ABSTRACT
Being a leader of a K-12 school during the 1970s and 1980s was a challenging and awesome assignment. The educational, political, financial, and other battles were intense and difficult. Nonetheless, some leaders not only survived, but prospered in this environment. Why do some leaders succeed while others fail? Do mentoring and comentoring play important roles in the success of such leaders and their institutions? And, just how does a leader deal with the daily challenges and trials of operating a school and yet still find time, energy, and enthusiasm to serve effectively as the principal mentor for all sectors-including students, faculty and staff? This chapter relates the story of such a successful school leader who used his peopleoriented mentoring style to help others build with him a synergistic, learning team approach to the affairs of a university school. Not only were he and his school effective during his lengthy tenure as lead mentor, but the comentoring environment of Florida State University School (FSUS) continues to thrive, even serving as a model for other schools.
