Students are struggling with mental health difficulties that impact their ability to learn while in school, and many students lack access to mental health providers in their communities. School administrators are in a prime position to lead systemic change aimed at supporting student mental health. The purpose of this paper is to provide secondary…

This conceptual article presents a review of the research concerning the stress level of principals over the past three decades, with emphasis on the occupational stress that principals encounter because of heightened accountability and expectations for student achievement. Mindfulness meditation, as a stress management intervention, provides the…

There is a positive relationship between high levels of teacher efficacy and increased student achievement as well as a positive link between principal behavior and teacher efficacy. A diverse group of middle school teachers from a mid-Atlantic state were surveyed. Responses from 366 teachers were analyzed to determine whether various principal…

Traditionally schools in the past were mostly homogenous, but with demographic shifts, schools are becoming more ethnically diverse, disadvantaged, and multilingual. In contrast, the teaching population still reflects that outdated homogenous template: "predominantly white and female," middle-class, and unilingual. This exploratory study examined…

Outlining brain processing preference styles (dominant left, dominant right, or integrated), the author presents the assets and liabilities of the styles and points out the implications for management. (MD)

Principals should remember that the term "to minister" is embodied in administration. Principals "minister" by encouraging others, being diplomatic, helping when needed, and by being models that exhibit behavior promoting collaboration, rationality, and humane relationships. (MD)

The author presents four reasons why principals should not belong to unions. He believes that competition among principals ultimately improves the educational process. (MD)

Suggests preparing for end-of-year school closings is more challenging than preparing for fall openings, since faculty and students are still present and schools are in full operation. To help principals organize such tasks, this article provides a checklist grouped into the following categories: faculty, counselors, students, parents, custodians,…

Outlines some of the findings from a recent study in an urban high school exploring the principal's role in school leadership. Among 11 instructional categories, only three were clearly indentified as the principal's responsibility. This preliminary finding shows that the principal is not considered the only leadership figure in the administration…

The principal's job is to encourage and facilitate cooperation and problem solving. The team concept can be used to improve education by developing consistent processes that involve many people and ensure group development of solutions to problems. (MD)

Clearly established procedures for sending, receiving, and responding to e-mail begin with planning and scheduling its use. Administrators should make appropriate choices of communication methods; use the address-book feature for individual and group e-mail addresses; use word-processing software to prepare lengthy documents and the attachment…

Outlines findings on decision making from a recent survey of high school principals and middle management executives. Provides five recommendations for improving administrative skills. (MD)

Explains the role of senior congressional committee staff members--people recognized as very knowledgeable or influential. Two key limitations: they may be fired at will and must closely represent their bosses' views. Staff members' jobs have four aspects (connecting, collecting, initiating, and implementing) associated with forming national…

Second- and third-wave organizational development models fail to facilitate long-term school improvement or enhance individual growth and personal competency. The fourth-wave models focus entirely on individual growth as the primary source of overall organizational success, relying on team consultation, collegiality, and cooperative learning for…

A six-step process of accountability is presented to support counselors and counseling programs. The six stages are: goal setting, needs assessment, priority setting, planning interventions, evaluating outcomes, and reporting results. (MD)