Principals must integrate information originating from many sectors among the schools' constituents. The degree to which constituent groups participate in school activities helps determine the quality of instruction and learning. Crucial to the role of administrator is a network of interactions between people and things, school board pressures and…

This book outlines qualities of higher education institutional leadership and discusses how college administrators may bring about effective leadership based on honor, dignity, curiosity, candor, compassion, courage, excellence, and service. The chapters each describe and discuss one of the leadership ideals. Their titles are: "The Call of…

This study was conducted to identify the ways that superintendents in rural school districts deal successfully with restructuring. The analysis is based on interviews with superintendents and principals in four rural districts. The districts, in Texas and Oklahoma, were selected especially for their successful restructuring programs. The two Texas…

Truly effective schools cannot exist without strong instructional leadership. At the base of the school improvement process are certain assumptions related to the role of principals, such as the expectation that school administrators demonstrate skills as both efficient managers and visionary leaders. The task of school reform has become one of…

This study examines the excessive turnover rate of school superintendents in rural school districts in Oklahoma from the school board perspective. Researchers identified 41 schools that had three or more superintendents in the last 5 years, and had 600 or less students. Telephone interviews of 25 school board presidents focused on personal and…

This study was conducted to identify critical incidents which presidents, administrators, faculty, and student services personnel reported as examples of effective and ineffective leadership behaviors of community college presidents. Of the 1,491 surveys mailed to personnel at 11 Iowa community colleges, 511 were returned, yielding 709 effective…

The effectiveness of school principals was studied with the goals of: identifying skill dimensions related to principals' performance; identifying a set of independent psychological constructs from a factor analysis of those dimensions; and using the variables of school size, district size, school grade level, and geographic region of Washington…

Prepared to assist teachers who are using the case in class discussion, this case study describes a suburban, college-preparatory high school located in the pseudonymously named "Northwood," a midwestern "rust belt" city characterized by rapidly shifting demographics and a growing commercial tax base. Although the city is now…

Misinformation at the point of implementation for educational policy is a serious problem with legal as well as financial implications. As is apparent in public education when central authority for policy making increases due to shifts in power and control, and local decision making decreases, as in public education, local districts and individual…

In the summer of 1996, the Principals' Center at Texas A&M University established a School Leadership Initiative (SLI) that focused on the 21 principal-performance domains as identified by the National Policy Board for Educational Administration. During the first year of a 3-year leadership initiative, Texas A&M University's SLI Program…

The position of school principal has become complex and pressure packed. The job always has required skills and leadership, but now principals must be strong instructional leaders as well. This research roundup examines the changing role of the school principal and discusses how principals can operate effectively as both managers and instructional…

In an effort to address issues concerning credentialing early childhood directors, explores career decisions and provides a framework for understanding the growth and development of director competence through the career cycle. The career cycles of beginning, competent, and master directors, and the growth and change which occur, are detailed.…

Report of a study of the leadership competencies of rural principals in Missouri who were prepared through the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards. Findings indicate that a standards-based program and collaboration between the training institution and public schools results in well-prepared leaders. (Contains 1 table and 17…

Critically examines the claims of the Effective Schools Movement, especially those that pertain to the issue of educational leadership. Offers a critique of the traditional school leadership paradigm, suggesting alternative ways to consider both leadership and the Effective Schools Movement through the perspective of critical educational theory.…

Reviews research that refutes stereotypes regarding women's administrative abilities. Claims that sex-role stereotyping excludes women from public school administration. Explores the possible positive impact on administrative job opportunities for women created by the National Association of Secondary School Principals' Assessment Center. (NL)