This paper describes a collaborative model for assessing and developing leadership skills, examining the need for new approaches, reviewing collaboration theory, and discussing preconditions of collaborative school district-university efforts to assess and develop leadership skills in future administrators. Representatives of East Carolina…

Connecting theory and practice to the moral use of power reveals why social justice, as an educational intervention, is relevant in every era. Social justice requires ongoing struggle and cannot be separated from the educational theories and practices of professionals, schools, academic disciplines, and governmental agents. Insights from John…

Efforts to change the role of principals over the past 30 years typically reflect a leader-centrist perspective of schools illustrated by the metaphors of a marching band or the slightly less hierarchical classical orchestra. In these conceptual systems, policy (score) is generated (composed) by policymaking bodies (composers) with principals…

In some schools, students with disabilities achieve exemplary results. To find out what these schools do that set them apart, the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs sponsored a series of studies focused on "Beacons of Excellence Schools." This topical brief highlights results from three of these studies. The University of Maryland study…

This report describes a study that utilized the qualitative methodological approach of the focus group, followed by interviews, to gauge the perception of senior educational leaders in Trinidad and Tobago on issues pertaining to school effectiveness. Specifically, the study sought to ascertain from primary and secondary principals, school…

This paper offers the perspective of one chair of a large English department in a medium-sized regional comprehensive institution on the practicalities of implementing departmental assessment and program change. The discussion focuses on the complex ways in which institutional engagement, state politics, and demographic change interact, and it…

This study reports on the job challenges and corresponding response strategies that department chairs at graduate and undergraduate colleges and universities encounter and rely upon. Literature and research related to marketing department chairs, marketing education, and marketing majors indicates that business schools have come under attack by…

Reforms that strive for educational excellence will fail unless they are meaningfully linked to schools' unique cultures. Chapter 1, "Introduction: The Case for School Culture," discusses the impact of culture on achievement, reform, and learning. Chapter 2, "Schools as Tribes," examines a school that transformed itself through…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine ways in which adult education administrators define and apply critical thinking, problem solving, and learning to learn to their practices as well as in other areas of their lives. Participants included four female administrators in adult education programs at community college and state…

Describes the increasing difficulty of community colleges to attract and train new leaders, along with the intensifying trend of turmoil within institutional governance. The Community College Leadership Development Initiatives (CCLDI) group was formed to assist in the resolution of these problematic trends through the strengthening of college…

Examines the efforts of an elementary private school principal to create a motivating school climate. Discusses four ecological principles: (1) the development of activities that recognize individuality and demand involvement and adaptation; (2) the expansion of resources to the whole school community; (3) the interdependence of activities at each…

Explores the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) in the context of art education administration. Maintains that successful employment of TQM principles depends on four criteria. These include continuous improvement, pursuit of goals, open discussion and critiques, and professional development. (MJP)

Explores how a Texas public school district progressed with a state mandate to integrate information technology into the curriculum. A survey was administered to evaluate why information technology is or is not efficiently used in the district's learning processes. Results found influential factors such as attitudes; hardware, software, and…

The intent of this study is to present a systematic approach for evaluating the leadership effectiveness of deans and directors. We demonstrate the utility of multilevel structural equation modeling to examine variance in faculty and staff assessments of effectiveness and discuss the relevance of our model from individual and institutional…

This new edition of John C. Daresh's bestseller provides the resources needed to become a strong and effective leader. The reader will find out have they can: (1) Manage others' expectations as principal; (2) Master the technical skills necessary to run a school; (3) Create and clarify a personal professional growth plan; (4) Work effectively…