Results of Ontario study to: determine if formal evaluation of principals occurs; assess the type of evaluation by examining process, presage and product (outcome) approaches; and outline extent of usage for each approach. Few school systems have defined the principal's function and obtained evidence of how well it is fulfilled. (NEC)

Findings from three studies of school superintendents' daily behavior and work attitudes indicate that superintending means mediating and communicating; that superintendents are constrained by social and organizational structures but do exert important organizational influence; and that dominant notions about leaders' social contexts,…

Examines the corporate approach to English local government management, examines the role of the chief education officer, and describes the current political environment of English local government. Concludes that some form of corporate management is inescapable and, under some conditions, could be beneficial. (Author/IRT)

Management-By-Objective (MBO) is an eight-step process which allows a school system to state its objectives clearly and evaluate its achievements. MBO aids individual administrators and improves communication within the school system. (SB)

A good management team can build trust and confidence between the board and the superintendent, as well as the site administrators and staff, because everybody has a chance to know what is going on, why, and help contribute to finding answers, rather than being on the sidelines. (Author)

Examines superintendents' attitudes toward community participation at the advisory and control levels in four areas of educational policy-making. (Author)

Explores the effects of California's Class Size Reduction Initiative on district leaders, examines initial district-level implementation efforts, investigates how district implementation proceeded, and analyzes leaders' perceptions of benefits and challenges. Districts that implemented the program smoothly operated at a businesslike speed,…

New superintendents should realize their school boards will not shatter the community's "psychic salary ceiling." In today's impecunious, politically charged atmosphere, boards often post a smaller salary up front and "hide" remuneration in benefits and deferred compensation. Superintendents must beware low-range salary offers…

Applies to public education the principles that begin to explain why some organizations become great and others do not. States that an organization is able to achieve greatness only by pushing in an intelligent and consistent direction for years and even decades. (MLF)

School leaders should use the charter-school movement as an opportunity to involve all community members in designing all schools and changing schooling's managerial structure. The Advocacy Design Center process is a community-building strategy based on democratic values and research-based models. The idea is to create vital, inquiry-based schools…

Notes that in choosing between providing direct services for children or building a school system's continuing capacity to provide these services, infrastructure reinforcement expenditures too frequently lose out. Suggests training is a necessary, value-added component that would enable technology to be integrated into the school organization's…

Directors of the American Association of School Administrators and the National School Boards Association discuss superintendents' and school boards' complementary roles in ensuring that all community members become public school stakeholders. Boards and superintendents must respect each other, stop sending mixed signals, clarify roles and goals,…

Challenges assumptions regarding insufficient supply of superintendents and conclusions about underlying causes of this condition. Argues that the longstanding practice of overproducing administrators and then allowing employers to determine competence is not indicative of a true profession. Recommends the strengthening of preparation and…

Identifies 29 private firms in the business of conducting superintendent searches on a regional or nationwide basis. Includes addresses, brief descriptions, and fee ranges. (MLF)

Lessons left out of the formal superintendents' education include handling the school board; working with micromanagers; dealing with the once-a-month expert; communicating with parents; and keeping fit. (MLF)