Robert Evans 
Seven Secrets of the Savvy School Leader 
A Guide to Surviving and Thriving

The keys to having an outstanding career as a school leader.

The American educational system is in crisis; trends of recent
years have been extraordinarily hard on educators. An entire
generation of school leaders is retiring, many of them early, and
the number of candidates applying to replace them is plummeting. In
many districts, applications have shrunk by nearly two-thirds.
Seven Secrets of The Savvy School Leader hopes to counteract
these glum statistics by giving both aspiring and experienced
school leaders important survival tools, and encouraging long-term
leaders to renew their faith in their own abilities.

* Describes the innate tensions inherent in leadership

* Explores the difference between dilemmas and problems

* Encourages leaders to make change by making meaning

* Offers guidance for being your best and bold self

Written an expert on school leadership who has worked closely
with thousands of schools over the years, the book will help anyone
serving as or considering becoming a school administrator.

Table of Content

Introduction ix

Author’s Note xiii

1. The First Secret: When You Go to See the Wizard, Take Toto 1

2. The Second Secret: They’ll Never Understand 19

3. The Third Secret: Change is What it Means 39

4. The Fourth Secret: Bite Off What You Can Chew 57

5. The Fifth Secret: Be Your Best, Bold Self 75

6. The Sixth Secret: Nourish to Flourish 91

7. The Seventh Secret: From Savvy to Wise: Look Out for Number One 109

Endnotes 129

References 133

Index 139

About the author

ROBERT EVANS, Ed.D., is a clinical and organizational psychologist and director of the Human Relations Service in Wellesley, Massachusetts. A former high school and preschool teacher, he has served as a consultant to hundreds of schools throughout the United States and around the world–offering training and long-term support for teachers, administrators, boards, and parents. He is a contributor to key educational publications, including Education Week, Educational Leadership, and Phi Delta Kappan and the author of the books The Human Side of School Change and Family Matters (both from Jossey-Bass).