A rural staff developer's decisions should be based on a clear understanding of the unique characteristics of rural schools and rural teachers. The staff developer must understand rural staff development needs, obstacles and potential advantages of the rural setting, and characteristics of ideal staff development. (JD)

Schools are organizations that affect and are affected by teachers' learning. School capacity stresses the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of individual teachers; creating a professional community among the staff; and program coherence within schools. To be effective in boosting the quality of instruction, professional development must address…