This study examined Kansas administrators regarding their current perceptions of the role of school counselors. The study involved over 500 building administrators from elementary, middle, and high schools across rural, suburban, and urban districts in Kansas. The findings indicate that there is a clear opportunity to educate administrators on the…

In the study reported on here we aimed to explore how beginner principals perceived their roles as new appointees. School principals are expected to demonstrate proficiency when performing leadership and management roles in schools. Based on the fact that no certificate for principalship exists, newly appointed principals rely on their teaching…

The purpose of this research was to investigate a formal principal mentoring program and report on perceived learning benefits and the well-being of the participants. The study highlights aspects of the mentoring relationship evidenced in the explicit and intentional development of school leaders. The empirical investigation used…

This article presents findings from a study into the reality of beginning as a principal in a New Zealand secondary school. The views of beginning, experienced and former principals are presented and discussed drawing on the literature of organisational sensemaking. The findings suggest that the challenges of unexpected occurrences, relationship…

The three basic school management styles are described here, along with some perceptions of how the principal's free choice of style is thwarted by certain conditions. (Editor)

To comply with Britain's 1988 Education Reform Act, school governors (elected or appointed advisory bodies of parents, teachers, community and local political party representatives) required new training. This article examines training in one shire county during the mid-1980s, compared with improved, "unitary" development services in…

The Policy Forum estimates that only about one-quarter of today's principals (20,000 out of 80,000) possess essential instructional leadership skills. Facing contradictory expectations, principals are often confused about whom to please and how to do their jobs. The Principal's Leadership Institute can help with specific improvement plans. (MLH)

Investigated 87 (British) deputy principals' perceptions of the headship and the likelihood of their applying for such posts. A considerable number (35) replied they were unlikely to apply within the next 5 years. The 11 male respondents showed a greater disposition to apply than the 76 female respondents. Younger and less experienced respondents…

Examines elementary principals' perceptions of themselves as stretched to the limit, undervalued, undersupported, and underresourced. Heads tend to interpret the majority of organizational problems as a reflection of their personal failure. A team-oriented approach to headship would ameliorate this situation by creating more efficient work…

Describes practices, thoughts, and feelings of exemplary, shared-governance principals at nine schools affiliated with Glickman's League of Professional Schools in Georgia, using open-ended interviews. Findings showed that implementing shared governance incorporates five salient themes: meanings, involvement of others, redistribution of power,…

Earlier research by the Concerns-Based Adoption Model Project at the Austin campus of the University of Texas has identified seven "Stages of Concern" that teachers and other front line users of classroom innovations could have. This study examines, first, whether principals have the same or similar stages of concern about their change…

A principal who exchanged jobs with a university professor explores changing principal roles, using a case-study approach. Principals' working world is characterized by overwhelming responsibilities, information perplexity, and emotional anxiety. Principals would appreciate intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, support networks, university-school…

This report is a part of the Diagnostic Study on Educational Management in Sri Lanka, a project under the United Nations Development Program/UNESCO Regional Technical Cooperation Programme for Increasing Efficiency in Education through Improved Management and Planning. The diagnostic study consisted of five main surveys requiring an analysis of…