The Warrior Principal: New Leadership for Urban Schools

“Yisrael’s description of the challenges faced by urban principals is authentic and irrefutable. Dr. Yisrael holds no punches as he brings life to the role of urban principals through figurative descriptors and war tactics. Intelligible guidelines, practical strategies and meaningful insight grade this guide book for urban principals a step above the rest….By including his own unique experiences, Dr. Yisrael makes a connection with every urban school leader. His reflection in relation to trials and triumphs make this a straightforward and useful read….This book functions as a framework for urban school leadership and can be an instrumental and integral part of any principal’s school reform success.” ―Azalia H. Speight, principal, District of Columbia

“Effective school leadership in urban schools does not have to be a losing battle. Dr. Yisrael’s The Warrior Principal provides any principal with the ‘weapons’ to be victorious. Using authentic, relevant experiences that would be useful in any urban school system in need of reform, Yisrael outlines key principles and strategies to help school leaders capitalize on their strengths and reduce their fears of leading a school during the urban school warfare.

The Warrior Principal is a must read for any principal seeking to lead an urban school. This book will provide the tools needed to succeed and become a more efficient and focused driven leader – but most importantly, help them to challenge the status quo – and arm their staff members with the skills needed to face the war on education head on.” ―Savetria Y. Francis, principal, District of Columbia

“Yisrael, a leading advocate for public school reform, read Sun Tzu’s The Art of War in 2000 and it stuck with him; the advice about preparing for and conducting warfare was remarkably similar to good advice for urban principals in preparing for and executing leadership. Yisrael begins by explaining his premise, that urban school leadership is, in fact, warfare, and that the successful urban school principal must wage war whether under attack, using war-like stratagems, accounting for terrain, maneuvering, rallying the troops, assembling and using weapons, using spies, or even conquering standard tests. Above all, he urges principals to use one of the greatest tools of war, fluidity, to change as the situation demands, and to out-think critics in advance of the attack, not merely respond in the tradition of a knee-jerk warrior. The result is compelling and elegant, a way to survive urban public school warfare with finesse and class.” ―Book News, Inc.