Examines the future of staff development, noting its inadequacy due to prevailing concepts of teaching. The article traces changes in concepts of teachers and their work, outlines implications of change for future staff development, and describes experiences of one school district in redefining staff development as suggested by conceptual change.…

Describes the Pittsburgh Public Schools' efforts to institutionalize a shared decision-making model in secondary schools to provide more supportive educational and professional environments. The article examines the Schenly High School Teacher Center staff development program, noting that organizational development takes time and effort by the…

The Research and Evaluation Support Services Unit of the New South Wales (Australia) Department of Education conducts program evaluations to provide information to senior management for decision making. The 10-step system used is described, which provides for planning, evaluation, and staff development. (TJH)

Describes a cyclical model for identifying training and staff development needs within a local education authority in Gwent (United Kingdom). The model's features include local representation of school staff, prioritization of needs, and the evaluation of training effectiveness in schools. This model appears to be more successful than previous…

Discussion of staff development in distance education focuses on the Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) for developing instructional design skills in subject experts. Contingency theories of management are examined, literature on CBAM is reviewed, and use of CBAM in a course team approach for course development is described. (22 references) (LRW)

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)

Educators leading restructuring efforts must recognize five roles people play in the change process (trailblazers, pioneers, settlers, stay-at-homes, and saboteurs) and provide training, encouragement, and support differentially for each role. The article examines four questions that must be answered to move the restructuring process forward…

A Western Kentucky University Javits project focuses on ways to extend educational opportunities for gifted middle school students, through the involvement of teachers, teacher educators, and parents. Teachers' views of talents were broadened via staff development and involvement with gifted students in summer experiences, and curriculum…

Discussion (including one teacher's journal entries) of a team-teaching experience involving a university English-as-a-Second-Language class of 27 touches on advantages and disadvantages and organizational approaches. (CNP)

Discusses the strategies used to create culture change at Victor Valley College. Over a five-year period, the college underwent a comprehensive change process of strategic planning, team leadership training, process reengineering, organizational restructuring, and college-wide staff development. Contains 14 references. (CK)

Like other organizations, camps need creativity, which breeds originality, improvement, inspiration, and renewal. Explains three broad types of creativity, describes characteristics of organizations that encourage creativity, lists barriers to creativity, and discusses ways that administrators can foster creativity in staff. A sidebar lists…

Briefly describes the national Head Start Teaching Center model, the implementation of this model in the New England region, the outcome evaluation plan, and results from the first year of training. Finds that training significantly increased trainees' knowledge, skills, and expertise. (EV)

Asserts that an essential element in the school improvement process is the creation of a professional staff-development program. Outlines recent literature that offer guidelines for implementing these programs, and addresses program and participant evaluation. Contains 19 references. (VWC)

Results of a series of studies of factors affecting perceived quality in school organizations in Iowa show a significant positive relationship between the perceived quality of district staff development and the perceived quality effectiveness index of the districts. Respondents were 720 teachers, administrators, and students from 44 school…

Describes public broadcasting station Thirteen/WNET's (New York) "wNetSchool", an online resource for K-12 and adult educators that offers teachers access to lesson plans, online courses, and Web sites to enrich classroom activities. Staff-development opportunities are also described. (Author/LRW)