The key to successful development and adoption of new educational programs and practices is careful orchestration of several variables: administrative support, faculty involvement, administration and faculty commitment, and staff development activities. A chronological process involving programatic and political aspects for planned change is…

An intensive study of innovative projects in five elementary and secondary schools provided an opportunity to examine teacher participation in pre-implementation activities. Particular attention was paid to the motivation and roles of participants. It was found that participation is complex and varied. There were three major findings: (1)…

Since spring 1979 numerous changes in Humanities offerings and operations have been discussed, agreed upon, and implemented at Clark College to revitalize enrollments and increase faculty energy levels. The process of change was based upon four principles: (1) the faculty perceived the need to change, wanted to explore the potential benefits of…

The Northwest Staff Development Center (NSDC) is a federally funded teacher center serving approximately 3,800 teachers and administrators in seven school districts in northwest Wayne County, Michigan. At its inception in 1978, NSDC faced morale problems caused by massive reductions in force, involuntary reassignments, and school closings. Few…

The progress of the Staff Development for School Improvement (SDSI) program, developed by Eastern Michigan University, is reviewed and evaluated in this monograph. The primary emphasis of SDSI is to improve the quality of schooling through shared decision making at the school building level. Ownership of the change process by those participating…

The component parts of a successful cooperative governance structure designed to facilitate staff development in elementary and secondary urban schools are described. Headed by a Staff Development Policy Board, the governance organization combines teaching and administrative staffs as a decision making body. A maximum amount of staff input and…

The dichotomy perceived in American life between the "man of fact" and the "man of idea" is mirrored in the rift between a college's administration and its faculty. This rift has resulted, on the community college level, in a lack of faculty involvement in planning for continuing education and community service programs. Financial and political…

The role of teachers serving as policy board members of the Metrolina Educational Consortium (MEC) in North Carolina is discussed. The MEC is concerned with teacher education programs and is composed of classroom teachers, college representatives, local education agency staff, and state education department staff. The board members are mandated to…

For this overview of the extent and feasibility of practitioner involvement in professional improvement, practitioners are defined as school-based professionals--teachers, aides, resource specialists, and administrators. Current thought on the need for these individuals to play major roles as decision makers in developing inservice programs is…

The purpose of this handbook is to set forth, for the day-to-day use of school board members, some of the proven methods of attaining and holding public interest and support of the schools. Guidelines are offered, adaptable to local situations, on measuring public opinion, press relations, the public relations team, advisory committees, handling…