Simon T. Bailey - Releasing Leadership Brilliance: Breaking Sound Barriers in Education

Praise for Releasing Leadership Brilliance

As a former small-plane pilot I was excited to see the books flight metaphor and found it very accuratefor both flying and education! The emphasis on culture building and bringing out each persons brilliance responds perfectly to complaints regarding compliance and new initiatives. As Bailey and Reilly point out, by not focusing on what drags you down and focusing instead on what lifts you up and thrusts you forward, the brilliance of each individual in the educational community will shine.

Dr. Linda Gross, past co-author

Consultant for Council of School Administrators

New York City, NY

The book is an easy read full of excellent success stories. It offers a simple, easy-to-understand way to look at changes that can make a difference in student learning and student efficacy. I love the many references to a broad range of other books that help reinforce the points made.

Andy Tompkins, former Commissioner of Education

Consultant for Regents Universities

Topeka, KS

Im glad someone took the time to study the Breakthrough Schools and clarify their secrets to success. I encourage leaders everywhere to use Releasing Leadership Brilliance to inspire new thinking and powerful actions. I highly recommend the organizer for addressing leadership as well as the case studies and exercises.

Stephanie Hirsh, Executive Director

Learning Forward

Dallas, TX

This book is about big change in our schools and how to make this change in all ZIP codes across the country. Its purpose is to help educational leaders soar, finding both personal and team brilliance. The stories shared are compelling and inspiring highlighting the powerful role of building principals who have transformed schools into places of learning where everyone thrives. The authors challenge educators, asking, Are your limiting beliefs creating barriers to reach your brilliance? Anchored in solid research, but written from the viewpoint of caring, courageous, uplifting educators, this book is a must read.

Dayna Richardson, Executive Director

Learning Forward

Hutchinson, KS

A fanciful query into concise actions that can be used to create change in impactful ways. This book is a valuable guide to helping educators focus change that has the promise to spark improvement.

Billy Ray Jones, Supervising Principal

South Jones High School

Ellisville, MS

Its unbelievable that this compact book could hold so much information and examples in only four chapters. Great read! Great examples! This book is a call to action. Im unable to read this book and not want to try something new.

Delsia Malone, Principal

W. E. Striplin Elementary

Gadsden, AL

Releasing Leadership Brilliance brings together work from several major educational researchers and cohesively forms practical strategies, techniques, and tools for educational leaders.

Glen Ishiwata, Retired Superintendent

Moreland School District

San Jose, CA

The language in the book speaks directly to educators. The book contains the right mix of fact, life, and guidance. The authors write with authenticity by virtue of having lived the experiences.

Neil MacNeill, Head Master

Ellenbrook Independent Primary School

Ellenbrook, Western Australia

Finally! This book successfully brings forth both theory and tools, with the passion that calls to educators who want to achieve better outcomes for ALL students. The stories of schools that have consistently improvedwho have overcome the obstacles and stopped talking about barriers but rather removed them TOGETHER are powerful! This book offers so many suggestions for how to achieve great results in any school or district while highlighting the important point that all team members are leaders.

Lynn Lisy-Macan, Visiting Assistant Professor

University at Albany-SUNY

Albany, NY

This book is unique among books on leadership theory, change agency, and transformational change. Furthermore, it includes many tools to engage readers in the type of self-reflection that draws one into action.

Karen L. Tichy, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership

Saint Louis University

St. Louis, MO

The quest to find our best selves, live our best lives, and shine with our own brilliance is the hearts desire of every human being. Two people compelled to help us find that pathway and acknowledge our brilliance have been divinely called. NASSP supports Great Leaders in every school who are committed to the success of each student. Through this commitment we provide resources to school leaders as they journey to develop themselves, their teachers, and their students. NASSP enthusiastically endorses this book and readily shared the stories of the leaders of our Breakthrough Schools to move Simon T. Bailey and Marceta F. Reillys message of Brilliance forward. This book is a brilliant light.

Dr. Beverly Hutton, Deputy Executive Director/Chief Program Officer

National Association of Secondary School Principals

Reston, VA

What a fun, encouraging, doable, brilliant message for todays educators on their way to becoming champions for all! This book is an essential next step for those aspiring leaders who are stuck in the overwhelming rut of professional development. It is a brilliant way to expand our thinking into practical ways of having thoughtful conversations with staff, students, parents, and community. Building a leadership conversation around the metaphor of flight is another brilliant move, as is the use of success stories from all walks of life.

Joan Hearne, MEd, ACC Adjunct Professor, Former Principal/Coordinator of Staff Development

Newman University and Wichita Public Schools

Wichita, KS

Simon T. Bailey and Marceta F. Reilly have presented a gift of their combined wisdom, experience, and brilliance. Not only do they offer illuminating research and stories, but they have enriched and expanded the information with interviews of those who employ best practices. You will find ready-to-use tools and activities for professional learning and collaboration. If you are a busy leader looking for a new lift in your leadership, keep this book close in your day-to-day work for informative and practical resources, knowledge, and inspiration. Use it as the basis for fresh dialogue as you elevate your leadership and break sound barriers toward a brilliant education for all those you serve.

Diana Williams, Leadership Coach, Author and Chief of Evaluation Services

Coaching for Results, Inc.

Columbus, OH

Rarely are school leaders presented with a comprehensive leadership book that addresses all the players in the educational arenathe leader, community members, instructional staff, and students. The expertise shared by the authorsa business executive and a former superintendent/leadership coachprovide exercises, tools, and resources designed to break the sound barrier of limiting beliefs for each of these populations. The stories included from courageous school leaders offer hope to practitioners intent on using the expertise inside their system to bring lasting instructional change for all the students they serve. Bravo!

Edna Harris, Co-author

Results Coaching: The New Essential for School Leaders

Round Rock, TX