How do you sufficiently progress beyond the status quo when an entire rural community views the status quo as sufficient progress? Educating children in poverty remains the most important educational challenge of our time. What few people know is this: the rate of child poverty in our nation's rural communities is actually higher than it is in our country's urban centers. Hardball Leadership is a best practices guide for rural school leaders who are passionate about closing the achievement gap and committed to leading their districts to significant academic improvement. Based upon original research that examined the leadership practices of effective rural superintendents who led their districts to dramatic academic improvement, this book's insights include: Establishing a strong academic culture where every student can and will be successfulDeveloping a system for improving teacher instructional performanceFostering an academically-focused partnership with the board of educationManaging school-based controversy in a productive wayBuilding and sustaining a financially strong district This leadership handbook will help rural school leaders build an academic pathway that will lead their students towards a happy and prosperous life.