Although recent research studies have questioned the efficacy of certification testing, Georgia's Department of Education, with help from National Evaluation Systems, developed the Georgia Certification Test in Administration and Certification (GCT). Since 1983, the test has been required for both certification and recertification. The present…

Most superintendents experience high levels of stress associated with their school administrator role. This paper reports on a survey conducted to help Maine superintendents better understand the stressors inherent in their role. The Survey of Superintendent Stressors was distributed to all 1989-90 Maine public school superintendents and a…

The ways in which a Hispanic female superintendent led her school district toward stability and excellence are described in this report, with a focus on four elements that differentiate the work of urban school superintendents from that of others. Four years of data were collected through interviews with the superintendent, observations of group…

From a sample of over 1,000 advertisements for school superintendent positions, this study compiles a list of qualifications and tasks required of most superintendents and indicates the trends in school board expectations of superintendents. The author first notes the degree of education preferred by school boards in their superintendents and then…

Thirty-seven ways to communicate effectively with board members and superintendents regarding staff development are listed. Formal and informal methods for keeping them both informed and involved are suggested. (JH)

Superintendents and school boards need to implement rapidly new measures that will ensure full participation of the building principal in the district's management decision-making process. (Author)

The key to understanding the Great Neck case appears to lie in what it is that board members, the community, and school administrators perceive to be the legitimate role of board incumbents and the superintendent. (Author)

The Canadian Education Association (CEA) examined the procedures Canadian School Boards use to evaluate their chief executive officers. In March 1989, CEA sent a questionnaire to superintendents and directors of education of the school boards that subscribe to the CEA Information Service, as well as to others. Of the 123 questionnaires sent, 81…

This report on prekindergarten programs in North Carolina in 1988 presents information from the first statewide survey of public school administrators concerning the incorporation of 3- and 4-year-olds into public schools. Superintendents and principals were asked to provide factual data on their districts and schools and to express their opinions…

Because of their visibility at the center stage of community life, small-town superintendents have a greater opportunity to act as participatory managers and instructional leaders. This paper reports the results of surveys with 25 small-town school superintendents to discover rural/urban differences, work patterns, and exemplary practices in…

Public education in British Columbia has been profoundly affected by replacement of Ministry-appointed superintendents with those locally employed and by eligibility of applicants other than former superintendents for the positions of deputy minister and assistant deputy minister. The single greatest influence in increasing awareness of…

Based on the premise that secondary school improvement is a result of change at both local high school and school district levels, this study surveyed both superintendents and principals of schools engaged in improvement activities in 35 large urban school districts. Superintendents were asked to identify areas of school improvement in which…

The duties, working environment, and characteristics of the chief school administrators of the privately owned American-sponsored overseas schools are described in this paper. The document looks first at the schools themselves, touching on the make-up of their student bodies, their educational philosophies, and their governance. The history of…

The Virginia Board of Education adopted a resolution in May 1986 to establish a statewide elementary school guidance program within a 4-year period. A study group was formed to produce an objective, statewide study of principals' and superintendents' perceptions of this new program and to detect issues which could hinder program implementation.…

The education service districts (ESDs) in Oregon have been a strong force for staff development since 1849, a decade before statehood. This report outlines the organization of Oregon school systems over the past century, highlighting the creation of county superintendents, rural school districts, special education programs, and tax standards…