A novice assistant principal, eager to lead, begins her career as an administrator in school beset with problems and far removed from the textbook definitions of "learning community". She works with inexperienced teachers, disillusioned veteran teachers, and a principal who is distracted and overwhelmed by personal concerns. Her suggestions are disregarded, her requests halfheartedly filled, and her mandates ignored. Drowning in paperwork, meetings, and administrivia, she wonders how and whether she can lead. Can a new assistant principal lead?