This book uses a form of systems thinking to provide a new vision and tools to all those working to improve schools, implement reforms, and keep them safe from violence. It analyzes K-12 education as a complex, "messy" system, which must be understood and tackled as a whole rather than as a collection of problems that can each be studied in isolation. No single factor by itself (such as great teachers, adequate parenting, or good living conditions) is sufficient to lower the achievement gap, even though each of the factors is necessary.

Employing Jungian typlogy to clarify to different stakeholders (teachers, principals, parents) how to understand each other's goals and methods, Mitroff, Alpaslan, and Hill provide not only a case for rethinking how education reform is carried out, but a series of heuristics to help those involved in the education mess to improve the system as a whole.