Attending to the questions of how school leadership influences learning and achievement and what effective school leaders do, this document describes a measurement-based approach for studying and developing effective school leadership. The document details the conception, refinement, and psychometric properties of the Instructional Leadership…

Rolling Terrace is a low-income, high-minority primary education school (grades headstart through 4) with higher than average test scores, a good atmosphere, and high teacher enthusiasm and dedication. Open-ended questions, observations, and a survey were used to gather information from all but 4 of the 51 faculty and staff members to determine…

The power of effective schools lies not in their specific characteristics, but in their individual culture formation; a shared understanding of what ought to be symbolized by the behavior of all people involved in the school is part of that culture. The school cultural orientations of seven male and five female first-time principals (10 white and…

This study examined the perceptions of elementary and secondary school administrators who were participating in an Entry Year Assistance Program. Opinions were sought from 24 administrators concerning the program both as a whole and focusing on various facets of the program, such as the development of the first-year teacher's professionalism and…

This article presents a series of arguments supporting greater use of mediation as a tool for conflict resolution in higher education contexts. The structure of higher education is explored, as are rationales for mediation from the point of view of students, faculty and administrators. [This content was originally published in: "The Fourth R,"…

Principals can better learn to support an instructional reform when classes for professional development use the new instructional method, giving them a first hand understanding of its effectiveness. Constructivist teaching is supported by the National Research Council's "How People Learn" and the Students at the Center initiative.…

The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, under the direction of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, agreed to implement a professional development policy tailored to the needs of 19 participating principals their and respective urban schools in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Following an intensive job shadowing program during the…

This study assessed teachers' perceptions of school principals, examining how teachers perceived their principals in demonstrating delegation and relationships skills. Principals were categorized according to various demographic variables, and data were examined to identify principals perceived as exhibiting stronger delegation and relationships…

This paper reports on a qualitative study of principals' perceptions of the impact of high-stakes testing on empowerment. The data were obtained from interviews with 26 "empowered" principals in select schools participating in the South Florida Annenberg Challenge. Three questions were addressed: (1) To what degree does a school's…

Recommends some specific actions to help school board members evaluate their superintendent's performance. Evaluation should be annual; it should be formal, objective, and ethical; and it should be linked to district improvement. By working effectively to improve personal performance and the district's overall effectiveness, the board and…

Studies of the principalship have failed to keep pace with the changing contexts in which principals must act. Advocates an edited topical life-history approach to address this problem. Illustrates this claim, using a Western Australia study exploring why some principals are more successful than others at guiding school restructuring initiatives.…

A camp director explains his supervisory style as being based on one-minute goals, one-minute praise, and one-minute reprimands; his experience as a parent; a decentralized model of staff supervision; and building relationships with staff by talking and listening to them. Gives American Camping Association standards for staff supervision and…

Personal experience of her first-year experience as superintendent of the Southeast Warren Community School District, a small rural district in Liberty Center, Iowa. (PKP)

Throughout the United States, the Leadership in Educational Administration program helps new principals hone their administrative skills and provides a network of support and information. This article describes a Louisiana technical assistance program involving 5 universities and 15 beginning principals from various regions in the state. Includes…

Based on an informal survey, this article discusses businesspersons' concerns about public education's lack of goals, subject focus, educator incentives, accountability, and management effectiveness. During the next decade, pressure will grow to increase competition within school districts, scale down bureaucracies, and pursue instruction outside…