Adventure consultation for businesses has the power and the tools to foster creative genius and grow corporate soul, to counteract the gravitational pull of corporate normalcy, referred to as the "corporate hairball." As the adventure consultant industry grows, it must beware of choking on its own hairballs. Five warning signs of…

Those who expect consultants to solve problems for schools operating under the traditional model of fragmentation and teacher isolation will be disappointed. The key to using consultants effectively is developing systematic processes that engage staff in the work of a professional learning community as they consider the ideas presented to them.…

Examines the experiences of a small group of (British) teachers who have assumed leadership roles that have enhanced their teaching. Respondents point to the significant effects of work culture on teacher development. Those involved in leading such developments must be sensitive to each school's peculiarities and use what works locally.…

Evidence is mounting that federal employees and their agents may have directed or even pressured states to choose specific assessments, consultants, and the criteria for evaluating core reading programs as conditions for getting funding under the Reading First initiative, possibly in violation of federal law. "Education Week" found such…

Conjoint behavioral consultation (CBC) can be considered a help-giving model, wherein consultants work with parents and teachers in an effort to develop constructive partnerships aimed at addressing needs of students for whom both parties share responsibility. The development of strong relationships among systems in a child's life is related to…

There is currently an intense focus across our nation on reading and literacy, particularly an increased focus on preventing reading difficulties. This attention comes from diverse constituencies, including policy-makers, researchers, parents, specialists of all varieties (e.g., speech-language pathologists, reading specialists, psychologists),…

For several years now, an achievement gap has been in existence between African American students and white students in mathematics. The purpose of this study is to (1) report on an in-depth case study of a former state mathematics consultant to describe his experiences of the mathematics education of African Americans in public high schools in…

Developing a new line of business in an independent consulting firm provides an excellent way to expand, increase income for the company, and create cross-marketing opportunities. If it is not done correctly, however, this potential opportunity can imperil the existence of the business. This chapter's case highlights the benefits new lines of…

Pressures to help students pass high-stakes tests affect teachers' reading instruction, their responsiveness to students' learning needs, and their professional effectiveness. This article reports on how one reading specialist responded to testing pressures in her urban elementary school. She believed that what was "right" for her…

Major reform is occurring across our nation in delivering services to students with disabilities in secondary schools. The impetus for such change is the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and its challenges and implications for the secondary classroom. NCLB requires that all students be taught by a teacher who is highly qualified in the content area…

Organizational capacity refers to the ability of nonprofit organizations to fulfill their missions in an effective manner. Through the JVA Consulting Colorado Compassion Initiative, a comprehensive, capacity-building program was developed and provided for faith- and community-based organizations. This study examined faith-based organizations'…

Psychological services have been part of the American schooling experiences for nearly a century. The nature of school psychology services, however, has changed dramatically over the decades so that modern school psychology services differ significantly from their roots. For much of this century school psychology services have emphasized…

Coaching entails helping executives one on one to learn and to make the most of that learning. Because these encounters involve executives in different stages of their careers and in varied settings, coaching represents a continuum of roles. Consultants typically play four roles in working with chief executives, boards, and senior managers of…

This guidebook was developed for early childhood administrators and consultants who provide services to support the integration of children with disabilities into preschool classrooms. It provides practical information on finding and hiring the best consultants, unraveling the special education and third-party payor resources that support…

The school is fast becoming the primary place of belonging and recognition for many students. This article addresses the need for psychological consultation in the educational setting and argues that the primary focus of any mental health intervention in schools should include the prevention of the development of emotional disorders, as well as…