Current high school reform often focuses on small schools, small learning communities, and alternative paths to post-secondary education. While these reforms are necessary, recent evaluations of improving high-poverty high schools in urban districts (American Institutes for Research & SRI International, 2004 & 2005) suggest these changes are not…

Outlines an organization development view of change, identifying strategies for implementing the approach and noting how staff developers' roles change with the organization development perspective. As organization development specialists rather than trainers, staff developers must develop skills in group process, facilitation, team building,…

This article defines the strategic planning process at the school level, focusing on steps involved, ways to diagnose school readiness for undertaking the effort, skills needed for effective process facilitation, and implications of strategic planning for staff development. Such planning is effective in improving the organizational ability of…

Discusses the need for coordinated efforts between an organization and its staff development support that are congruent with the articulated goals of the district, the school sites, and individual members of the organization. Strategies are presented for changing the role of staff developers in renewal efforts that support a learning organization.…

A case study of an organization development intervention in a large New York State school district describes to staff developers the complex process of discovering and responding to organizational needs. The discussion focuses on understanding the problem; frameworks for diagnosis and intervention; and implementing the intervention strategy.…

The way public school educators respond to emerging information technologies will be the defining event for public education over the next decade. This author, however, worries about whether public schools have the capacity to take advantage of the revolution going on around them--a revolution that is affecting not only the way students learn, but…

The article reviews the history of staff development in general, discusses characteristics, problems, and limitations of the present, and examines the future, noting philosophical issues affecting the future of the National Staff Development Council. (SM)

Provides a framework for enhancing personal and organizational growth through staff development programs. Nineteen guidelines for staff developers planning such programs for effective schools are presented. These guidelines are based on a sound understanding of organization development and factors that enhance school change. (SM)

Two professors in the University of Oregon's College of Education reflect upon their consultation and research experiences and share their insights about organization development in education. They discuss such areas in organization development as self-study, value systems, budget, peer cadres, teamwork, conflict management, and staff development.…