In one school, a principal asked the critical question: 'Do schools drop out of students' lives?' Usually we are concerned about the opposite: 'Will a students drop out from school? she wanted to look at teaching and learning from the students' perspective. The principal's question reveals how she wanted schools to be a part of students' lives, to help them meet the future and find their own ways towards self-realization. The school must be 'as good as a student's dream'. As well, the principals' leadership role appeared to be very important for teacher motivation. The following aspects of this role could be seen as