The author suggests five ways in which busy principals can indirectly demonstrate their classroom leadership by encouraging teacher specialization, giving teachers opportunities to present case studies of at-risk students, building a diverse intellectual climate, instituting an idea exchange, and scheduling time for teachers to openly discuss a…

Highlights results of Market Data Retrieval survey of 89,300 public schools during the 2000-01 school years on the state of school technology. Describes technology spending, hardware, Internet access, teacher usage, and poor and minority schools. Asserts that despite the billions of dollars spent on school technology, there is still a "digital…

Using a modest instructional improvement grant, an Illinois elementary school devoted an entire week to poetry, bringing together bits and pieces of poetry already in the curriculum. Parents got involved by reading their favorite poems. The result: 80 children interested in joining a poetry club and a prize-winning fourth grade poet. (MLH)

To explore ways to improve faculty meetings, 100 elementary school teachers in New York State were interviewed for their suggestions. The teachers' 40 recommendations for organizing and conducting successful meetings included considerations regarding timing and scheduling, appropriate tone, and process. Encouraging faculty input is essential. (MLH)

By emphasizing practical technology applications, a Fairfax County (Virginia) school won national recognition. The principal built a model technology center by utilizing an assistant principal's expertise, developing teacher training via voluntary summer sessions and inservice programs, hiring a full-time technology advisor, and securing adequate…

To improve its reading program, a Pennsylvania district involved its teachers in retaining consultants who would work collaboratively with them. This model has been used in each of four elementary schools for the past seven years. The district allocates $1,800 per school for consultants, instructional materials, and substitutes who release…

Most schools need to review and revise disciplinary rules each year, but good administrator never publishes list of rules that have not been endorsed by "significant others" on staff or in community. By starting process in April or May, instead of August, the principal has several months to secure the necessary endorsements and involve parents.…

Teachers can be sources of energy, creativity, and expertise in their own growth. This provides powerful learning opportunities and lessens dependence on outside experts. Principals can help by encouraging teachers to select areas for informal study and specialization, providing opportunities for teachers to present case histories of special-needs…

Instead of cutting art, music, or physical education, the usual victims of budgetary shortfalls, the principal and staff of a New Hampshire elementary school balanced their 1981 budget by adopting a "temporary" Monday-Thursday schedule that remains operational today. The four-day week has brought a dramatic drop in teacher absenteeism…

Schools can make the best use of their microcomputer resources if they (1) use the computers constantly, (2) encourage teachers to use the computers as tools, (3) use a variety of appropriate software for each grade level and subject, and (4) ensure that teachers have access to equipment experts. (PGD)

Describes Georgia principal's efforts to integrate student with AIDS into her school community. Coomer's plan succeeded because few people knew boy's identity, teachers were willing to accept child as any other, and an educational program effectively briefed staff and parents. Three years later, child is articulate, hard working, but sick, and…

Advocates creation of a steering committee of teachers to develop inservice education topics, find topic presenters, and establish inservice program procedures that will ensure active participation by teachers and sufficient interaction with presenters. (PGD)

A principal reports her experience of being evaluated by her staff, other principals' attitudes toward such evaluations, and her reasons for believing in the benefits of such an exercise, no matter how painful it may be for principals. (JM)

To involve teachers in curriculum matters, an upstate New York principal formed an advisory committee on school improvement. The group of five dedicated teachers served as a sounding board, an information-gathering body, a goal-setting and policy-making body, and a decision-making partner. All decisions were eventually presented to the entire…

Despite overwhelming obstacles, including teacher shortages and woeful underfinancing, the Nomlinganiselo School in New Crossroads, South Africa, is well managed. The teachers are dedicated; the students are fed, cared for, and eager to learn. The key ingredient is the partnership Principal Makasona has formed with teachers and parents. (MLH)