"School administrators everywhere experience external pressures, such as the demand to "raise test scores." All too often, their reaction is to apply a quick fix - but simply reacting means that deeper problems remain." "Higher test scores can make you appear to be a winner yet do little for your core self-esteem, and nobody wins if you're left feeling hollow inside. To avoid burnout, school administrators must nurture their own self-esteem, while using the necessary political skills to realistically deal with external pressures." "Dale Brubaker tells why educators need more than the traditional top-down, get-higher-test-scores approach to curriculum. He describes the benefits of developing your own "inner curriculum." He also shows the importance of attending to both political and spiritual power in becoming a creative curriculum leader." "Creative Curriculum Leadership includes self-appraisal inventories to help you recognize where you have been, where you are now, and where you would like to be in the future - in other words, how you can remake your professional life. The secret is creative leadership." "Brubaker shows you how to create settings and learning communities that empower people to identify and use their talents. Creative curriculum leaders ask: "How can I understand myself better so I can enjoy my work and my life more?" and, "How can I improve the settings that are important to me?" If you nurture your own inner curriculum, it will serve as a foundation for the outer curricula. Equally important, you must create outer curricula that boost the inner curriculum." "Field-tested case studies are included to stimulate thinking and discussion. You can apply ideas from each chapter to your own leadership setting. These case studies bridge theory and practice. They're your springboard to becoming a more creative curriculum leader."--Jacket.