Proposes a faculty retreat as an opportunity to approach decision-making through consensus-building strategies. Identifies four decision-making stages and outlines techniques to be used at each stage. (JM)

This manual is designed to assist paraprofessionals and teachers in forming a strong instructional team dedicated to helping Chapter 1 students succeed in the regular school program. Paraprofessionals often arrive in Chapter 1 classrooms with little or inadequate training. In addition, Chapter 1 and regular classroom teachers working with teacher…

Quality circles attempt to satisfy both task and personal needs through staff involvement in solving work-related problems. This paper summarizes quality circle theory, applies it to school settings, and suggests a framework for introducing the process to educational institutions. After briefly defining quality circles, the article presents two…

This paper describes a child development project implemented in an attempt to demonstrate that a full range of child development services can be centered in an elementary school. Child development services are defined as a broad array of support systems to children and their families which facilitate the children's progression through life--their…

Public relations efforts require more than press releases and good publicity. All school staff members, not just the "professionals," play a critical role in disseminating accurate information about schools. This article provides a school PR quiz for administrators and suggestions for improving staff meetings, internal staff communication, and…

This bulletin discusses certain supervisory services for improvement of the professional equipment of teachers; instances of adaptations of supervision by which the results of research are utilized and teachers are interested in experimentation; illustrations of specific improvements in the approach made by supervisors toward the solution of…

Provides suggestions to child care center directors on how to become effective participants at meetings. Suggests that a little planning and careful attention to the subtleties and details of participation can transform meetings into powerful organizational tools. Suggests that good preparation, respect for the ideas presented during the meeting,…

Not so long ago, principals could not have imagined that they would need to plan for a terrorist attack on their schools. However, it is a reality in today's world. The public demands that school administrators have a crisis plan for every school--to be ready for all possibilities, even the unimaginable. In this article, the author provides…

In Montessori schools, the best way to strengthen the climate of success by the administrators is called "transformational leadership". Leadership theorist James McGregor Burns identifies transformational leadership as a mutual belief and value system, and a commitment between a principal and teachers to focus on what works best for their school.…

To gather data on attitudes related to the advisability of proposing a property tax increase to provide additional college support, Glendale Community College (GCC), in California, held four focus group meetings with classified employees. Following letters and electronic mail messages sent to all classified employees inviting them to participate,…

Based on Barker's Manning Theory, the behavioral and attitudinal consequences of participation in undermanned settings were examined among university faculty. Faculty from the four smallest (undermanned) and four largest liberal arts departments at Central Connecticut State College were surveyed regarding their academic activities and their…

A collection of learning materials is assembled for participants at a professional development program. Aimed at administrators, the program goals are to improve interpersonal relationships by developing communication skills. Among the items included are a questionnaire to help participants analyze their present management style; checklists…

Suggestions and materials are presented to help analyze the messages about human diversity delivered to young children in day care centers through books, materials, and the environment. Ideas for staff meetings, a newsletter handout for parents, and a book and materials checklist are provided. (BB)

Considers the development of science curricula from World War II and how the emphasis has changed to conceptualization of science knowledge in order to encourage intellectual activity. As well, this change has led to an improved climate for curriculum innovation. (Author/RK)