Impact - by Christopher Colwell (Paperback)

About the Book

This book will examine how it is that some assistant principals achieve significance far beyond their job title. What are the behaviors, attributes, and skill sets that educational leaders are able to harness and use with great effect from the position of the assistant princip...

Book Synopsis

This book will examine how it is that some assistant principals achieve significance far beyond their job title. What are the behaviors, attributes, and skill sets that educational leaders are able to harness and use with great effect from the position of the assistant principal? What unique challenges and opportunities are presented to the assistant principal that are distinct from the position of the principal or classroom teacher?

Review Quotes

Chris Colwell offers an amazing insight into today's world of educational leadership, specifically, the possibilities surrounding the position of assistant principal. Based on his expertise, knowledge and research, Chris writes an insightful account of exactly what it takes to become a high performing assistant principal. It is a clear and concise guide to successful school leadership. Impact: How Assistant Principal's Can Be High Performing Leaders is a must read for all those aspiring to becoming world class school leaders of the future.


Chris Colwell's Impact provides a realistic look at the roles and responsibilities that today's assistant principals' face in an era of increased pressure and accountability. I really see this book as a perfect textbook for an introduction to the principalship course, to prepare aspiring administrators for the realities of the position they are seeking. Not much GOOD research is done on how important assistant principals can be to the success of schools, and Colwell's book provides poignant, candid, and thought-provoking reflection on how important and critical the role of the assistant principal really is.


Impact: How Assistant Principals Can Be High Performing Leaders, provides a wealth of important information and strategies to assist those leading at the heart the organization. Focusing on assistant principals, in particular, is long overdue. Dr. Chris Colwell shares a wealth of practical applications in concert with supported scholarly research to address what is necessary to be a successful assistant principal in the 21st Century. This is a 'must read' for anyone currently in school leadership positions, teaching leadership or simply interested in school leadership.
As a conduit between the principal and faculty within schools, the assistant principal has the power to change school culture, improve teaching and learning, and build bridges that may have previously burned or had never built. Through this book, school leaders will learn how to accomplish this by prioritizing what is most important at the forefront of all of their decisions: teaching and learning. With specific 'traps' indicated, challenges identified and purpose (mission, vision) articulated, the strategies offered have the potential to transform the role of assistant principal, from manager to educational leader, strengthening the foundation that students stand upon as they begin their journey toward becoming educated citizens.

In his well thought out and written book, Impact: How Assistant Principals Can Be High Performing Leaders, Dr. Chris Colwell writes on a topic not often touched on in education circles, the assistant principal. The market is flooded with articles and books on the principalship but not on the assistant. Dr. Colwell has been there as a teacher, assistant principal and principal and knows what he is talking about concerning the assistant principalship. This is a very easy to read and understand book for the practitioner. Impact is an extremely useful book that would be beneficial to read for the want to be assistant principals, current assistant principals and principals.

About the Author

Chris Colwell is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Education Department at Stetson University. His 37 year career includes serving as a principal at all levels of P-12 education as well as being recognized as the Florida Secondary School Principal of the Year and as the President of the Florida Organization of Instructional Leaders.