Examines the supervisor-employee ratios in education, defense, public service, and private industry and concludes that education has the lowest percentage of supervisors of almost any group. (JM)

Analyzes the elementary principal's lonely position as one separate from teachers but not closely associated with other administrators. Outlines four points to consider if a principal is to have a better work life. (IRT)

When conducting teacher evaluations, the wise principal acts within union contracts and board policies, asks teachers for self-evaluations, carefully plans classroom visits, observes correctly, takes accurate notes, considers videotaping teachers, deemphasizes ratings, makes postevaluation conferences meaningful, and offers teachers a chance for…

A superintendent's credibility depends greatly on visibility with staff and community members. Teaching a class is one way to thwart the office-bound bureaucrat image, according to a New Jersey superintendent who teaches an early morning high school English class each semester. No one accuses him of being out of touch with classroom realities!…

Teachers need a principal who is conscientious, affirmative, and knowledgeable. Seven steps are offered to increase principals' chances of success in evaluating teachers. (MLF)

Outlines a seven-step procedure for dismissing incompetent or unprofessional teachers, including conferring with the teacher, summarizing the conference, developing an action plan with the teacher, having the personnel officer approve the plan, implementing the plan, and holding a progress assessment conference. Provides a sample performance memo…

Many administrators routinely send imperious, ineffective memoranda without realizing how their messages sound. Good professional talk requires three skills: awareness, anticipation, and attention. Awareness helps change nonproductive communication scripts. Administrators should assess the nature of the information they want to convey, analyze the…

The shared governance program in the Salt Lake City schools has the teachers and administrators working together to solve problems. (IRT)

It is essential for administrators to reinforce good teaching, especially the encouragement of collegiality, pride, and a willingness to work harder. Outlines 12 tips to consider when praising teachers. (MD)

The key to a principal's ability to escape desk work for daily classroom work is a competent, knowledgeable secretary. When in the classroom, the principal should offer to correct papers or act as a teacher aide, sign up to teach a class, encourage teachers to request observation, and present teachers with duty release coupons for professional…

Outlines major strategies principals can use to reach their goals and improve their schools. Among these are: identify general goals, make only necessary changes, understand who might be affected by plans for change, find and use school power brokers, act autonomously when necessary, and, finally, stay loose. (MLF)

Suggests ways to make constructive principal-teacher conferences an integral part of a consistent, equitable teacher evaluation process. (Author/WD)

One measure of a school executive is the ability to put together a winning administrative team. Offers tips for building teamwork. (MLF)

Principals determine a school's culture and make the difference between whether teachers feel overburdened and powerless or valued and respected. Offers suggestions from a teacher. (MLF)