This case study illustrates one of the challenges faced by a new principal, that of reconciling one's emerging skills and understanding to an idiosyncratic school culture. This paper describes how a new principal at a troubled Chicago elementary school handled resistance to change and animosity from a group of "old guard" teachers in her efforts…

A study was conducted to determine whether gender affects the acceptance of a community college president, and the perception of his/her effectiveness as a leader. Open-ended interviews were conducted with approximately 11 individuals, including trustees, faculty, administrative and clerical staff, and the president, at 10 California community…

Lincoln Accelerated School has participated in Missouri's Accelerated Schools Project since 1990. Grounded on a school-based management model, it seeks to modify the educational experiences of at-risk elementary students by enriching the curricular offerings and instructional strategies provided them. The school underwent a major stressor when the…

Verbal and nonverbal communication as an expression of political influence and power plays a major part in constructing and transmitting an androcentric bias in educational administration. This paper describes findings of a study that examined the form, meaning, and function of three female principals' verbal and nonverbal communication behaviors,…

The use of a schema analysis, or hierarchical classification system, to identify problem-solving approaches among principals with different levels of experience is examined in this paper. Forty-one students in Ontario--10 undergraduate teacher preparation students, 8 teachers with principal qualifications, and 23 principals grouped according to 3…

A collaborative effort between a high school principal and researcher to identify a successful principal's school improvement agenda and practices is described in this report of one of four case studies. Methodology involved indepth interviews with the principal and surveys of 10 teachers to compare their perceptions of teacher/principal…

Leadership roles performed by teachers after implementation of a school-based management (SBM) plan in Florida are described in this report. Telephone interviews with principals of each of the 33 participating schools were conducted to identify the leaders of the participating school bodies, or "cadres." Findings indicate that 75 percent…

The consistency of principals' self-perceptions of their leadership styles with those of their teachers is determined in this study. Other focuses include differences between elementary and secondary teachers' perceptions of their principals' leadership styles and gender differences in such perceptions. The Leader Effectiveness and Adaptability…

An analysis of principal-teacher social control communication dynamics is offered in this report, with a focus on the effects of gender on such communication processes. Surveys were administered to 319 K-12 teachers in 19 Washington State schools and to 19 principals. Onsite interviews were also conducted with five principals. Findings from the…

Evidence suggests that the changes which have taken place in the educational background of the work force may have important implications for how organizations should be managed and for their effectiveness. More formal education may cause people to have different expectations and preferences with respect to work. This may lead to more upward job…

A principal is often judged on his ability to resolve problems at the school level without appealing to superintendents and board members. Techniques for accomplishing this task include (1) clear and specific position descriptions for employees, (2) printed handbooks for employees and students, (3) fairness and consistency, (4) positive and…

African nations are still structurally and culturally dependent on their former metropoles. This dependence has challenged and variegated the endogenous creative efforts of the African leadership. A typology of eight leadership styles found in Africa attests to this variegation and diversity of endogenicity. Overall, a confused picture was painted…

The "Leadership Continuum" model developed in 1961 by R. Tannenbaum, I. Weschler, and F. Massarik clearly illustrates the ideas that management scholars like Frederick Taylor, V. A. Graicunas, James Worthy, Rensis Likert, and Frederick Thayer have posited concerning span of control and organizational structure. Each of these scholars…

The relationship between the leadership of African-American principals and African-American student academic achievement in more successful African-American elementary schools in California is examined within the 11 chapters of this book. The study attempted to determine how the African-American principals (who had been in their positions at least…

Interviews were conducted with teachers who chaired the steering committees for 3 of the 25 National Education Association Mastery in Learning (MIL) Project schools with the purpose of eliciting their viewpoints on teacher empowerment and leadership. The schools (Orchards Elementary School in Lewiston, Idaho; Willow Creek Junior High in Rochester,…