Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to conduct a critical analysis of the origins and implementation of problem-based learning in educational administration as a window into the limitations of this approach and more generally administrator preparation. Design/methodology/approach: The author reviewed the published work of the originator from…

Reports selected findings from a national evaluation of a British pilot scheme for mentoring new headteachers, using questionnaire data collected from 238 new principals and 303 mentors and information from 16 detailed case studies. Mentoring was judged successful by most participants because it offered numerous benefits, including help with…

Examines school reform's effects on principals' professional leadership culture, drawing on research findings from 1993 to 1998, and highlighting possible future reforms in Victoria, Australia. Principals are more satisfied with present, than past, work arrangements. Leadership is more strategic and empowering than heroic or hands-on. (44…

Critically reviews mentoring for new British principals, focusing on program characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. Mentoring facilitates peer support, helps newcomers make necessary role identity changes, and encourages reflective practice. There are problems with pairing practitioners and mentors, passing on outmoded advice, and…

Summarizes selected findings of a major national research project on mentoring and teacher education in England and Wales. Considers mentoring's nature and purpose and examines mentor/new headteacher matches. Discusses mentoring's benefits, limitations, and conceptual models. Mentoring provides invaluable support for new principals but lacks rigor…

Draws on other articles in this journal issue to identify emergent themes concerning the principal's evolving role in several countries. Explains the context for change, including reform pressures and political response, and examines principals' changing work environment, their transformed roles, and preparation and professional development…

Reports on a peer assistance program for principals involving training, observation (via shadowing), and feedback. The sample involved nine pairs of Australian principals matched by age, experience, and school size. Reports generally positive findings regarding principals' overall ratings, claimed benefits and limitations, perceived value of…

The development of the paper-and-pencil instrument called the Organizational Culture Assessment Inventory (OCAI) is based on the theory of organizational culture. Recent literature and organizational analysis are combined with Schein's model of organizational culture to provide the background for metaphorical analysis of organizational culture…

Describes the Headteachers Leadership and Management Programme (Headlamp), a new British national scheme aiming to improve school-management quality. Discusses issues such as entitlement, expectations, competencies, other team players (mentors, local education authorities, and governing bodies), and funding resources. Headlamp needs an integrated…

Discusses a research project investigating the preparation of beginning principals in Queensland (Australia) government schools. Survey data were gathered from principals in 23 primary and 13 secondary schools. Fully 10 primary school principals felt they were ill-prepared for their jobs. Secondary principals, with prior experience as deputy…

The Executive Leadership Program at Fordham University presents a model for practicing school administrators' continuing education that reflects a changing society and schools' changing needs. The program is based on four innovations: an intellectual/change agent approach; a clinical, field-based research experience; an instructional agenda…

Briefly reviews the current status of research on mentoring as a form of professional development for school leaders. Presents alternative definitions of mentoring and reviews several recent studies on administrator mentoring. Discusses limitations in research design, methodologies, and findings, and charts possible new research directions. (19…

Principals need professional development to cope with their new responsibilities for school review and planning, staff selection, staff development, performance appraisal, financial management, and the establishment of school councils. This article reviews the immediate administrative training needs of (Australian) school leaders, examines…

In a study of 29 aspiring administrators from the University of Colorado preparation program, only 10 percent demonstrated adequate instructional conferencing abilities. Identified problems included underanalysis, poorly focused strategizing, lack of reflective discussion, and failure to pursue the conference objective. Recommendations and…

A program that encourages knowledge generation and reflection is peer-assisted leadership (PAL), where principals shadow one another and conduct reflective interviews. Principals' reactions reveal their concerns about professional isolation, their need for relevant information, their frustrations as instructional leaders, and their desire to avoid…