Reviews approaches and specialties of six big-name educational consultants: Lee Canter, Vic Cottrell, Fenwick English, Ivan Fitzwater, Madeline Hunter, and Marian Leibowitz. Discusses reasons for hiring consultants (including delivery of unpleasant messages) and cautions districts to seek local talent, match consultants and tasks, and support…

To benefit fully from the consultants and guest lecturers hired to conduct inservice training for teachers, the McDowell County schools (North Carolina) cultivate a "red carpet" treatment policy for such visitors. Success depends on good two-way communication, efficient hospitality arrangements, administrative presence at workshops, and an…

Staff development specialists worked with elementary school personnel to improve school morale by gathering information to assess the current climate, establishing task forces to deal with the problems, and training staff members in techniques for ameliorating the problems. (MLF)

The U46 Administrators' Academy, sponsored by School District U46 in Elgin (Illinois), provides administrator inservice training at no cost. Academy instructors, primarily central office administrators, are selected for their credibility with their peers, for their knowledge of the topics, and for their ability to teach. (Author/MLF)

Explains how an Illinois school district was forced to develop a plan for writing an entire district curriculum in one day and how the plan was effectively carried out. The approach is not presented as a model for emulation but, rather, as an example of what can be done with limited resources. (MD)

Peer coaching, teacher input, and focus on teaching improvement are important ingredients in an inservice teacher training program in a Palos Hills, Illinois, school district. Program goals and guidelines for training sessions and peer coaching teams are detailed. (CJH)

The state of Oklahoma recently published a school bus driver manual on transporting handicapped students. Yearly inservice training sessions are recommended to teach school bus drivers communication skills, use of special equipment for physically handicapped students, and preparation for emergencies. (MLF)

Reports on the Stockton (California) schools' assessment program, used in the selection and promotion of all school site and central office administrators. Describes seven exercises used for evaluating key management skills of elementary, middle, and secondary school principals. Explains the process of acquiring trained assessors. (IW)

Suggests the following three steps for effective management of playground aides: (1) developing better screening procedures for hiring noncertified staff; (2) devising a systematic inservice training program on supervising student behavior outside of the classroom; and (3) establishing a system of school discipline that involves visible support…

The qualities that school boards and others expect in superintendents are not being met. Solutions include (1) better training, with enrollment in management courses; (2) internships; (3) first-year support groups; (4) inservice training; and (5) personal development. (MLF)

Surveys confirm the prevalence of racism and prejudice in schools and colleges. School executives are offered the following strategy: (1) establish that prejudice will not be tolerated; (2) get students involved; (3) expand contacts between racial groups; (4) offer students training in conflict resolution; and (5) provide staff inservice training.…

Suggests eight steps for training teachers to use computers, including establishing a computer committee, structuring and budgeting for inservice courses, cooperating with other schools, and sending some teachers to the computer company's maintenance and repair school. Lists 25 computer skills teachers need and describes California and Minnesota…

Discusses the Education Renewal Center (ERC), a self-supporting, "do-it-yourself" graduate school set up by Lamar (Colorado) School District for southeastern Colorado educators. Describes ERC's beginnings, teacher recertification credit, unexpected benefits, and courses for expanding horizons and building skills. Offers tips for starting…

Teachers need to become comfortable with computers and to find out how to use computers in their teaching. Tips for training teachers include developing an inservice training corps, hiring teachers with computer expertise for peer instruction, and utilizing free services and materials. (MLF)

Graphing calculators convert an equation to a visual model allowing students to make connections between mathematical concepts. Teachers are very receptive to the calculators, according to the director of the Calculator and Computer Precalculus Project at Ohio State University. (MLF)