Describes how an executive coach nicknamed Mac helped a beginning principal develop her leadership skills. Also provides list of questions to ask oneself before hiring an executive coach. (PKP)

Describes the master's degree in school leadership at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, a principals preparation program focusing on their acquiring theoretical and practical knowledge of teaching and learning through course work and hands-on experiences in schools. (PKP)

New leaders in educational systems sometimes fail to live up to their potential, despite obvious talent, ability and enthusiasm. In part, this may be because they have no one with whom to discuss troublesome issues or to turn to with problems--or at least no one in whom they are comfortable confiding. Some school districts have mentor programs for…

Across the nation, districts are throwing beginning administrators into school leadership positions, mistakenly assuming they already know everything. Training programs are preparing principals for a long-obsolete work environment. Committed mentors and on-call coaches can help overwhelmed and overworked principals become effective leaders. (MLH)