Studies of portfolio construction and compilation involving 35 Israeli principals and 14 Dutch managers show that high-quality portfolios can only be expected after sustained use, but that the use of portfolios has an immediate impact on views toward assessment. Portfolios are time-consuming, but can provide effective feedback to the learner. (SLD)

Assesses sex and race differences in student science achievement in urban middle schools where teachers were involved with Ohio's statewide systemic initiative professional development. Contains 51 references. (DDR)

Analyzes the role/function of didactics in preservice teacher education as presented in official texts from the ministries of education of Quebec and France. Demonstrates the vulnerable and limited position of didactics in teacher-education. Compares features of the two teacher education systems; notes differences relating to training in…

Several factors separate teacher education from its traditional place in higher education. Without appropriate responses this separation will accelerate, possibly relocating teacher education to off-campus sites and other providers. This article examines the perceived inability of teacher-education schools to respond to K-12 reforms and related…

Explosive changes in social, demographic, economic, and ideological factors in America require public education to respond with its own changes to assure competent citizens for the 21st century. School psychologists play an active role in school reform. Too frequently, school psychologists have been limited to testing to the exclusion of other…

Considers an interactive messaging system that was set up on the Internet to enable Hong Kong teachers of English to discuss language-related issues as part of the TeleNex teacher-support network. Describes how grammatical explanations based on the analysis of corpus data are routinely used to answer teachers' queries. (Author/VWL)

Describes everyday strategies of principals practicing exemplary instructional leadership and how these principals influenced teachers, drawing on survey data from a qualitative study of over 800 teachers. Inductive data analyses generated two major themes, comprising 11 strategies that were used to construct the Reflection-Growth model of…

Presents a multicultural framework for thinking about, assessing, and working with people with deafness from Asian and Asian Deaf backgrounds. Emphasis is placed on cultural awareness and cultural competence for professionals and on building bridges across cultural networks. (Author/CR)

A survey of 23 Canadian student teachers in conventional placements or professional-development schools (PDS) found that their practica had taught them about curriculum, pupils and pupil-teacher interactions, discipline and classroom management, and the teaching profession. Compared to others, PDS student teachers relied more on weekly seminars…

Describes how the Administrative Leadership Institute (ALI) was conceptualized, developed, and implemented over a three-year period in the Los Angeles Community College District to fulfill the need for a systematic midlevel-management-training program. The program's mission is to provide a supportive environment characterized by respect,…

States that role-socialization theory is a useful framework for understanding the experiences of new department chairs and for meeting their professional-development needs. Describes the approaches used by 59 chairs in Texas to learn their new jobs, and illustrates the need for formalized chair-training programs. Contains 11 references. (VWC)

Asserts that although popular and academic literature often distinguish leadership from management, the complex nature of the chair position requires competency in both areas. Chairs must not only fill administrative tasks, but they must also empower colleagues. Discusses how leadership theories can assist midlevel managers in becoming managerial…

Reports on a study designed to assess whether mentoring experiences, or the lack thereof, influence the decision of faculty members to stay or leave. Respondents began tenured/tenure-track appointments at the University of Colorado at Denver between 1987 and 1991. Qualitative differences were found in the nature of the mentoring and the outcomes.…

Alabama Child Care Resources provides an early-childhood-educator course. A mentoring component was added to transfer learning from course to practical work situations and to provide professional and personal growth for educators. The Specialized Training Achievement Recognition System (STARS) is used as an organized path for professional…

The components of professional development include staff development, peer interaction, benchmarking, and individual development. The New York State Association of School Business Officials has responded to demands for downsizing/increased productivity with professional development programs that mix both soft and hard skill development while…