Six professional development achools (PDS) have been established in rural West Virginia as a result of an education reform effort. Two junior high schools, two elementary schools, and two high schools have been participating for the past 2 years in restructuring efforts that involve collaboration between public school teachers and university…

Professional growth opportunities in most schools are limited and ineffective. By enabling teachers to participate actively in their own learning, examine current instructional strategies, and determine what they must do to improve, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards' assessment process and professional development can help…

Describes new theories of teacher professional development, identifies known costs of conventional professional development, discusses how new approaches (like collaborative problem solving and mentoring relationships) affect costs (for teacher time and supportive infrastructure), examines efficiency considerations, and highlights fiscal and…

Describes a model of implementing multicultural education that uses a four-step process of awareness, knowledge, skills development, and action. Professional education is a key component of this program, which was evaluated in 1995 and 1996. Teacher responses to questionnaires showed the positive impacts of the approach. (SLD)

Describes the process that an allied health occupation (in this instance, physician's assistant) undergoes to become professionalized. The historical background and definition of traditional professionalism are presented. The evolution of the new professionalism that is characteristic of current allied health occupation is also discussed.…

Some educators believe that authentic, performance-based assessments can drive instructional improvement. The Kentucky Education Reform Act uses a measure-driven instructional approach (the Kentucky Instructional Results Information Program) that evaluates student portfolios in writing and mathematics, achievement on performance events, and scores…

Describes four approaches to competency-based staff development piloted in Texas during 1978 and 1979. These approaches to staff development are identified as (1) the pre-post workshop model, (2) the pre-inter-post workshop model, (3) the opportunities course model, and (4) the diversified training model. (CT)

Students and employees are legally protected against sexual harassment, regardless of the perpetrator's age or status. Although caution is needed when responding to complaints, school leaders should avoid making backroom deals with staff members accused of molestation or improper sexual conduct. All school community members need information and…

Attempts to implement the professional development school (PDS) are frustrated by a lack of consensus about these schools' defining characteristics. This article discusses some common criteria, emphasizes that the professional development school is not a laboratory or demonstration school, and compares the PDS to other forms of academic inquiry.…

All local education authorities (school districts) should have a policy for management development. All staff who manage the work of other adults in school should receive the appropriate training as an entitlement; for many of the teachers involved the training should be school-based. Evaluation of training is also important and deserves greater…

The collaboration of four departments of educational leadership and NASSP representatives has profoundly affected the school leadership program at East Tennessee State University. The alliance has provided valuable external viewpoints and has helped Eastern Tennessee's educational leadership department promote teaching and faculty development,…

Reviews current teacher induction practices in Ontario, Canada, and considers the relationship between school-system level programs and broad-scale government policy. Uses a policy analysis framework to examine induction interest and activity from 1988 through 1991. Discusses these findings within the 1993 policy context. School systems must…

Describes the development, content, and evaluation of the Leadership Institute for a New Century (LINC) program, which offers personal and professional development activities for women and minorities interested in community college leadership positions. Nearly 70% of participants reported receiving a promotion during or since their involvement in…

The author outlines a career employment model for hospital nurses and addresses the issues and challenges in the orientation and inservice education component of the model. (CT)

Teacher collegial groups (TCGs) may be a structure capable of promoting much-needed professional dialogue among teachers. This article frames TCGs within the organization development perspective, explains how one principal implemented a TCG in her school, and analyzes how the process affected a school's organizational culture. Includes 24…