Influential School Leader

Craig Murphy is an Associate Professor of School Psychology at William James College, USA. Dr. Murphy also serves as a consultant to numerous school districts in his roles as Clinical Director at Bi-County Collaborative in Walpole, MA, and Executive Director of the Family and Educational Wellness Center in Franklin, MA. He is a nationally certified school psychologist and licensed educational psychologist. John D’Auria is a core faculty member of the Organizational and Leadership Psychology Department and Director of the Educational Leadership Concentration at William James College, USA. A former math teacher, principal, and superintendent, Dr. D’Auria currently works as a consultant at Teachers21, where he previously served as President.

• Part 1: Improving Your Vision 1. Four Distinct Perspectives 2. Seeing the System in 3D Part 2: Conditions for Change 3. Balancing Psychological Safety with Accountability 4. Strengthening Belonging 5. Engaging in Open and Honest Communication 6. Encouraging Experimentation Part 3: Applying the Framework 7. A Leadership Guide—Moving from Theory to Practice 8. Preparing for Change 9. Case Study 1: Student Placement 10. Case Study 2: Covid-19, Returning to School

“This important book is a compelling guide to leading schools in our tumultuous times. The authors’ sophisticated use of psychological and organizational research gives rise to a practical and compelling framework for making progress on the enormous challenges that lie ahead in the educational sector. As a bonus, the book’s elegant, engaging prose makes it a pleasure to read.” —Amy C. Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, USA, and author of The Fearless Organization “Drs. Murphy and D’Auria brilliantly make the invisible visible through this framework, using real examples of problems and an approach that leads to solutions. They address the hard work done in schools and how to transform the culture so that all stakeholders (leaders, teachers, students, and parents) can take risks and bring about much-needed change.” —Arlene Grubert, Executive Director of Bi-County Collaborative, USA “Leadership positions in school systems are among the most difficult. Powerful constituencies must be authentically engaged that typically have disparate desires and agendas. As change often comes without a plan for implementation, the leader’s sensitivity to the feelings, attitudes, and beliefs of stakeholders is key to success. Drs. Murphy and D’Auria combine their extensive experience in schools with their knowledge of social and organizational psychology to create a framework that will be an indispensable guide for educational leaders at all levels.” —Nicholas Covino, President of William James College, USA