Argues for teacher participation in the process of hiring new teachers. Presents a checklist that outlines each step that should be part of a successful hiring system. (IRT)

An Indiana school district revitalized its staff development program by initiating a peer coaching program based on the Teacher Expectations and Student Achievement (TESA) seminars. The plan featured voluntary teacher participation, compulsory administrator training, and suspension of teacher evaluation during participation in the program. (MLH)

Emphasizes the need for intimate faculty involvement in planning a new school gymnasium. Once an architect has been chosen, planners should consider flexibility for newer sports and other functions and be aware of choices regarding size, flooring, use of dividers, and maintenance. Because gym requirements vary by region and school system, careful…

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

When forced to close 6 schools because of declining enrollment, Topeka (Kansas) Public Schools had to transfer thousands of students and reassign 385 teachers. The district had great success with a newly designed teacher assignment process borrowing from the National Football League draft but including special features benefiting teachers and…

Estimated 50,000 teachers worldwide are using the Internet to tap university computerized library catalogs, exchange E-mail, read news bulletins, and join "chat" groups on various topics. FrEdMail (Free Educational Electronic Mail) is a nonprofit chain of computer bulletin boards giving schools the ability to exchange messages,…

While Principal Norman Higgins was speaking at an out-of-town conference, his high school faculty voted to cancel final exams for seniors and hold a morale-raising picnic. Although some principals dole out site-based power only grudgingly, Higgins takes his coordinator role seriously and delegates loads of responsibility. This article details…

Some enlightened approaches to encouraging staff participation and ownership culled from Oregonian school executives include 4 C's (comments, criticisms, complaints, and compliments) advisory committee, 5-minute stand-up staff meetings, potlatches (monthly dinner workshops), "5/10" (short-answer) reports eliciting teacher comments,…

A state-sponsored pilot program is allowing the faculty at two North Carolina schools to experiment with school reform. Lead teachers serve as instructional leaders and coordinate teachers' efforts to develop class schedules, plan and organize inservice training, and analyze test scores. (MLF)

The principal of a partly restructured elementary school describes effective tactics for starting the process. These include teaching and demonstrating change, making change pay (by rewarding teachers for making risky changes), picking a focus or mission, and involving everybody. Although the process is not complete and some costs are unknown, the…

Increased student and teacher involvement has turned back-to-school night at Channel Islands High School in Oxnard, California, into an event that welcomes parents and community members to an informative and entertaining evening at the school. (MLF)

Describes how Superintendent George Bailey, now retired, improved students' mastery of learning objectives in Adams County School District No. 12 in Northglenn (Colorado) using management by objectives, management agreements specifying administrators' responsibilities, performance-based salary increases, inservice teacher training, and a…

By giving teachers control over improving the curriculum, an Idaho school system has created a systemwide syllabus that guides each teacher in each subject and grade. (MLF)

Examples of inservice programs and procedures at two hypothetical high schools reveal the principal's true role in promoting positive change through staff development. With school improvement at stake, the principal must concentrate on commitment, collaboration, communication, and coordination. (MLH)

Brookline (Massachusetts) Public Schools has created a telecommunications network that encourages creative thinking, risk taking, thoughtful practice. Interested parties are advised to identify leadership team; rethink resources; identify potentially successful conference groups; learn to make deals; provide training and ongoing support; expect…