Teacher sense of academic optimism is individual teachers' beliefs that they can teach effectively, their students can learn, and parents will support them so the teacher can press hard for learning. This new construct is grounded in the social cognitive and self-efficacy theories, social capital theory, work on school culture and climate and…

The objective of this exploratory study of teacher beliefs was twofold: first, to determine whether the construct of academic optimism could be defined and measured as an individual teacher characteristic as it has been at the collective school level, and second, to identify sets of teacher beliefs and practices that were good predictors of…

Teachers who accept" the BSCS rationale are generally more humanistic in their pupil control ideology than those who reject" the program. Acceptors" scored higher on personality scales determining the capacity for independent thought and action. (AL)

The characteristics of principal behavior accounting for the greatest explanation of teacher loyalty are thrust, consideration, initiating structure, and nonauthoritarianism; however, somewhat contrasting profiles emerge in predicting teacher loyalty in elementary and secondary schools. (Author/I RT)

Although the findings of this study of elementary principals stand in some contrast to those of a study of secondary principals, it remains true that change is more likely to occur from administrators hired from outside the district than from those hired from within. (Author/IRT)

This study examined teachers' sense of powerlessness within two distinctive school organizational structures. Definite patterns of teacher sense of powerlessness were uncovered within Authoritarian and Collegial school structures. In addition, a majority of teachers in Authoritarian schools experienced a greater sense of powerlessness than did…

Reports on research undertaken to determine whether the pattern of high school principal succession affects the faculty's perception of the principal as a change agent. Two patterns of principal succession are identified -- outsiders,'' those promoted to principal from outside the school; and insiders,'' those promoted to principal from within…

The relationship between teacher efficacy and a healthy school climate was examined in a survey of 179 teachers at 37 elementary schools in New Jersey. It was found that a healthy school climate was conducive to the development of teachers' beliefs that they could influence student learning. (MDM)

Beginning teachers' experience in the school organization is related to increased bureaucratic orientation and decreased professional orientation. (Author)

Examines the relationship between two dimensions of organization--centralization and formalization--and two aspects of employee orientation--subordinate loyalty and esprit. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the relationships were somewhat more complicated than originally hypothesized. (Author)

A study of New Jersey elementary schools revealed that the perceived authenticity of the principal's behavior was significantly related to the openness of the school's climate and to the humanism in the school's pupil-control orientation. Also, the more open the school's climate, the more humanistic the school's pupil-control orientation. (SB)

Reports a study that examined the bureaucratic and professional orientations of secondary teachers as predictors of conflict and militancy. Survey results indicated militancy positively related to conflict and a professional orientation but negatively related to a bureaucratic perspective. Militancy seemed a natural outgrowth of a professional…

Examines several dimensions of high school organizational health and faculty trust factors involving students, colleagues, principals, and parents. Finds that the greater the degree of faculty trust the better the organizational health of a school. Draws implications for research and practice. (Contains 26 references.) (PKP)

Tests of attitudes and behavior of teachers showed a direct relationship between open attitudes and open educational practices; custodial pupil control orientation was inversely related. (Editor)

This study examined the relationship between collective efficacy and high school student achievement in a state with an accountability system heavily focused on achievement, measured by mandatory assessments in multiple content areas. Using social cognitive theory, a theoretical model was developed linking school context and collective efficacy to…