Co-constructing a long-term sustainable vision on the future of teaching is a policy priority for many countries as society rapidly changes. There is a need to create space in the teacher debate to look forward for inspiration and to learn from contemporary change in other professions, such as the concept of "connective professionalism".…

A recent study conducted by a midwestern university research center surveyed 47 school districts who were members of a university-school district collaborative. Respondents indicated that the changing roles of teachers and principals were an important issue. This paper presents findings of a subsequent study based on indepth interviews with the…

This study explored the nature of staff roles and relationships in four New Zealand kindergartens during the process of change that ocurred when a new staff member was taking up a position. The study attempted to identify features of early childhood settings in which relationships among staff were working well and settings in which they were not.…

Ways in which roles are being redefined as school systems move toward organizational structures based on shared decision making are described in this paper. Specifically, teachers need training to function as effective decision makers and principals must learn to be instructional facilitators. Principals acting as facilitators must possess skills…

An administrator in a State agency for the development and implementation of services for the mentally retarded relates her experiences and training as a paraprofessional and later as a professional in this field. She recommends the use of transdiciplinary teams including paraprofessionals, and increased cooperation between professionals and…

This study investigated teacher involvement in decision making in the Victoria (Australia) government school system. Data analysis found teacher involvement to be associated with gender, seniority and organizational responsibility, age and teaching experience, affiliation with the teachers' association, the influence of the principal, professional…

A discussion of shared governance in American college culture looks at the nature and traditions of this form of governance, examines Birnbaum's model of the two cores (academic and administrative) of the college, and explores how changes in technical systems and the higher education environment affect student learning and the ability of faculty…

Teachers are often placed in teams and expected to work together without support or instruction. This paper presents findings of a study that identified and described the extent to which individual teachers collaborate and the conditions under which collaboration occurs. The study, which focused on three middle schools with a strong commitment to…

Suggests teachers' role in educational reform is small because most of their time is spent in the classroom. Educational policy made by administrators, legislators, and publishers, leaves teachers powerless and frustrated. Calls for process allowing teachers to work in parallel with decision makers. (TES)

This booklet is intended to help teachers and principals examine their roles, responsibilities, and relationships to create a quality instructional program at the school site. It consists of guidelines intended to foster a positive school environment; to encourage and facilitate discussion, collegiality, and mutual professional respect; and to…

A program at the University of Akron, Ohio, that focused on teamwork and leadership that is responsive to social change in the urban scene is described, and implications for decision processes are addressed. The university became involved in reviewing, analyzing, and projecting activities and programs relevant to the university's mission through…

Drawing on interviews with 180 staff members from 45 public high schools in 15 states, this document examines the advantages and disadvantages of teacher participation in shared decision making. The settings of six high schools that had structured mechanisms for teacher participation in school decisions are described, and problems that emerged…