This study assessed patterns of instructional leadership sources. The instrument, Sources of Instructional Leadership (SOIL), was based on instructional leadership and effective schools literature. It dealt with the management of instructional resources, and related to one of six leadership functions: organizing, coordinating, developing,…

Recent studies indicate that the principal is key in planning for change and that innovations can succeed when the principal as change facilitator shares responsibility with others--assistant principals, teachers, and parents. This paper discusses two areas: (1) student learning enhanced through cultivation of critical thinking skills; and (2)…

The focus of this study is the relationship between superintendents and principals and their collaborative approach to improving administrative performance. The research for this study was conducted in two phases. During the first phase, the Performance Rating Scale, which assesses the administrative performance of the school principal, was…

Teachers often want new ideas and approaches to improve their teaching but their efforts are often blocked by structural constraints in their districts and schools. This book answers the question of how schools can overcome these barriers to provide more supportive environments for change through the study of six cases of schools and districts in…

Although the setting is British, the primary head's problems are similar to those faced by U.S. elementary principals. This is a guidebook for managing primary schools. It shows the day-to-day running of a primary school and the organizational structures in which staff and pupils can be inspired. Chapter 1 considers the creation of a positive…

Much of administrative preparation and practice centers on problem solving, developing alternative solutions, and selecting among competing alternatives for the most feasible solutions. Some of the persistent dilemmas resident in the training and the functioning of administrators are examined here by scholars and practitioners of educational…

This study examines research on public school leadership effectiveness, focusing specifically on the superintendent. It begins with a discussion of the historical mission to define leadership effectiveness, followed by a review of existing research on effective school districts and superintendents. The report also analyzes how superintendent…

A decade ago, principals were asked to become instructional leaders who exercised firm control by setting goals, maintaining discipline, and evaluating results. Today, they are encouraged to act as facilitative leaders by building teams, creating networks, and "governing from the center." Rapid shifts in administrative philosophy can be…

This collection of papers addresses the personal challenges academics face in successfully responding to "the call" to academic leadership, focusing on who academic deans are, unique challenges to women deans, stress impacting deans' ability to lead, keys to successful entry into the deanship, organizational strategies for leading successfully,…

This report investigates characteristics of managers who work across the borders of multiple countries simultaneously. Chapter 1 sets the stage by introducing the work of global managers--what they do and how it is different from managerial work in a domestic context. Chapter 2 investigates the relationship of personality to effectiveness in a…

Discussions over the last 2 decades about the possible reform of low socioeconomic schools and teaching practices originate in the effectiveness and improvement (E&I) fields of educational research, which proclaim that teachers and schools "can make a difference." But the message has been thoroughly overplayed. This work focuses on…

This book is intended to encourage and support leaders in being authentic. It draws on the stories and anecdotes of an educator who has been a school principal for 20 years. Two organizing principles structure the 6 chapters: the core issues of leadership are illustrated and discussed through stories while the evolution of a leader is portrayed.…

This book examines what it means to be a leader. It is intended not only for education leaders, but for anyone who feels compelled to provide the most effective leadership they can. The content is based on the author's 30 years of experience as a professional educator. Each chapter illustrates a component of leadership through a series of…

This is a "how to" book for school-leader selection, appraisal, and development. It focuses on ways in which to measure components of leadership so that leadership evaluation can move beyond impressionistic opinions. The text is divided into five chapters. The rationale for leadership assessment, along with the dangers to be avoided in such…

A recent study by The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), Principals in the Public: Engaging Community Support (2000) found that communication, marketing, public affairs and public relations and engagement activities are now given more time and importance than ever before. According to the study, public support builds…