Crossword Genius

A dean is leading (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ahead

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'is leading' is the definition.
(to lead is to go ahead)

'a dean' is the wordplay.
'dean' becomes 'head' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'a'+'head'='AHEAD'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ahead that I've seen before include "likely to win?" , "In the vanguard" , "Forward - in front" , "In the leading position" , "In front as in race" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express and The Mirror.
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