The roles of the school principal continue to evolve due to shifting demands as well as ever-changing organizational needs. As new leadership skill sets emerge, we might expect school systems to respond by actively seeking different credentials, experiences, and dispositions of their principal candidates. This study of 279 principal job…

Counselors are educational professionals whose specialty is counseling. Only by using the specialty to its fullest extent will counselors hold the esteem and support for their work that is necessary for survival. (Author)

The preparation of a position guide--a detailed list of the responsibilities that are part of a particular job--eases the difficulties inherent in administrator turnover. (Author/IRT)

The principal must operate as a facilitator, operating to meet the needs of staff and students, according to Maslow's theory. (Author)

Some insights gained in a first principalship are shared in hopes they may prove helpful to other new or aspiring principals in understanding the requirements of the job. (Author/MLF)

A job description of an assistant principal, in checklist style, which includes an evaluation form. (LD)

Tongue-in-cheek advice on how to survive the principalship. (Author/MLF)

Four specific areas of activity are necessary for school guidance leadership: program development, communications, organization and coordination, and supervision and evaluation. These areas are discussed and a sample job description for the guidance director is presented. (Author/WD)

The West Bloomfield School District (Michigan) evaluates administrators by utilizing a management by objectives technique, a comprehensive job description based on tasks to be performed, and a self-evaluation guide that serves as a discussion tool during evaluation conferences. (Author/MLF)

Outlines a three-step process to justify the existence of the guidance program, including writing a job description, logging daily duties, and evaluating the program. (Author/WD)

Discusses the pros and cons of assuming an administrative position on an acting basis. (Author/MLF)

To ensure high performance, administrators should develop an articulated structure and process systems approach that identifies the critical success factors (CSFs) of performance for each position; appropriate indicators and scales; and a personal-improvement plan based on last year's evaluation. Once CSFs are identified and written into the…

Properly designed appraisal processes can result in higher levels of achievement for individuals and for organizations. Suggestions for one such system are outlined. (Author)

Women who wish to consider the principalship as a career are offered advice based on observations gleaned from a survey of 65 percent of all women secondary school administrators. A checklist is supplied to help interested women understand the job requirements and their own feelings, attitudes, and abilities. (MLF)

One hundred Arizona elementary and secondary principals were asked to detail their responsibilities in human-resource administration; 74 responded. Specifically, staff selection, staff assignment, and organizational climate received responses above the 90% level, followed by staff development, staff evaluation, and staff orientation--all basic…