Leaders and aspiring leaders from all over the world are constantly searching for role models who are successful in placing leadership theory into effective practice. This book identifies ten such role models whose heroic leadership behavior is analyzed in order to reveal what particular abilities and skills made them successful in their particular society and culture and how those attributes can be applied to one's own leadership practice, whether that be as a classroom teacher, a principal, a superintendent of schools or a college president in the United States or elsewhere in the world.

Robert Palestini has been an educator for almost fifty years, serving as a high school science teacher, principal, superintendent of schools, and university dean. He is currently dean emeritus and professor of educational leadership, as well as the founding executive director of the Education Leadership Institute and Center for Catholic Urban Education at Saint Joseph's University.