ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a complex, real-life, accessible case study in expecting the best to provoke and stimulate conversation around practical problems and alternative solutions that confront educational leaders today. These cases cover a wide range of topics, including: teacher evaluations, educational reforms, school safety, cultural differences, undocumented students, and social media. Each case study has three alternative responses written by experienced educational administrators and academics. The chapter explains Dr. OsGood's incompetence at appropriately directing and communicating with staff has allowed a dysfunctional staff culture to develop. Osgood has polarized the staff into a divided inner circle that does not have appropriate working relationships or boundaries, and an outer circle that is uncertain of what they should be working on because of poor communication. The outer circle is clearly frustrated because of the lack of direction, differential treatment and exclusion from important decision-making processes.
