Education in the twenty-first century demands that we examine school practices as never before. The research on teacher effectiveness abounds. It has influenced federal, state and local policies resulting in changed certification practices and improved professional development opportunities with a focus on student achievement results. 

These same conditions have impacted district and school leadership. This pragmatic book offers a road map to identify, design, and strengthen leadership skills. It is very readable, eminently sensible, and provides sound philosophical advice to support and sustain growth in leadership teams in any school or district.

Some additional key features of this book include:

• A hiring process model
• Classroom observation process
• Paradigm for leadership professional development
• Process for leadership observations
• Extensive research supporting book’s tenets

Review 
In Raise Student Achievement: Become a Leader of Leaders Drs. Freeley and Scircca have created a guide to leadership that is refreshing in its non-prescriptive nature. It offers constant opportunities for the reader to analyze and reflect on her/his own practice and progress in developing a completeinstructional leadership climate and culture with reference to the ISSLC standards throughout and with emphasis on the total landscape of leading instructional improvement from classroom to boardroom. The idea that there is no one way to lead as there is no one way to teach illustrates the power of reflection on practice as opposed to slavish pursuit of a model. As useful and powerful as any aspect of the book is the constant use of stories to illustrate problems and successes in various leadership situations. The final chapter is a masterful summary of characteristics of effective leaders supported by vignettes of effective practice for each characteristic. Professional educators must read, re-read and reflect upon this book and then collaborate with others to incorporate its tenets if we are to move classroom observation from simple evaluation to meaningful professional development that results in the best student learning.
(Dr. Richard Hanzelka, Professor, St. Ambrose University, Past President of ASCD)

This publication provides an interrelated discussion of topics critical to effective leadership. It is a practical guide to leadership at the district and building levels supported by a research base and national standards with examples that have been successfully used. The discussion includes the roles and behaviors necessary for successful school leaders as well as the actions and processes for district leaders to perform to make building leaders more effective. This comprehensive guide includes critical factors rarely addressed such as effective leadership strategies, sustaining and growth strategies for leaders through professional development, hiring practices and strategies to sustain strong schools. It is a must have guide for everyone seeking to make schools more effective.
(Marcia Knoll, professor of education at Hunter College)

For too long, we have heard the criticism that the field of educational leadership lacks a repertoire of effective practices that are the hallmark of professionalism. Diane Scriccia and Mary Ellen Freeley, in their book, Raise Student Achievement: Become a Leader of Leaders, have clearly and thoughtfully responded, by pulling together research and expert guidance on the core leadership practices for continuous school improvement. By weaving in scenarios and reflective questions, they help the reader make connections to the framing ideas of the book—that developing leaders effectiveness is equally essential to developing teachers and that educator quality comes through well focused selection, professional development, observation and feedback. I highly recommend this book for aspiring and current school and district leaders as a springboard for planning for and enacting the guidance it so succinctly offers.
(Margaret Terry Orr, Bank Street College of Education, co-author of Preparing Principals for a Changing World)

About the Author 
MARY ELLEN FREELEY is associate professor in the Department of Administration and Instructional Leadership in the School of Education at St. John’s University and past president of ASCD. Prior to joining the university faculty, Dr. Freeley served for twelve years as superintendent of schools for three Nassau County districts as well as an assistant superintendent for curriculum and an elementary school principal.

DIANE SCRICCA is assistant professor of educational leadership, Mercy College; previously, she was a superintendent, deputy superintendent, and an assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction on Long Island in New York. For thirteen years, Dr. Scricca was an award-winning principal of Elmont Memorial Jr.-Sr. High School in New York, a Blue Ribbon School and Education Trust, Dispelling the Myth Award winner.