An examination of the impact of principals' administrative styles on school climate and culture to explain the discrepancy between observed and quantitative analyses in principal evaluations is the purpose of this study. A 3-year study of four secondary school principals utilized qualitative methodology (observation and interviews) and…

This paper shares preliminary findings from a study of the development of leadership self-efficacy in the principals of a statewide middle-school network in the Midwest. The study was conceptualized to be carried out in three phases. As this paper was being written, the data collection for the first two phases had been completed, and preliminary…

The tenure of a typical superintendent is less than 4 years. What should a prospective superintendent know about conducting a job search? This book examines the superintendency from a personal viewpoint and provides in-depth guidance on career strategies and family considerations. Chapter 1 describes the history of the superintendency and the…

This paper describes the establishment of shared governance in the College of Education at Mississippi State University, and the transformation of a dean's advisory council into a representative council with an expanding role. Emphasis is on the importance of defining the faculty council's role, its constituencies, its assessment procedures, and…

This guide is a comprehensive manual for administrators who manage child care facilities. The guide provides practical help with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of programs for young children and helping directors and teachers be more effective in their work. The chapters are: (1) "Qualities and Characteristics of an Effective…

This work offers stories and poems from women school executives who rely on inner and external spiritual guides in their careers, and offers insight about the effective use of mentoring. Section 1, "The Professional Self," includes 14 narratives about the experiences of women superintendents, leadership metaphors, gender differences in leadership…

This book offers a strategy for institutional change and an examination of the role of leadership in organizations. Essays focus on the shift away from faculty to a concentration on learning, especially on changes in the role of the department chair. The 12 essays are organized in three parts: Part 1, "Leading Change," includes: "A Teamwork…

In the most basic terms, the skills and attributes that produced success for the first two generations of community college leaders will be the skills and attributes required of those leading community colleges into the new millennium. The issues and the goals to be attained, however, will be somewhat different. This paper looks at the leadership…

Discusses different issues pertaining to leadership transitions in child care centers. Suggests that new directors should know that their actions may be received with reservation and suspicion and that they should avoid making or announcing sudden major changes. Proposes that new administrators operate as ethical models and assist other staff…

Evaluates a community college leadership development program provided by the Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA). A total of 129 participants answered questionnaires regarding the effectiveness of the program. Responses were then coded and analyzed in terms of apparent patterns or themes. Outlines some benefits of…

The paper examines the perceptions of future and current primary school teachers in Greece regarding the effectiveness of their school leaders. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through questionnaires completed by 126 future and 94 current teachers. According to the findings, future teachers were less positive than their current…

As traditionally structured, American schools, in general, have found it more difficult to educate some students than others. In Washington State, as in most other states, the single best predictor of student achievement at the school level is the percentage of students on free or reduced (f/r) lunch status (Abbott & Joireman, 2001). This fact…

The school principalship is one of the most demanding and misunderstood jobs in American education. This book offers practical advice on how to perform that job successfully. The first chapter provides an introduction to the principalship from a historical perspective. Chapter 2 analyzes the traits of an effective principal and chapter 3 describes…

This document presents a basic model of the relationship between leadership, situation, and outcomes. Following a discussion of questions on the nature, origin, and future significance of good school leadership, the conceptual, empirical, and practical tasks of a systematic approach to school leadership are explored. Multiple constituents, school…

This report disseminates the results of a two-year pilot study in three small rural Ohio school districts of an achievement formula that applies the correlates of effective schools research and recommendations of the "excellence" reports to predict, monitor, and enhance student achievement. Using regression formulas, the researchers…