A leadership book turns 500 pages into daily practice

Elisa B. MacDonald’s 2023 book, “Intentional Moves: How Skillful Team Leaders Impact Learning,” lays out a practical roadmap for new school leaders. Divided into three parts and centered on 10 “primary intentions,” it offers ready-to-use strategies—complete wi

The first day a colleague becomes a leader, the job doesn’t just change—it tilts. In the account reviewed here, the shift is described as overwhelming: moving from teacher to team leader brings a sudden responsibility to support other adults in a new role, not just manage a classroom.

That feeling sits behind “Intentional Moves: How Skillful Team Leaders Impact Learning” by Elisa B. MacDonald, published by Corwin Press in 2023. The review, written by Dr. Katie Durkin. describes the book as something more than inspiration—an “essential intro” that offers steady help over four years as skills as a team leader are refined.

MacDonald structures the book into three parts. The first two sections are devoted to understanding leadership and building essential information about adult learners. The third section takes the reader into the practical heart of the text. examining 10 “primary intentions” that team leaders can use to help their teams function well—with intentional impact.

The book’s scale could have been intimidating. It is a “hefty 500-page text. ” and Durkin says MacDonald advises readers to approach it like a ready reference rather than something to consume in a single sitting. Durkin links that approach to how Jennifer Seravallo’s “The Reading Strategies Book” or “The Writing Strategies Book” are modeled—lengthy texts organized in a way that makes them more manageable for busy readers.

What’s more, MacDonald recommends reading the two beginning sections first to build a conceptual foundation before turning to the strategies in the third part—something Durkin agrees with after finding those early chapters helped her think carefully about each of the ten primary intentions.

In the third section, the book’s organization becomes one of its strongest selling points. Each of the 10 moves is assigned a specified chapter, and each chapter follows a consistent pattern. The review says MacDonald begins with an overview of the Skillful Team Leader (STL) move. helping readers understand what the primary intention is and how it benefits both the leader and the leader’s team. From there, the chapters explain what the move promotes, when to use it, and include suggested related reading.

Durkin says she especially appreciated that the chapters don’t stay abstract. The book includes “how to’s” with scripts, designed to show what the leadership move looks like in action.

A recurring theme in the review is comfort—because the book doesn’t position good leadership as something entirely separate from good teaching. In each chapter’s subsection labeled “Think Like a Teacher. ” MacDonald lays out how the move being described mirrors what teachers already do in their classroom. Durkin describes this as comforting. explaining that it helped her see that she was already practicing some of these skillful moves with students—and could translate those skills into her new leadership role.

The book also builds practicality through the materials it includes: tables. charts. and graphic organizers meant to help readers make connections and put the ideas to work. Durkin describes “Intentional Moves” as thorough enough that she can imagine returning year after year. using different resources depending on what her team needs.

There’s one caveat, and it’s honest: the book is long. Durkin says she read it over the course of a year—starting in early summer and finishing during the school year. She credits not rushing the work with giving her time to reflect on its ideas. She adds that it would work well in a book club setting for a school leadership team. because the chapters are manageable and could be scheduled by month or week.

For readers who want to cover it from start to finish, Durkin suggests saving it for the summer so they can apply what they learn at the start of the next school year. If time is limited, she points to particular chapters.

Chapter 2 is singled out as especially helpful. It focuses on what MacDonald calls the “Team Function, Impact Matrix.” Durkin describes it as a strong starting point for analyzing a team—either on your own or with team members.

When she names the primary intentions she found most useful in her own space and situation. the choices show what she values in practice: Primary Intention 3. centered on group culture. community. and trust; Primary Intention 8. focused on being intentional in how student work and data are used and analyzed; and Primary Intention 10. which concludes the book by honing in on assessing her own leadership and potential for growth.

Durkin’s recommendation is directed at two kinds of readers: people already in leadership positions and those thinking about pursuing one. She says MacDonald lays out ready-to-use strategies in manageable chapters and describes—“with insight and honesty”—how these strategies play out across different team dynamics. Durkin also says the book felt authentic to her. “like MacDonald was personally coaching” her to become an effective team leader.

And now, with four years of experience behind her, she returns to the text again and again. She frames “Intentional Moves” as a dependable tool: a book readers can use to evaluate their own leadership style and make plans for the future.

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