Pivotal Strategies for the Educational Leader

Public education has been criticized for under-achieving schools and one key phrase for long-term school success is school leadership. Taken comprehensively, leadership emphasizes the importance of where the leader stands at times of decision, challenge, and conflict. The Art of War, written by Sun Tzu, a Chinese military strategist more than 2500 years ago, represents a very complex work of philosophy and military strategy. A good part of the work describes the pivotal role of a leader and his understanding and application of the winning factors. The Art of War application to education is about solving (i.e. fighting) problems (i.e. the enemy) to improve student and school success. The Art of War describes the significance of a leader and his knowledge and prudent application of the strategies. At the core of theses strategies is the non-negotiable moral purpose of the leader to be reinforced by other fine qualities as wisdom, commitment, discipline, and courage. Readers will be amazed and rewarded by finding the relevance and practicality of this ancient Eastern philosophy.

By applying Sun Tzu's The Art of War to education, the author has written a pioneering treatise, integrating the ancient master's military strategies in today's schools. Sun Tzu's five winning factors are well expounded to help educators equip themselves with the much- needed strategies to run effective schools with cutting edge leadership. The book is both intellectually stimulating and a fascinating read., The author ingeniously connects ancient wisdom to real-world reality, re-establishing the missing link between leadership strategies and school success. The book is highly entertaining and provides an answer to our nation's schooling crisis. It is an impossible to put-down, and an indispensable read for all teachers and school administrators!, East meets West in a unique way as Dr. Wong shows how an ancient Chinese military strategist has solutions for the challenges facing American public education today. This highly readable book will be valuable to school leaders and interesting to all others who desire a closer look at our schools., In this inevitable changing world, the prescription of pivotal strategies is the solution to build and sustain successful education leadership. Based on the ancient but proven war strategies of Sun Tzu, the author uses plain language to depict a leadership model so educators can lead to win the war of educating our children., The book offers a new perspective on educational leadership from an ancient non-Western source. Themes from the unwavering commitment we must have as leaders, to tactically conducting “warfare” through our offices are covered in an engaging, readable, and very applicable format. Yes, the education arena can sometimes feel like a battlefield. Dr. Wong has effectively drawn answers from these ancient texts that will help the new, as well as the seasoned, educational leader plan more strategically, work more constructively, and succeed with the least amount of casualty.

Dr. Ovid Wong is an associate professor of education with Benedictine University, Lisle, Illinois. He is an award-winning teacher and administrator with over 20 years of experience.