Interest in staff development for principals bodes well for teachers and students. By engaging in and modeling learning, principals can create a community of learners. (MLF)

A random sample of 305 principals was drawn from the membership roosters of 4 Principal Centers. Responses from 100 principals (33 percent) show that there is a relationship between writing apprehension level on performance of job writing skills. Advises school administrators to take courses in current written communication practices. (six…

Educational leadership needs to change. Principals have been trained to be managers first and leaders second. Current educational needs demand that principal-training priorities be reversed. (MD)

Reviews the concept of principal centers, which help principals in their professional growth. Includes the results from a study of the organization and operation of 34 principal centers throughout the United States. (MD)

This book, designed as a mentoring and training tool for experienced and new secondary school principals, is a guide for attaining what the authors call "authenticity." An authentic principal is defined as one guided by service and responsibility for students and staff. The book is written in narrative form through the eyes of a…

Describes a recent study of principals' evaluations and perceptions concerning the quality of inservice learning experiences based on five alternative models. Findings disclosed participants' preferences for short-term institutes sponsored by a professional association and informal networking. More work is needed to design effective inservice…

In 1983 the Far West Laboratory's instructional management program established Peer-Assisted Leadership (PAL), a unique professional development program for principals. No longer isolated, principals help each other develop analytical and other skills to become better instructional leaders. MLH)

Describes principals' responsibilities in overseeing educational technology. Outlines computer knowledge and skills principals should possess about hardware, software, word processing, data bases, spreadsheets, integrated software, and school applications (scheduling, grading, recording attendance, budgeting, maintaining inventories, etc.).…

Several time-management techniques will help administrators accomplish necessary objectives and tasks. The most important technique is to prioritize activities, first distinguishing "desired" from "required" activities, and then organizing them according to the "ABCDF" formula of setting priorities: A=Absolutely, B=Better Do, C=Can Wait,…

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)

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Assessment Center Project expects to have 53 comprehensive centers in operation by June 1986. Behavior modeling is the training strategy for professional development, and research has confirmed that the process can help predict who will be a successful administrator. (MLF)

A review of several well-known studies of schooling suggests that schools--and their principals--can indeed make a difference. The authors suggest four keys to improving the training and practice of the building principal. (Author)

Developed at Texas A and M University, the Management Profile is a strategy for management skills building for school administrators. To show how it has been utilized, a particular experiment with a group of principals is examined. Plans for further development of skills building strategies are mentioned. (SI)

Although there has been a paucity of research on what effective secondary school principals do, two recent studies offer some clues. A 1983 report by William Firestone and Bruce Wilson asserts that a high school principal may best be able to influence the school through bureaucratic and cultural linkages. Bureaucratic linkages are formal enduring…

The effective principal balances personal job expectations against those of the district and the school community when choosing an administrative style and deciding how much change can be tolerated. A personal log or calendar can help substantiate leadership or managerial preferences and determine future priorities. Two references are included.…