Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) have become increasingly popular in schools. PLCs are groups of teachers, administrators, parents, and students who collaborate to improve their practices and focus on results (DuFour, 2004). Grade-level and department teachers participate in regularly scheduled collaborative team meetings; however, many…

An effective principal has many responsibilities before the beginning of a new school year. This list has been compiled primarily as an aid for the first-year principal. The requirements, of course, will vary by school districts. (Editor)

How would your employees respond if asked to identify your management characteristics that lacked humaneness? The author provides a checklist to help you answer this difficult, thought-provoking question. (Editor)

Provides a light-hearted checklist to be used by assistant principals to evaluate when they have settled into the job. (MD)

Suggests preparing for end-of-year school closings is more challenging than preparing for fall openings, since faculty and students are still present and schools are in full operation. To help principals organize such tasks, this article provides a checklist grouped into the following categories: faculty, counselors, students, parents, custodians,…

The opening day of school should run smoothly. Principals must be well organized and have everything in place and ready to go. This article presents a checklist of administrative responsibilities concerning faculty members, counselors, coaches, band and vocal music directors, parents, custodians, food service workers, bus drivers, office…

This checklist of interview questions is offered as a resource from which to draw a common base for evaluating applicants for teaching positions. (MJL)

Describes use of a checklist, giving immediate feedback on specific items, to control individual behavior problems of students. (LD)

Staff evaluation is a high-interest area for all members of the school community. Since there is no definitive research that lights the way to a "perfect" evaluation system, the development of a plan falls upon the local school administrator's shoulders. Guidelines and a checklist may provide some assistance in this endeavor. (Editor/RK)

Offers a seven-point qualification checklist that covers a candidate's enthusiasm, poise, knowledge, experience, references, education, and adaptability. (IRT)

Just as Robert Fulghum claimed to have learned in kindergarten all he needed to know, this article presents 26 all-encompassing teaching tips about questioning techniques, making kids laugh, stressing cooperative learning over competitive approaches, dressing like professionals, encouraging independence, and enriching themselves and their…

Guidelines for principals to measure their own efforts to comply with Title IX guidelines and to provide sex equity for all students and employees. (Author/MLF)

Offers 16 suggestions for anyone who wants to succeed as a school administrator. (JM)

To avoid common pitfalls, novice administrators are advised to clarify perceptions of philosophy and determine the overall school objective, practice flexible shared decision making, maintain high expectations, be assertive, listen carefully, influence staff, delegate wisely, manage time well, provide professional growth opportunities, market…

A procedure for preliminary screening of teaching position applicants is presented. (DS)