A needs assessment looked at two aspects of career development facilitators--their perceptions of needed inservice training topics and their views of the importance of facilitator skills or knowledge in effectively performing their jobs. A survey was mailed to career development practitioners in the following areas: adult education, business and…

Two challenges that confront principals attempting to generate effective collaborative planning time with teachers are examined in this document: altering the conventional schedule and ensuring productive use of planning time. Principals, superintendents, and other educators were interviewed about the techniques and outcomes of these two aspects.…

Two challenges that face educators--developing interactive professionalism in the schools, and facilitating teachers and principals as change agents--are examined in this book. Chapter 1 examines the following problem areas in educational change: overload; isolation; "groupthink"; untapped competence; narrow roles; and failed reform. A…

This guide presents a series of articles which give pointers, hints, and examples of day-to-day development activities school librarians can use to hone their professionalism. The first of five sections describes ways in which librarians can provide professional service and lists some markers of professionalism. The second section presents one…

This paper describes a needs assessment process that identifies a range of performance improvement strategies using the steps of the Evaluation Research Model (Geroy and Wright, 1988). A detailed description of a project conducted by the Professional Development Committee of a mid-sized community college in suburban Philadelphia to identify…

Research reports show that in many schools, teachers are isolated and have little chance for professional collaboration with fellow teachers. However, research also demonstrates that when teachers collaborate, instruction improves. Seven examples of teacher collaboration throughout the United States show how collaboration can be implemented and…

Findings of a study that examined facilitator leadership in three teacher collegial groups (TCGs) and the effect of school organization on facilitator leadership behaviors are presented in this paper. The teacher work redesign program was implemented in a rural Georgian school district to enhance teacher independence and empowerment. Methodology…

The components and outcomes of the Meadows Principal Improvement Program, a principal development program initiated in Texas in 1985, are described in this paper. The program's functional components, are designed to improve the principalship in Texas. These include: (1) a preservice component which seeks to prepare new principals with a focus on…

Findings of a study that examined the effects of a statewide mentoring program for Illinois principals are presented in this paper, with a focus on the reasons for principals' behavior changes. Methodology involved interviews with six pairs of mentors and proteges, site observations, and artifact collection. Conclusions are that: (1) principals…

A questionnaire survey sent to 75 of the 134 Ohio academic library directors elicited 59 respondents in a study of faculty status for academic librarians. Results show that only 42% of libraries assign librarians faculty rank, even though 61% of directors favor it, and 64% think librarians themselves favor it. Some Association of College and…

Findings of a study that described effective teaching practices in Pakistan elementary schools and made recommendations for improving teacher effectiveness are presented in this paper. The research project was conducted by Basic Research and Implementation in DevelopinG Education Systems (BRIDGES) of Harvard University (Massachusetts). During…

A survey of 108 elementary and secondary teachers in southern New Jersey was conducted to determine the extent to which the teachers viewed grant development as a factor in their professional growth and development. The survey revealed that fewer than 1 percent of the respondents reported that they "often" engaged in grant-related…

This publication contains five chapters that focus on individual perspectives of reform in administrator-preparation programs. In "One Person's Links Between Administration and the Academy," Ann Weaver Hart offers a self-study that views administrative leadership as an ongoing process of social validation and socialization. Diana G. Pounder, in…

This paper examines formal arrangements to encourage successful mentoring partnerships. It asserts that the most effective way to provide access to a variety of mentoring relationships is through formal programs that have clear goals and outcomes. Four phases of a formal mentoring program include development, consolidation, sponsorship, and…

A study examined the general nature of the teamwork and beliefs of four "activists" (elementary school teachers in southwestern Michigan who were selected on the basis of their joint efforts to influence county-wide writing curriculum). Data included interviews, field notes, and documents gathered during the set-up and running of a Young…