This book stands apart from others on the topic by offering the combined wisdom of two veteran superintendents who, together, bring over three decades each of hands-on leadership experience and nearly 60 years in education. Drawing from their careers "in the seat," the authors demonstrate how challenging the status quo and embracing innovation can lead to meaningful, sustained change. While rooted in the context of K-12 education, the book's leadership lessons extend far beyond schools, offering valuable guidance for leaders across sectors.
Key features include:
-Reflective Questions in each chapter to deepen understanding and application
-Voices from the Field-practitioner essays offering real-world insights
-Practical strategies to challenge the process with clear "why and how" explanations
-A timely focus on Artificial Intelligence: How to Lead With It
In an era of rapid change, this is a much-needed roadmap for school leaders-and all leaders-looking to navigate the future with courage, clarity, and vision.

With nearly 60 years of combined experience, two veteran superintendents share hard-won insights from the front lines of school leadership, offering a bold, practical blueprint for driving lasting change-within education and beyond.

About the Author

Michael Lubelfeld has served as a public school superintendent in Illinois since 2010. He is the superintendent of North Shore School District 112 schools in Highland Park and Highwood, IL, north of Chicago. Mike has spoken around the USA and the world on leadership, student voice, and global service and he is active in leadership development with state and national associations. He has experience as a teacher, a middle school building principal, and an assistant superintendent for personnel services. He co-authored four books The Unlearning Leader: Leading for Tomorrow's Schools (2017), Student Voice: From Invisible to Invaluable (2018), and The Unfinished Leader: A School Leadership Framework for Growth & Development (2021). His latest book, The Unfinished Teacher: Becoming the Next Version of Yourself, was released in December 2023. Mike was awarded the 2017 Lake County (IL) Superintendent of the Year and the 2021 Administration and Supervision Distinguished Alumni Award from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Education. Mike leads the National Instructional Leader Academy for the AASA and he co-leads aspiring superintendent academies nationally and statewide. Mike and his wife, Stephanie, have two children, and they live in suburban Chicago.

Dr. Nick Polyak has served as the Superintendent for Leyden Community High School District #212 for the past twelve years. Prior to that, he served as the Superintendent for Illinois Valley Central School District #321 for four years. Nick and his wife Kate have four children and they reside in suburban Chicago. Over the past several years, Leyden, has received many honors. They were named the National Advanced Placement District of the Year, Illinois Democracy Schools, Chicago Tribune Top Workplaces, and the National School Board Association Grand Prize Magna Award as a top equity program.
Nick facilitates the Illinois Global Service Project and annually takes a group of Superintendents and School Board Members from across Illinois to serve schools and students in the Dominican Republic. He has co-authored four books: The Unlearning Leader: Leading for Tomorrow's Schools Today, Student Voice: From Invisible to Invaluable, The Unfinished Leader: A Leadership Framework for Growth and Development, and The Unfinished Teacher: Becoming the Next Version of Yourself. Nick facilitates the AASA Transformational Leadership Consortium, and both the IASA and AASA Aspiring Superintendents Academies. He was awarded the Finest Under 40 Alumni Award by Augustana College in 2015, The West Cook County Superintendent of Distinction in 2016, and the Administration and Supervision Distinguished Alumni Award from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Education in 2023.

Book Information
ISBN 9781475874860
Author Michael Lubelfeld
Format Hardback
Page Count 200
Imprint Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing Plc