One of the most telling characteristics of U.S. schools is professional isolation. On their way to visit a RE:Learning School in Illinois, a junior high school principal and three teachers begrudged the time and money invested in the trip. On the way back, they wondered how long educators could keep going without collegial support from networking.…

Discusses leadership skills necessary for coping with the great institutional systems holding our society together. Leaders must grasp relationships to the larger realities beyond the system they are heading. Needed skills include agreement-building, networking, exercising nonjurisdictional or "insider" power, and institution-building. (MLH)

A consortium leader discusses four dimensions of faculty temperament (extroversion/introversion, sensing/intuition, thinking/feeling, and judging/perceiving) that influence learning networks' success. Networks require strong commitment, a sense of shared purpose, a mixture of information sharing and psychological support, effective facilitation,…

"Range of interest" has been defined as the competence to discuss a variety of subjects and the desire to participate actively in events. This little-discussed skill is extremely important to administrators' mental and emotional well-being. Talented administrators have an interest in many areas and take part in civic and cultural activities that…

Discusses the need for developing networking and support and discussion groups among principals and administrators. Describes the positive effect such a group is having among school administrators in the Washington, D.C. area. (MD)

The Maryland Professional Development Academy began operation in 1977 and specializes in training school building leaders. It conducts 10-year-long training institutes based on an annual assessment of principals' needs. (MD)

Describes a concept called the "professional circle" which is modeled after the quality circle management technique. It works as a support group and helps teachers feel less isolated. (MD)

Defines distance learning, summarizes recent developments, and explains four networks in the federally funded Star School Program: TI-IN, the Midland Consortium, the Technical Education Research Center (TERC), and the Satellite Educational Resources Consortium (SERC). Satellite networks are the most cost-effective way to offer advanced classes and…

In 1990, Florida State University joined the National Alliance--a Danforth/NASSP-sponsored group of four universities who initially would receive performance-based leadership training for revamping their administrator training programs. So far, Florida State has completed a five-year participation plan, reconceptualized three advanced degree…

Concerned about improving beginning principals' professional development, the Minnesota Administrators' Academy initiated an administrative mentoring program in the early 1990s. A recent evaluation found that successful mentoring relationships involved mutually respectful pairs that met at least monthly and participated in various activities…

Mechanical examples of musical technology, like the Steinway piano, are well known and accepted. Use of computers and electronic technology is the next logical step in developing art of music. MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is explained, along with digital devices (such as synthesizers, sequencers, music notation software, multimedia,…

Learning communities require diverse expertise among members, continual advancement of collective knowledge and skills, emphasis on learning how to learn, and mechanisms for sharing understanding. This article analyzes three learning-community models (Fostering a Community of Learners, Knowledge-Building Communities, and Lampert's Mathematics…

Feeling angry and abandoned over losing a cooperative training center, South Carolina high school educators began a series of "what next?" conversations. Following two information-sharing conferences, 17 high schools and the University of South Carolina formed a school-university partnership called the South Carolina High School Renewal…

Describes a successful instructional television consortium developed by four small Illinois high schools. The system eliminated the need to transport students long distances for a quality education. (MD)

Describes a Principal Support Network in San Jose, California, that enables high school principals to become informed, effective leaders, create a collegial support group, and allow space for reading, reflection, and thoughtful discussion. The network is practically focused, has varied meeting agendas, and offers discourse and leadership…