Academic leadership has an important influence on students. It can motivate and challenge students to work harder and pursue higher education and succeed. However, the wrong type of leadership from teachers and administrators can have the opposite effect and lead to students being discouraged in their studies causing educational failure (Rouse, 2012). The purpose of this article is to review two academic papers written from different perspectives regarding the importance of leadership in school life. Roby (2011) examined the effect and power of teachers who are good leaders in school environments. The second article by Myung, Loeb, and Horng (2011) is a research paper that investigates the need to find instructors who have the experience and leadership skills to become highly effective principals. Teacher leaders impact 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 tried to ask (2011, p.708) four questions in their investigation. The authors used an explanatory examination to answer the first research question, which asked how many principals now seek to tap into their teacher pool to meet the needs of future leaders. The authors found that approximately 1/3 of all teachers in the Miami-Dade County School District had been approached by principals to become future principals. They also learned, through their research, that approximately nine in ten principals and/or assistant principals had been challenged to move into a leadership position. These findings demonstrated that addressing teachers by current principals is an effective way to find new leadership for future needs (Rouse,