Certain characteristics qualify individuals to serve as mentor principals, including experience as practicing school administrators, demonstration of positive leadership qualities, ability to question beginning administrators appropriately, acceptance of alternative management methods, desire to promote exceptional performance, ability to model…

Examines three past conceptualizations of school administration and leadership (scientific or efficiency approaches, the human relations approach, and human resources development), outlines assumptions of each approach, and discusses implications for administrators' professional development. Current restructuring and school-based management…

Two trends have become issues for school management in recent years. One is that educational leadership is becoming increasingly a more complex and difficult job to carry out and the other is that an increasing number of people with little administrative experience are moving into educational roles. The implementation of local, school…

Summarizes a study to determine the job skills needed by beginning U.S. principals. Data were collected from both practicing and aspiring principals. The two groups disclosed major perceptual differences. Whereas aspiring administrators believe that demonstrating technical skills is most important, their experienced colleagues believe it is more…

Reviews and describes some major issues associated with implementing effective mentoring schemes to support educational leaders, drawing on the authors' experiences with developing such programs in the United States. Although significant differences exist practically and philosophically in U.S. and British educational management systems, mentoring…

Mentoring has become an accepted and desirable part of the preservice preparation of educational administrators. This paper focuses on the responsibilities of those who are being mentored, often referred to as "mentees" or "proteges." It is argued that mentoring is a teaching-learning process to which participants bring…

This study employed field-study techniques to analyze six secondary schools in an attempt to identify factors that either supported or inhibited innovative practices. The development of appropriate support systems and an awareness of inhibiting factors may help to ensure that innovative practices can be initiated and maintained over time.…

Recent research suggests that principals can improve the content and delivery of staff development programs by selecting practical topics, involving teachers in topic selection and presentation, keeping teachers' experience levels in mind, emphasizing ongoing staff development processes, avoiding lecture-based programs, and encouraging personal…

Discusses characteristics of instructional leadership as a form of proactive administrative behavior. Proactive administration is built on awareness of personal beliefs, understanding of organizations, instructional leadership as an ongoing process, sensitivity to alternative perspectives, consistency of personal behavior, and ability to…

Findings of a study that identified the kinds of problems faced by new principals who had participated in innovative principal-preparation programs are presented in this paper. Data were collected through a series of interviews conducted with eight individuals who had assumed their first principalships during the 1991-92 school year. All had…

It is generally accepted that effective principals make for effective schools. In the United Kingdom, the key player providing needed intelligence, vision, energy, and thinking is called the headteacher. The issue considered broadly in this paper is educational leadership in the UK. It addresses the critical role of the headteacher and how to…

Findings of a study that examined the potential problems faced by beginning school principals are examined in this paper, with a focus on the obstacles that hinder the practice of interagency collaboration. The study was based on the belief that principals who act as instructional leaders place the needs of learners at the center of all school…

This paper identifies four common dilemmas that educators face across the globe: (1) meeting political demands for increased effectiveness and productivity; (2) providing education in ways that are consistent with the realities of diversity; (3) maintaining a focus on moral and ethical practice; and (4) determining the proper balance between…

John Daresh's "Beginning the Assistant Principalship" provides you with excellent tools to navigate your way as a new administrator. Full of ideas for you to use in your work, this valuable new resource helps you ask yourself the important questions, find answers, and develop strong plans of action. Some significant topics to help you in your new…

Findings of a study that determined the benefits of mentoring as part of an administrator preparation program are discussed in this paper. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine practicing administrators, who worked directly with aspiring administrators who served as candidates in one cycle of the Danforth Foundation Program for the…