Research suggests that many early childhood program administrators enter into leadership roles by being promoted from teaching positions and few have prior education, training, or experience specific to leadership or management (Catron & Groves, 1999; Billman, 1995; Bloom & Rafanello, 1994). Many directors of early care and education…

During the past few years, more than 30 states have enacted legislation to change the way teachers are evaluated. The new laws require the annual evaluation of teachers; typically, multiple evaluations during the school year are required for new teachers. They also require the use of multiple measures to determine a teacher's effectiveness and tie…

One objective of the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) School Improvement Grants (SIG) and Race to the Top (RTT) program is to help states enhance their capacity to support the turnaround of low-performing schools. This capacity may be important, given how difficult it is to produce substantial and sustained achievement gains in low-performing…

Written by a practicing superintendent for practitioners, this book provides guidelines for becoming a vision-based, reflective leader. Part 1 (chapters 1 through 6) conveys general principles of educational leadership based on personal experience. Part 2 (chapters 7 through 11) provides examples of effective, exemplary programs from Pittsburgh…

This book is designed to help policymakers, educators, and researchers develop a deeper understanding of the issues of school restructuring and to give greater conceptual clarity to the terms of the current debate. The chapters of the book contain forum papers that are organized into two main parts. Following chapter 1, "Introduction: On Changing…

Concerned school leaders can make a real difference in the education of educators. Six tasks which school leaders can undertake to aid in restructuring teacher education are identified and discussed. School leaders can: (1) make preservice and continuing education true priorities; (2) cooperate in establishing professional development centers; (3)…

The role of the assistant principal is an excellent educational resource and should be enhanced to allow assistant principals a more vital role in instructional leadership. This document lists functions related to the assigned, expected, and assumed responsibilities of the assistant principal that would enhance his/her role and involvement, as…

This report summarizes a two-year study of supervisory officers in Ontario. The research focused on what supervisory officers do, what skills they need, how they are prepared and selected, and how they experience the job in terms of satisfaction and effectiveness. A stratified sample of 25 boards and 4 ministry offices was selected for indepth…

This booklet outlines several conclusions about teacher education, socialization, and certification taken from "Teachers for Our Nation's Schools" by John I. Goodlad. They form the basis of a call-to-action for college and university leaders. The process of changing teacher education must begin with college and university leaders giving…

Focusing on the call for changes in school administration, this document reviews the nature of the educational reform movement in the 1980s before describing four trends that have fueled reform proposals. Trends described include general conditions such as the larger reform debate and the new conceptions of the appropriate organizational structure…