The principal of an Indiana high school relates how he involved staff in the development of a writing program (Project Write) through the use of "skills models." Includes references. (MD)

A principal of a Texas junior high school theorizes about the role of principal as instructional leader. He offers suggestions for developing instructional leadership in the areas of organizational goals and objectives, personnel, staff evaluation, and curriculum planning. Includes a reference list. (MD)

Borrowing from Madeline Hunter, school districts should define staff development as school- or district-wide efforts to improve the quality of teacher decision-making. This article outlines a six-step process (including needs assessment, brainstorming, strategic plannning, communicating plans, coaching for effectiveness, and periodic monitoring)…

Today's instructional leader must possess skills in four critical areas: curriculum development, clinical supervision, staff development, and teacher evaluation. (Author/JM)

Prior to implementation of a supervisory staff development program, it is necessary to review current literature in the field of educational administration in order to define specific elements (domains) of the supervisory knowledge base. A qualitative research study involving a review of relevant literature yielded 13 primary domains or categories…

Describes a computer simulation which enables principals to understand how to implement instructional leadership practices. The article recommends that staff developers view instructional leadership from the perspective of problem solving and strategic thinking. Six suggestions for leadership development are provided. (SM)

This paper examines the concept of a capacity for problem solving through an analysis of data concerning the perspectives of the local school community. The paper's underlying assumption is that within a school community, different groups (i.e., parents, teachers, or administrators) may have markedly different capacities and methods for solving…

Research evidence on the effects of schooling continues to demonstrate that schools with effective leadership produce more learning than other schools do. Today's instructional leader must possess skills in the four areas of curriculum development, clinical supervision, staff development, and teacher evaluation. Recent research also reveals a list…

Outlines the importance of principals' focusing their school's curriculum on the development of reading skills through ideas such as (a) faculty inservice and orientation programs, (b) organization of faculty reading planning teams, (c) allocation of resources, (d) supportive classroom visits, and (e) informal evaluation systems to ascertain…

A persistent dilemma of school leadership is whether principals should concentrate efforts on building cohesion and good working relationships among staff or on specific curriculum aimed toward specific learning outcomes for students. Interviews with three principals who worked through both strengthening collegiality and improving curriculum show…

Pacific principals' perceived priority needs for professional development are examined. Mailed surveys of 439 principals in 10 jurisdictions yielded 243 responses, or a 55 percent response rate. Respondents rated themselves on task effectiveness and professional development needs. Results indicate a need for information concerning community…

Discusses how school library media specialists can build partnerships with principals: provide leadership and support to classroom teachers, be technology savvy, model information retrieval and technology use, collaborate in curriculum planning, develop a vision for technology in the school, participate in staff development, make clear the role of…

Ways of implementing a classroom-based staff development Writing Project, based on a model developed at the Teachers College, Columbia University (New York), are described in this guide. The first section deals with beginning the project in a school and covers what the Writing Project is, where it is located, what staff development entails, who…

Describes the impact of technology planning on students' and teachers' learning based on experiences at a high school in Texas that provides academic alternatives to at-risk students. Discusses collaboration among teachers, principals, and district administrators; teachers' professional development; the technology committee; staff development;…

These papers represent the efforts of individual researchers from five countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, The Netherlands and the United States. Each paper reports on educational change in a different country, based on the Concerns-Based Adoption Model developed at the Research and Development Center for Teacher Education at the University of…