These days, you can get cookie-cutter-style reform books just about anywhere. But your school district is unique and needs specific strategies that affect your students and fit your mission and goals. Focused Leadership is a guidebook that your school system can use to improve student achievement-not by sweeping changes that don't stick, but by adapting the traditional roles of people involved in operating schools. From this book you can build a systemic, need-specific approach that is a collaborative effort between school board, administration and teaching staff. Castallo provides specific examples, descriptions of leadership roles and real-life examples of three important principles: honest assessment of student performance, systems building, and ongoing collaboration.