Ramsey is now working full-time as a freelance writer in Minneapolis.

"This book offers aspiring and veteran school leaders insightful, practical, and proven strategies to successfully acquire and thrive in meaningful professional positions."

• Preface: It’s Not My High School Principal’s Predictable Career Path AnymoreAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorAbout the TitleIntroduction: No-Limit Leadership by Design1. Your Chosen Journey: Building a Better Leadership Career on PurposeIs This What You Want?Are You Leadership Material?What’s a Career? What’s Not?Who’s in Control?What Should You Expect?What’s the Plan?2. The Seven Critical Choices That Shape Your Leadership1. Choosing Core Values2. Leading With Attitude3. Defining Stretch Goals4. Getting Priorities Straight5. Finding Role Models6. Associates by Choice7. Picking the Right BattlesChoosing When It’s Confusing3. Overcoming Self-Imposed Limits, Career Blockers, and False CeilingsFalse Ceilings and Self-Made LimitationsOther Self-Sabotaging Behaviors4. Natural Laws of Lifelong School LeadershipNatural Laws You Can UseNatural Laws of Career DesignNatural Laws of School LeadershipIgnorance Is No Excuse5. Navigation Tips for a Lifelong Journey in School LeadershipThe Journey Begins in Your MindSeeking, Starting, Stopping, and Switching Jobs as a School Leader (or Growing Where You’re Planted)Becoming Indispensable, Promotable, and TransferableThe Most Important Skill of All for Today’s (and Tomorrow’s) School LeadersHow to Step Up, Stand Out, and Stand Apart as a School LeaderStaying the Course and Staying MotivatedFinding Your Soul as a School Leader6. Success “Secrets” for Career School LeadersThe Power of Thinking BigLeading Others: Building Relationships to Get ResultsLeading Yourself: Managing the Most Difficult Person of All7. Stepping Stones and Stumbling Blocks to Effective School LeadershipCommon Stepping Stones and Stumbling Blocks for School LeadersThe Most Influential Career Stepping Stones and Stumbling BlocksThe Boss FactorThe Job Itself as a Stumbling BlockThe Resilient School Leader: Overcoming Stumbling Blocks and Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities8. Making Tough Calls and Hard ChoicesDeciding to DecideCareer-Changing ChoicesA How-to-Decide GuideA Permanent State of Transition9. Evolution of a Lifelong Career and Leaving a Lasting LegacyDevelopmental Phases of Successful School LeadershipEvery Phase Adds Value to the LegacyDefinition of a LegacyPlanting Seeds for Lasting ImpactHow to Design a Legacy to Be Proud Of10. A Final WordResource A. What Others SayResource B. Read More About ItIndex