Discusses guidelines for users of the assessment center method that were developed and endorsed by practitioners. Includes explanations of the most important concepts common to all assessment centers and suggestions to maximize the benefits obtained from the use of this method. (JOW)

Inspired by the publication of "Leaders for America's Schools" (1987), a guide for improving administrator preparation, this paper identifies program components to be reformed, examines general problems associated with each component, and encourages thinking about solutions to some of these problems. Assessment centers to test administrator skills…

Terms the American Association of School Administrators' Assessment Center project a major milestone in both research and professionalism pertaining to school superintendents. The project has three phases: identifying appropriate skills and behaviors, determining assessment tools, and creating pilot center for excellence. Follow-up and…

Concludes most organizations have administrator promotion and selection problems. Suggests good selection procedures produce valid, reliable, job-related information; exhibit fairness/are perceived as "fair"; and fit "political" realities. Examines Hamilton and Dufferin-Peel selection procedure models, which also incorporate…

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Assessment Center Project expects to have 53 comprehensive centers in operation by June 1986. Behavior modeling is the training strategy for professional development, and research has confirmed that the process can help predict who will be a successful administrator. (MLF)

Describes the use of an assessment center in evaluating candidates during a search for a new superintendent. Includes a brief article that points out the problems in using assessment centers for hiring evaluations. (MD)

School study councils should explore adopting assessment center technology (ACT) for selection and development of administrators, a process long used by other organizations. A center's assessors identify, measure, and analyze acceptable position performance levels within simulated exercises and managerial skills. (ll endnotes) (CJH)

A combination of methods--portfolios, direct observation, assessment centers, and better tests--can compensate for one another's shortcomings and reflect the richness and complexity of teaching. (Author/TE)

Because administrative theory as presently developed does not allow administrative action to be accurately assessed, measuring participant responses to case study problems employing a predetermined, closed set of responses has questionable validity. This study tries to develop an alternative methodology and to test the resulting instrument in an…

The American Association of School Administrators is currently developing a National Executive Development Center for the professional development of senior school executives. The initial Texas site is expected to be joined with a consortium of six pilot sites. Describes the design assumptions of a diagnostic and professional development system.…

Critiques two articles appearing in the March 1986 issue of "Executive Educator"--one proposing principal evaluation by teachers, another describing exercises in an assessment center that probes principals' strengths and weaknesses. Most principals surveyed support teachers' evaluations and assessment centers which identify potential…

Montgomery County, Maryland, Public Schools has created an extensive staff development program for current and potential administrators. The program includes (1) leadership training to help participants make career decisions and acquaint them with various issues in administration, (2) an internship program, (3) an assessment center, and (4)…

A national study was conducted to determine the means by which school districts choose principals. The main goals of the study were to describe and characterize both common practices in principal selection and promising alternatives for improvement of common practice. Accordingly, the study was designed in two phases. In phase 1, field research…

In a brief introduction, this article calls giving and receiving feedback one of the most important skills a manager can possess, defines feedback, provides examples of giving and receiving feedback, highlights the importance and benefits of good feedback, and directs the reader to nine selected feedback resources on the World Wide Web. The second…

In a pilot test, superintendents participated in self-assessment activities in the American Association of School Administrator's Executive Development Center program. Activity stages centered on professional attitudes and skills, personal health, and fitness. Data provided a profile for professional development. Participants felt activities were…