Recounts a year in the life of a new principal. The author discovered the primary elements of survival in the fishbowl to be establishing positive school-community relations, developing patience, maintaining a global perspective on the organization's activities, and acquiring resiliency in response to the continual ebb and flow of people, ideas,…

"Alinsky methods," designed for confrontation, can include packing meetings, requesting marathon sessions, and using dramatic advertising. Developed by Saul Alinsky for oppressed people, the methods can be mitigated by 10 administrator actions, including building openness and trust, having good legal and public relations advice, and…

According to the U.S. Department of Education, 39% of public school students were considered to be part of a minority group in 2000, as opposed to just 22% in 1972. Although the increased diversity offers many opportunities for staff members and students to learn from one another, not all members of the school community adjust quickly to a…