Overview

Educational leadership is messy; every decision ripples beyond your office, touching schools, families, and communities in ways you can’t always predict. This book helps school and district leaders develop contextual intelligence: the ability to read their environment, navigate power and politics, and act with courage and clarity. Across seven chapters, we’ll walk through the big questions that sit at the heart of your daily leadership, including: How to navigate the power dynamics that shape district leadership; How to read your environment, anticipate challenges, and take action; What it looks like to lead amid societal shifts: demographic changes, political polarization, economic pressures, and cultural divides; How to activate institutional levers that promote opportunity and access, even when the system resists change; and The daily actions you can take now to harness possibility by building trust, modeling inclusive practices, and moving your community forward. Throughout, the book’s tools, real stories, and reflective questions will inspire you to lead with both head and heart in an uncertain world. You’ll come away with the skills, insights, and habits of mind that will help you stay steady in any storm so your students can thrive.

Full Product Details

9781032776675

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Politics is inseparable from school leadership. This book is a vital resource for every school and district leader, providing real-world case studies to help you unpack the practices of real leaders so that you can lead through conflict, foster dialogue, and become the civil, bridge-building leader our schools need right now."" —Monique-Darrisaw-Akil, Ed.D., Superintendent, NY ""Dr. Rice-Boothe's guide is essential for today's school leaders, who must navigate complex power dynamics and systemic inequalities. With practical tools and reflective questions, this book transforms leadership challenges into opportunities to foster trust, promote equity, and cultivate school communities where every student can thrive."" —Yusuf A. Muhammad, Jr., High School Principal, GA ""Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility is an essential guide for today’s school leaders. With clarity and compassion, Mary Rice-Boothe offers frameworks for making principled decisions, cultivating trust, and leading through times of polarization and uncertainty. A timely, necessary resource for anyone committed to courageous leadership for brighter educational futures.” —Sonya Douglass, Professor and Chair, Department of Organization and Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University ""Mary Rice-Boothe has written a comprehensive guide to support school leaders and others on how to build common ground in polarized times! This book demystifies the processes that help us truly listen to each other by committing ourselves to the shared goal of student learning. I was blown away by the accessible and practical steps necessary to building coalitions across difference outlined in Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility. Rice-Boothe provides compelling personal stories to help illustrate how we commit to working together to make schools better and more inclusive and affirming spaces. Finally—many lament the loess of DEI and culturally responsive work due to ineffective and shoddy practices that actually made people feel less included. This book offers a blueprint to how to do the work effectively for ALL Americans."" —Heather Harding, Executive in Residence, Education Leaders of Color “This book – practical, timely, and wise- is exactly what education leaders need to be reading right now. The concept of contextual intelligence is crucial at every level– state, district, and school. Knowing who you are in relationship to the community you serve will unlock nuanced approaches to leading change. I can’t wait to use this book in my own teaching about education leadership.” —Jennifer Cheatham, Senior Lecturer on Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education ""In Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility, Mary Rice-Boothe gives voice to what so many education leaders are living but rarely have language for: that leadership today requires far more than technical skill—it demands contextual intelligence, political clarity, and moral courage. This book does not shy away from the messiness of educational leadership. Instead, it equips leaders to read their environment honestly, navigate power without being consumed by it, and remain anchored to what matters most—student outcomes, equity, and trust. Mary understands that every decision is political not because leaders seek conflict, but because schools sit at the intersection of history, identity, power, and community hope. What makes this work especially compelling is its balance of head and heart. Through real stories, practical tools, and reflective questions, Mary challenges leaders to move beyond expertise and certainty and toward coalition-building, imagination, and adaptive leadership. She reminds us that success is not measured by convincing others we are right, but by creating the conditions for deeper thinking, shared purpose, and collective movement forward. For leaders navigating polarized environments, institutional resistance, and constant scrutiny, this book is both a guide and a companion. It affirms that disequilibrium is not failure—it is the work—and that with contextual intelligence, leaders can stay steady in the storm while opening new possibilities for their communities. Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility is essential reading for anyone committed to leading schools with integrity, clarity, and an unwavering belief in what is possible for students."" —Dr. Meisha Porter

""In Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility: A Guide for Leading Schools Through Uncertain Times, Mary Rice-Boothe reminds us that change in turbulent times is messy. But rather than just pointing out the obvious, she offers the solution, what she calls “contextual intelligence.” In the pursuit of equity, we focus on new initiatives and instructional practices without the ability to lead change in ways that will close the knowing-doing gap or build a culture of continuous improvement. In this new book, Dr. Rice-Boothe provides a strong framework, alongside tools and prompts, to show you how to progress toward equity even in uncertain times."" —Zaretta Hammond, National consultant and author of Rebuilding Students’ Learning Power (2025) and Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain (2015) ""Politics is inseparable from school leadership. This book is a vital resource for every school and district leader, providing real-world case studies to help you unpack the practices of real leaders so that you can lead through conflict, foster dialogue, and become the civil, bridge-building leader our schools need right now."" —Monique-Darrisaw-Akil, Ed.D., Superintendent, NY ""Dr. Rice-Boothe's guide is essential for today's school leaders, who must navigate complex power dynamics and systemic inequalities. With practical tools and reflective questions, this book transforms leadership challenges into opportunities to foster trust, promote equity, and cultivate school communities where every student can thrive."" —Yusuf A. Muhammad, Jr., High School Principal, GA ""Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility is an essential guide for today’s school leaders. With clarity and compassion, Mary Rice-Boothe offers frameworks for making principled decisions, cultivating trust, and leading through times of polarization and uncertainty. A timely, necessary resource for anyone committed to courageous leadership for brighter educational futures.” —Sonya Douglass, Professor and Chair, Department of Organization and Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University ""Mary Rice-Boothe has written a comprehensive guide to support school leaders and others on how to build common ground in polarized times! This book demystifies the processes that help us truly listen to each other by committing ourselves to the shared goal of student learning. I was blown away by the accessible and practical steps necessary to building coalitions across difference outlined in Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility. Rice-Boothe provides compelling personal stories to help illustrate how we commit to working together to make schools better and more inclusive and affirming spaces. Finally—many lament the loess of DEI and culturally responsive work due to ineffective and shoddy practices that actually made people feel less included. This book offers a blueprint to how to do the work effectively for ALL Americans."" —Heather Harding, Executive in Residence, Education Leaders of Color “This book – practical, timely, and wise- is exactly what education leaders need to be reading right now. The concept of contextual intelligence is crucial at every level– state, district, and school. Knowing who you are in relationship to the community you serve will unlock nuanced approaches to leading change. I can’t wait to use this book in my own teaching about education leadership.” —Jennifer Cheatham, Senior Lecturer on Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education ""In Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility, Mary Rice-Boothe gives voice to what so many education leaders are living but rarely have language for: that leadership today requires far more than technical skill—it demands contextual intelligence, political clarity, and moral courage. This book does not shy away from the messiness of educational leadership. Instead, it equips leaders to read their environment honestly, navigate power without being consumed by it, and remain anchored to what matters most—student outcomes, equity, and trust. Mary understands that every decision is political not because leaders seek conflict, but because schools sit at the intersection of history, identity, power, and community hope. What makes this work especially compelling is its balance of head and heart. Through real stories, practical tools, and reflective questions, Mary challenges leaders to move beyond expertise and certainty and toward coalition-building, imagination, and adaptive leadership. She reminds us that success is not measured by convincing others we are right, but by creating the conditions for deeper thinking, shared purpose, and collective movement forward. For leaders navigating polarized environments, institutional resistance, and constant scrutiny, this book is both a guide and a companion. It affirms that disequilibrium is not failure—it is the work—and that with contextual intelligence, leaders can stay steady in the storm while opening new possibilities for their communities. Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility is essential reading for anyone committed to leading schools with integrity, clarity, and an unwavering belief in what is possible for students."" —Dr. Meisha Porter

""Politics is inseparable from school leadership. This book is a vital resource for every school and district leader, providing real-world case studies to help you unpack the practices of real leaders so that you can lead through conflict, foster dialogue, and become the civil, bridge-building leader our schools need right now."" —Monique-Darrisaw-Akil, Ed.D., Superintendent, NY, USA ""Dr. Rice-Boothe's guide is essential for today's school leaders, who must navigate complex power dynamics and systemic inequalities. With practical tools and reflective questions, this book transforms leadership challenges into opportunities to foster trust, promote equity, and cultivate school communities where every student can thrive."" —Yusuf A. Muhammad, Jr., High School Principal, GA, USA ""Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility is an essential guide for today’s school leaders. With clarity and compassion, Mary Rice-Boothe offers frameworks for making principled decisions, cultivating trust, and leading through times of polarization and uncertainty. A timely, necessary resource for anyone committed to courageous leadership for brighter educational futures.” —Sonya Douglass, Professor and Chair, Department of Organization and Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University, USA ""Mary Rice-Boothe has written a comprehensive guide to support school leaders and others on how to build common ground in polarized times! This book demystifies the processes that help us truly listen to each other by committing ourselves to the shared goal of student learning. I was blown away by the accessible and practical steps necessary to building coalitions across difference outlined in Navigating Power, Harnessing Possibility. Rice-Boothe provides compelling personal stories to help illustrate how we commit to working together to make schools better and more inclusive and affirming spaces. Finally—many lament the loess of DEI and culturally responsive work due to ineffective and shoddy practices that actually made people feel less included. This book offers a blueprint to how to do the work effectively for ALL Americans."" —Heather Harding, Executive in Residence, Education Leaders of Color “This book – practical, timely, and wise- is exactly what education leaders need to be reading right now. The concept of contextual intelligence is crucial at every level– state, district, and school. Knowing who you are in relationship to the community you serve will unlock nuanced approaches to leading change. I can’t wait to use this book in my own teaching about education leadership.” —Jennifer Cheatham, Senior Lecturer on Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education, USA

Author Information

Mary Rice-Boothe, EdD, has more than 25 years of experience in education as a teacher, principal, principal coach, and nonprofit leader. She owns Leading-Within, LLC, a consulting organization which supports education leaders through advocacy, coaching, research, and writing. Her first book was Leading Within Systems of Inequity in Education: A Liberation Guide for Leaders of Color, published by ASCD in 2023.

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