In this book, Rossow and Warner incorporate the best of all the advances in the theories and developments in the field on study devoted to the principalship since 1990. Although the titles to the eleven chapters remain the same as those found in the first edition, much has changed. Since many areas addressed in the first edition are nearly timeless, some topics are presented again.

One of the basic premises in the first edition came from a clear change in the direction the principalship was taking in the late 1980s and early 1990s. There was a movement away from principal as manager -- of people and a building -- to principal as instructional leader. Unlike a number of movements in education which turn out to be merely "fads," there has been no change in this direction for principalship. The literature and the training for future principals continues to capture the concept that principals must be instructional leaders while attending to the safety of students and teachers.

This book will assist those responsible for the education of principals, as well as help those already in the field become updated on the newest advances in the discipline.