Research has identified mentoring as a critical factor in the entry and survival of women and minorities in the social, natural, and physical sciences where they are underrepresented. Much research and many change-oriented programs in higher education have assumed that the presence of mentors is sufficient to ensure equitable access to scientific…

The long career of a single college professor reflects the way the entire profession has been shaped over the past several decades. Edward Corbett began his teaching career in 1948 at Creighton University, where he taught five courses per semester. His background in rhetoric derived from his graduate education at the University of Chicago, where…

Concerned about falling behind the technology curve, organizations are using the Internet or intranets to provide and communicate information to their employees and create more efficient workplaces. The Internet is not just a "network of computer networks," but a medium conveying a vast, diverse amount of information. This publication is…

A systematic way to create collaborative school improvement is provided. The currently expanding role of administrators as staff developers is explored; 10 strategies are listed for the principal to use as a key player in staff development. Two specific organization development problem-solving strategies, Situation-Target-Plan (S-T-P) and Force…

Little research exists on the roles and career intentions of deputy headships in English cities. This paper explores how deputy heads in Sheffield, England, perceive their roles in relation to preparation for the headship. The text describes the national context of primary education in England and Wales and explores the understanding of theories…

This fourth annual report by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) examines the status of efforts to improve the public education system. Nine sections provide overviews of major trends in policy and practice: (1) "Standards, Assessment and Accountability" explores the transition over the last decade toward a standards-based system by…

This paper reports on research about professional development programs in environmental education for high school teachers in Quebec (Canada). A diagnostic research study was conducted to attempt to answer two questions: (1) what is the current status of environmental education in this sector of formal education?; and (2) how is environmental…

This report presents the research and development undertaken in the first year of a 3-year project to develop a Model Leadership Training Program for charter-school founders. The report provides detailed descriptions and analysis of charter schools' leadership needs and what is required to found and sustain a successful charter school. The text…

The Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED), which arranges for the inspection of all primary and secondary schools in England, uses a model of leadership as part of its comprehensive handbook on inspection. This paper will look at the cultures of a number of effective schools to see to what extent they are congruent with OFSTED expectations…

This paper discusses the use of portfolios by administrators who may use them to self evaluate, monitor professional growth and development, document specific competencies, or prepare for a job interview. While the primary outcome of the portfolio is to assist the administrator in developing a better knowledge of his/her professional self, the…

This report documents the construct validity and reliability of the Professional Development Inventory (PDI), an assessment center sponsored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). The assessment center provides a means for assessing participants in situations simulating those confronted by principals on the job. The…

"Framing the Future" is a major staff development initiative of the Australian National Training Authority. The initiative supports people in the vocational education and training (VET) sector who are involved in implementing the National Training Framework. "Framing the Future" encourages VET practitioners to take…

The Literacy Learning through Technology project sought to explore how professionals in adult literacy and basic education (ALBE) in Victoria, Australia, developed their expertise with online technology and incorporated it into their programs. Data were gathered from surveys and follow-up interviews with 10 participants and visits to 9 sites that…

The Professional Development Schools Model (PDSM) allows universities and schools to work together at developing, implementing, and delivering meaningful professional development experiences for practicing educators. One such program is the Utah-Local Educators' Action Research Network (U-LEARN). U-LEARN is a 1-year, 8-credit-hour graduate course…

In response to the desire to create for child development services a unified system which shares common standards for quality and respects the diversity and uniqueness of individuals and of programs, a committee of the Early Childhood Work Group collected and compared all the different standards now in force for the early childhood programs in the…