Business leaders, like education leaders, are acutely aware of what this could mean for the future of this country: Young people might be unprepared for rewarding jobs and the demands of informed citizenship, businesses may not find the talent they need to keep innovating, and the economy may stagnate with too little innovation. To turn the tide,…

Principal shortages have become a nationwide issue, with education publications frequently discussing the devastating problem of not having enough high-quality candidates apply for administrative positions. The conundrum begs the question: Where have all the instructional leaders gone? To meet the challenge of keeping high-quality principal…

Describes the design and implementation of a portfolio evaluation plan for teachers at North Haven, Connecticut, Public Schools, key components of which are professional development and training for both teachers and administrators. (PKP)

Advises first-time conference attendees to be adventuresome about meeting new people, consider shared transportation and accommodations to save money, take along appropriate clothes, choose sessions offering new skills and information, get invitations to parties, provide positive feedback about programs, and plan postconference activities with…

Purposes several questions to help teachers and principals collaborate to find effective alternatives to traditional staff development, such as: What are our goals for our students? What is the best design for this learning? Briefly describes three alternatives: Teacher study groups, discussion of student work, and teacher-to-teacher coaching and…

Describes classroom observation techniques focusing on what the students are learning rather than how the teacher is teaching. Highlights research on effective teaching; provides examples of programs to teach principals effective classroom observation and teacher-evaluation techniques; emphasizes link between teacher evaluation and professional…

Teachers can be sources of energy, creativity, and expertise in their own growth. This provides powerful learning opportunities and lessens dependence on outside experts. Principals can help by encouraging teachers to select areas for informal study and specialization, providing opportunities for teachers to present case histories of special-needs…

Based on the premise that the principal's role is crucial in the quality of a school, the author provides 10 specifications for working to improve the quality of principals. (MD)

Discusses the multiple roles of a mentor, the advantages and problems of mentorships, and how such relationships have positively affected the careers of teachers and administrators. (WD)

Describes four-part plan to encourage nationwide adoption of the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) standards for school leadership aimed at reforming the principalship, including standards for states and professional associations, for principal preparation, for professional development, and for evaluation. Provides examples of…

Describes how principals can exercise their responsibility to recruit, develop, and retain good teachers. (PKP)

Describes how principals can provide the instructional leadership necessary to meet higher academic standards required by state standards and high-stakes testing. Suggestions include establishing goals and objectives, promoting a culture of learning, reordering priorities, emphasizing professional development, and focusing on results. (PKP)

Although professional-school models differ markedly, they generally share visions of how the school-university partnership can improve teacher education and schooling; commitment to shared decision making and funding; and new roles for university and school faculty. George Mason University's experience demonstrates that concentrating efforts…

A model professional development school (PDS) serves Celebration, Florida, a planned community built by the Disney Corporation. The K-12 Celebration School resulted from cooperation among the Osceola County School District, Stetson University, and Disney. In this PDS, featuring multiage groupings and individualized instruction, students, staff,…