An honest assessment of the emotional realities that exist for those willing to accept the challenge of the superintendency. Polka and Litchka present a vivid description of why school superintendents need a strong set of personal values and beliefs in order to lead effectively and survive the often turbulent waters in which they work. If you wonder why there are fewer and fewer educators willing to become school superintendents, simply read Polka and Litchka's The Dark Side of Educational Leadership and it will become clear. In a system that all but guarantees lifetime employment to everyone, there is one person flying without a net: the superintendent of schools. Worse yet, the superintendent is held accountable to standards that, in some instances, are the result of grudges and local politics divorced from the mission of our schools. These Dark Side realities are explored in depth and in detail by Polka and Litchka. As a former superintendent, I found The Dark Side of Educational Leadership to be an authentic, powerful, and emotional description of the superintendency. Countless ordeals, challenges, and trials from my own experience raced through my mind as I read accounts of colleagues who are striving to lead amidst the myriad political obstacles, most often of the inane variety, that sap a true leader's energy and spirit. Despite it all, being a school superintendent is the most rewarding and challenging role I can imagine. Polka and Litchka understand this perspective and capture it well in their book.