Academic leadership has an important influence on learners. This can motivate and inspire students to work harder, pursue higher education, and achieve success. Yet, the wrong type of leadership from teachers and administrators can backfire and discourage students in their studies, thereby causing academic failure (Rouse, 2012). The purpose of this article is to review two academic writings written from different perspectives regarding the importance of leadership in school life. Roby (2011) examined the effect and power of teachers being good leaders in the school setting. The second article by Myung, Loeb, and Horng (2011) is a research paper that explores the need to find instructors with the experience and leadership skills necessary to become highly effective school principals. Teacher leaders impacting school culture Roby (2011) studied teacher accountability and its importance in exercising true leadership. The author's study revealed the effect that academic leaders have on the atmospheric and cultural aspects that each school develops over time. Roby (2011) highlighted the importance of cultures that develop within schools. He sought to (2011, p.708) propose four questions in their investigation. The authors used an explanatory review to answer the first research question, which asked how many principals are now looking to draw from their teacher pool to meet the needs of future leaders. The authors found that about a third of all teachers in the Miami-Dade County school district had been contacted by principals to become future principals. They also learned through their research that approximately nine out of ten principals and/or assistant principals had been challenged to move into a leadership position. These results showed that reaching out to teachers by current principals is an effective way to find new leadership for future needs (Rouse,