The literature on administrative style is reviewed. Attention is directed to four basic concepts of administrative style: (1) the structured, classical, traditional model; (2) the participatory or employee-involved operation; (3) a more behavioral scientific style; and (4) the situational or environmental style. These ideas are more fully…

Approaches that schools can use to create a high-quality, professional, working community are provided in this journal issue. The report uses a case study to illustrate the process. A review of research reveals at least five major dimensions of the professional learning community: supportive and shared leadership, collective learning and…

This document is comprised of the two 1999 issues of a newsletter addressing the administrative concerns of child-care centers, learning centers, preschools, nursery schools, kindergartens, and intergenerational centers. Issue 218 features articles on problems with parents such as late pickups, constant complainers, complaints about other…

In shared decision making (SDM), principals collaborate with teachers and sometimes parents to take actions aimed at improving instruction and school climate. While research on SDM outcomes is still inconclusive, the literature shows that SDM brings both benefits and problems, and that the principal is a key figure. This brief offers a sampling of…

This document describes the principal's role in supervising a teacher mentoring program. It provides tips for guiding mentors and describes the characteristics of a good mentor. For example, mentors working with a novice should focus on three areas--the classroom, emotional support, and practical applications. Three styles of mentoring include…

Faculty development through peer observation, faculty revitalization through curricular change, and interdisciplinary work are addressed in this newsletter issue. The peer observation process is primarily directed toward fine-tuning or adjusting existing competencies, and usually focuses on factors such as questioning, clarity, organization,…

Information and articles on faculty advising are presented in this newsletter issue. The first article identifies specific consultation services on academic advising, as well as sources of information on academic advising. Next, in "Measuring Faculty Advisor Effectiveness," Stephen C. Brock describes the Cooperative Project on Advising,…

Adversarial collective bargaining often leads to lingering resentments. Collaborative bargaining, conversely, is a problem-solving approach to contract negotiations based on common interests and mutual respect. Recognizing the interrelationship between trust at schools and trust at the bargaining table, a growing number of school districts are…

Authentic performance assessments--when used simultaneously with matching curricular practices--are a promising development for practitioners and students alike. A major benefit for practitioners appears to be the opportunity to redefine the curriculum and guide instruction. Benefits for students include the opportunity to engage in authentic work…

This document is comprised of the two 2000 issues of a newsletter addressing the administrative concerns of child-care centers, learning centers, preschools, nursery schools, kindergartens, and intergenerational centers. Issue 220 features an interview with Rob Reiner regarding the "I Am Your Child" campaign and articles on how one…

An issue of the journal devoted to teaching foreign languages to students with special educational needs, resulting from a New York State Board of Regents plan to require foreign languages of all students, contains these articles: "A New Challenge: The Foreign Language Learner with Special Educational Needs" (Harriet Barnett, John B. Webb);…

Schools across the United States are creating teacher teams in ever-greater numbers. "Teaming" refers to assembling a group of teachers from different disciplines and/or grade levels who work together as a "core group" responsible for teaching a subset of the school's population. This brief examines some of the potential conflicts between teacher…

One reason all 50 states have passed laws requiring school personnel to report suspected child abuse is that the school may be the primary setting in which children interact on a regular basis with nonfamily members. Because teachers interact with children on a daily basis, they are particularly well positioned to spot unusual behaviors in…

Past and current features of the master's degree and planning implications are considered. After outlining the traditional master's degree, five recent trends are addressed: specialization, professionalization, application, decentralization, and depersonalization. The number of special master's degree programs has grown, and many programs lead to…

Academic alliances between secondary school teachers and postsecondary faculty are discussed. Teachers and faculty who teach the same subject in the same geographical area voluntarily meet regularly to examine the quality of teaching and learning in their discipline at the local level. School and college faculty together develop some common ground…