"The culture of a school has a significant impact on the academic achievement of our students and on the community as a whole. Dr. Murphy and Dr. Torre have clearly defined the processes to implement an operational goal resulting in a productive school culture in which students are challenged and supported. This book enables leaders, specifically school principals, to facilitate reflective practices designed to engage students, teachers, and parents in achieving successful learning communities."

"A comprehensive, detailed understanding of the challenges and constraints education leaders face when encouraging, guiding, and supporting positive learning environments. Recognizing the diversity of school cultures, the authors take bold steps to identify what can and should happen to make our nation’s schools more successful. A must read for those seeking realistic and specific strategies for change."

This text provides readers with arguably the most comprehensive, accessible and carefully organized synthesis of evidence available about what school improvement leaders should focus their efforts on and how those efforts can be most productive.

"Murphy and Torre have constructed a masterful narrative from the daunting complexity of the literature on school improvement, leadership and school culture. This book puts the learner at the center of the improvement effort and avoids the usual polarities between relationships and academic focus—a highly balanced and integrative review."