As the world of education has changed, so have the roles and expectations of the evaluating administrators. Public schools have begun to insist that principals take much of the responsibility for teachers' instructional development and support. Some principals use a managerial approach, and others use a coaching style of motivating their…

This doctoral research study explores how international school administrators' perceptions of professional relationships influence turnover in international schools, and presents findings on administrators' awareness, challenges, and best practices as they relate to turnover. Chapter one introduces the problem of turnover in K-12 schools and…

This study investigates the experiences of a group of classroom teachers who transitioned into administrative roles as vice-principals in a rural schoolboard in southwestern Ontario. We included both elementary and secondary former teacher leaders who moved into the school administration and explored the aspects of their leadership experience that…

This conclusion to the volume presents a dialogue from the perspective of educator and clinician. With examples from professional development and practice, the discussion revolves around teacher training and the role of the administrator in creating a bounded and safe environment in which teachers can develop healthy relationships. It discusses…

Little research exists on the career aspirations of department heads in independent schools. What does exist focuses on public school teachers in the United States and the United Kingdom. This study sought to determine the career aspirations, job satisfaction, and job efficacy of department heads. Using data from an original survey instrument…

Since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, standardized test scores have revealed that the U.S. public education system has been unable to adequately address improvement of academic achievement. For 20 years, educators have been promoting professional learning communities (PLCs) as a solution to improving K-12 academic achievement.…

The term, "professional learning community" has become so common place in schools that it is used to refer to almost any type of collaborative work. But the "professional learning community" suggested first in the early 1990's described a school where teachers and administrators continuously worked to learn and then act upon what they learned. The…

The purpose of this literature review is to explore the role of professional collaboration within the school context as a means of improving the quality and retention of beginning special education teachers (SETs). The assumption underlying the review is that the local school context in which new SETs work should also function as the primary…

Students' literacy achievement tends to lessen as they progress from elementary to middle level to high school as measured by state and national assessments. To ensure that secondary school students retain their literacy skills, many states and districts have created the position of literacy coach for middle and high schools. Literacy coaches are…

The role of the school principal in a community of learners is discussed. A "community of learners" refers to a group of individuals with common interests who share ideals and learn from each other. The principal must work with teachers, providing support and receiving support in helping students achieve optimal results. A community of learners…

A survey of 149 Massachusetts principals disclosed a strong link between their professional development activities and efforts to improve instructional programs. Models of shared instructional leadership are needed to employ the full energies of both principals and teachers. Includes five references. (MLH)

Five papers from a 1982 workshop entitled "Have You Ever Thought of Being a Dean?" are presented. The workshop is part of the Continuing Education for Nurse Academic Administrators Project of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. After a foreword (Marion I. Murphy) and an introduction (Betty M. Johnson), "The Dean as Administrator:…

This book provides a model of followership that removes the passive connotations of the role and presents a dynamic alternative for contributing to an organization's pursuit of its mission. The dynamic model, in which leaders and followers form an action circle around a common purpose, balances and supports dynamic leadership. Chapter 1 explores…

Findings of a study that examined the effects of a statewide mentoring program for Illinois principals are presented in this paper, with a focus on the reasons for principals' behavior changes. Methodology involved interviews with six pairs of mentors and proteges, site observations, and artifact collection. Conclusions are that: (1) principals…

The mentoring of new principals by experienced principals is generally accepted as an important aspect of the transition to the position. Different countries may stress different aspects of mentoring and conduct training at different stages of the preparation process. In the United States and Singapore, mentoring occurs as part of the…