I Believe I Can Fly: The Story of Xinmin Secondary

This book studies in depth a school s turnaround over a ten-year period. Two principals played crucial roles in transforming Xinmin Secondary School from a last choice institution suffering from falling enrolment into a school that won the Top Value-Added Award for the past 9 consecutive years, from 1994 2002, for consistently adding value to its students academic performance.

This study draws important lessons on leadership, change management, employee motivation, and teamwork. These insights are distilled from the many hours of interviews with the principals who spearheaded the turnaround, present and past teachers and students of the school, as well as the results of a quantitative survey on the school s teaching staff. This book will also serve as a good case resource for students to engage in dialogue and to think critically about leaders and the leadership process.