This unique book presents lessons a straight principal-turned-professor has learnedthrough personal experience and research with gay and lesbian high schoolstudents. It begins with a young principal acknowledging that he, nor hisadministrative education program, had given any thought to issues surroundingstudents' sexual orientation. However, when a senior in his tiny rural high schoolcame out, the principal started down an unexpected path that would change hisoutlook on school leadership-and transform his practice. Presented in eight unique stories in students' own words, we experience theirchallenges, fears, and triumphs-and see how their schools and the people in them both helped and hurt. Through their poignant, honest, familiar, and often surprising stories, we see how these eight students navigatewhat Unks (2003, p. 323) calls \"the most homophobic institutions in American society.\"Their stories also reveal an unexpected, yet vital lesson for educators, policy makers, and all those concernedwith meeting students' needs-that being gay or lesbian in high school does not automatically lead to badoutcomes. The students' firsthand accounts, along with lessons learned by the once apprehensive principal, showthat there is a much more positive, optimistic, and seldom-told story. The book challenges practicing and aspiring school leaders to:.Move beyond what we think we know about gay and lesbian studentsand see them as unique people with strengths and struggles, gifts andchallenges. Examine the unique context of their schools and see how one sizesolution doesn't fit all. Understand agency, agendas, and how gay-straight alliances canbenefit all students. Summon the courage to transform our mission statements fromslogans and live them everyday | The Principal's Challenge by Nicholas J Pace, Paperback | Indigo Chapters