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Lead with Purpose, Build for Impact

Leading Strategically reveals the five daily practices of leaders who think and act with intention, strategy, and a sense of ambition about what is possible. These elements help leaders maximize their impact on student learning and wellness, support the families and communities they serve, and sustain their work in complex, dynamic environments. The book is written for anyone working in the PK-12 education sector who leads or aspires to leadership.

Drawing on a combined 60+ years of experience in schools, school systems, and education nonprofits, Liz and Rachel provide a practical, hope-filled guide. The elements of strategic leadership are brought to life through examples, real-world stories, and mini case studies that capture the complexity and opportunity of leading strategically. The book offers questions to ask, tools to use, actionable insights, and resources to tap, helping you make meaningful progress on your leadership journey.

The Need

Leading Strategically is designed to address the most common things that slow educators down and make them less effective. These include:
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    An exhausting, frantic pace with long lists of To Dos without prioritizing key drivers and the relationships between things;
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    Confusing means and ends;
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    Designing high-potential work without including the people impacted by it, those who need to implement it, or those who have the power to jeopardize it;
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    Ignoring context and history, which have much to teach about how to set work up for success;
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    Forgetting people’s need to feel safe, valued, and a sense of belonging to do their best work.

Introduction to
Leading Strategically

The Five Elements
of Strategic Leadership

  • Discern to identify purpose, understand problems and their root causes, and to choose right action.
  • Cultivate Relationships between people and across bodies of work, departments, and organizations.
  • Understanding Context & History to plan work mindful of the past and the present and what each has to teach.

  • Harness Power by understanding positional and personal power and identifying where they reside, what they look like, and how to marshal power in service of getting work done.

  • Think Big, Act Small, Learn Fast to anchor work in a big, ambitious purpose; to make work more manageable and less risky by taking small bets; to learn and adapt work to drive continuous improvement.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Introduction
Part One: The Five Elements of Strategic Leadership
  1. Discern
  2. Cultivate Relationships
  3. Understand Context and History
  4. Harness Power
  5. Think Big, Act Small, Learn Fast

Part Two: The Elements of Strategic Leadership in Action and Interaction

  1. Dualities
  2. My Way or the Highway
  3. Teaching a Leader to Fish
  4. Red Light, Green Light
  5. Stymied Innovation
  6. Many Cooks in the Kitchen

Conclusion
Appendix: Tools for Leading Strategically
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Index

What Readers Say About the Book

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Shanna Peeples, National Teacher of the Year (2015), and Dr. John G. O'Brien Distinguished Chair in Education at West Texas A&M University

“Leading Strategically masterfully bridges the knowing-doing gap in educational leadership. Liz and Rachel offer a compelling framework that demystifies strategic thinking and provides concrete tools for putting it into practice. As a professor preparing the next generation of system leaders, I appreciate how this book speaks to leaders at every level, offering practical wisdom to help them maximize their impact while sustaining themselves in the work.”

Alec Solomon, Principal, Whangārei Boys High School, New Zealand

“Written by passionate educators for passionate educators, this book will help you become the leader your students, whānau, and community need you to be. Leading Strategically provides the insights and tools to navigate challenges with clarity and purpose. Kia kaha, kia toa, kia manawanui—be strong, walk tall, be big of heart.”

Ivan Duran, Superintendent, Highline Public Schools

“Leading Strategically is a must-read for education leaders who understand that lasting change starts with people. Liz and Rachel provide a powerful framework that not only sharpens strategic thinking but also reinforces the critical role of relationships in driving meaningful progress based on the experiences of our students, staff, and community. This book offers the practical tools and real-world wisdom needed to lead with intention, foster collaboration, and create a culture where both educators and students thrive.”