In the past, school and college administrators relied heavily on advice from colleagues, largely because they had an internal orientation toward their work. As the social, political, and economic influence of external forces became more apparent, they learned to value input from a range of stakeholders. Robert Taft, former governor of Ohio, is a person who offers unique perspectives on education and politics; he has an impressive background in both areas. In this interview, Governor Taft shares his convictions about school and community relationships and the importance of those associations to school improvement.