Pulling Back the Curtain on School Leadership: Why and How to Make Learning Personal

As school leaders, we often hear the phrase, “Don’t take things personally.” But S. Kambar Khoshaba says that we must. In his book, Pulling Back the Curtain on School Leadership: Why and How to Make Learning Personal (Leadership DevelopME, LLC), Khoshaba encourages school leaders to take things P.E.R.S.O.N.A.L. (Personalization, Equity, Responsive Developmentally, School Culture, Ownership, Networking, Accessibility, Leadership) regarding their work. The principal of South County High School in Lorton, VA, examines how the acronym can play a key role in developing a school culture of growth and success for students, parents, staff, and the community. Readers will appreciate the anecdotes from his 27-year career in education, as well as the opportunity to reflect on each chapter through guided questions. Based on his experiences as both an assistant principal and principal at the secondary level, Khoshaba provides multiple ways for middle and high school administrators to focus on building strong relationships and ensuring schools meet the diverse needs of all students, regardless of level or situation.

—Eric Basilo, EdD | Assistant Principal
Markham Woods Middle School, Lake Mary, FL

“The Jon Gordon Podcast”

Bestselling author Jon Gordon personifies positivity, and “The Jon Gordon Podcast,” showcases his unwavering commitment to spreading the power of positive thinking. Through his books, programs, trainings, and this podcast, he offers invaluable insights for fostering positivity in schools, organizations, and individuals. Episodes are an essential resource for anyone seeking to focus on reaching their goals. For example, the episode featuring Amy P. Kelly, an HR and learning and development executive, explores why “Difficult Conversations Don’t Have to Be Difficult.” Kelly provides practical strategies for mastering difficult conversations, emphasizing confidence and grace in handling them. Another episode featuring Dr. Jim Van Allan, co-author with Gordon of The Energy Bus for Schools, discusses the book’s origin and how positive leadership can shape school culture and student success. Reflecting on his time as an intern driving the original “Energy Bus,” Van Allan shares how Gordon’s work inspired his own journey. “How to Plan Goals that You’re Guaranteed to Reach,” an episode with New York Times bestselling author Jon Acuff, offers sound advice on personal, relationship, and career goals. School leaders are sure to find these episodes and many others well worth a listen.

—Brenda Yoho | Retired Director of Educational Support Programs
Danville District 118, Danville, IL

Foundations of an Elite Culture: Building Success with High Standards and a Positive Environment

In his book, Foundations of an Elite Culture: Building Success with High Standards and a Positive Environment (ConnectEDD), David Arencibia explores what it takes to lead a successful school post-COVID-19. As a 2023 National Principal of the Year Finalist and the 2022 Texas Principal of the Year, Arencibia knows firsthand how to foster a culture of effective and long-lasting learning. By focusing on what he considers the two essential pillars of an elite culture—high standards and a positive environment—Arencibia ultimately shows that, “people and their feelings matter towards their environment.” He explains how an elite culture is guided by a clear mission, vision, and aligned core values. Arencibia, the principal of Colleyville Middle School in Colleyville, TX, shares compelling real-world examples of elite school cultures where success drives educators, and where school leaders harness and celebrate that momentum to create an engaged school community. This book is a valuable resource for secondary school leaders looking to create a winning school culture.

—Janeen Ceparano Wilkins | Freshman Academy Principal
Bettye Davis East Anchorage High School, Anchorage, AK

The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual

In The Education Wars: A Citizen’s Guide and Defense Manual (The New Press), authors Jennifer C. Berkshire and Jack Schneider share decades of research about American public education and examine why it’s increasingly at the center of the culture wars. Berkshire and Schneider, co-hosts of the education podcast “Have You Heard” and co-authors of A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door: The Dismantling of Public Education and the Future of School, contend that despite all the criticism, public schools aren’t failing; they are just slow to change. Public education, they write, is the most egalitarian thing we do in the United States. However, school funding is far from equal. That’s why they say the focus should be on “funding systems, not funding students,” because taxpayers benefit from the provision of public schooling in terms of “a stronger economy, a healthier democracy, and a better society.” Although the culture wars are an inherent part of a multicultural democracy, Berkshire and Schneider write that peace must prevail “because we are too diverse and divided for anyone to win.”

—Holly Langley, EdD | Assistant Principal
Sussex Technical High School, Georgetown, DE