Studies of principals' leadership behavior have been limited to purely descriptive content with no insight into the meanings they ascribe to their actions. The inclusion of individual interpretation is crucial to understanding the link between actions and their intended impact on a situation. The methodology used in this study assesses principals'…

Strategies for locating quality educational leaders and assessing candidates applying by an alternate route are presented in this pamphlet. Criteria for evaluating alternative credentials are identified, which include teaching and learning ability, leadership experience, education, personal attributes, and understanding of the social and…

This paper considers the nature of the Principal Assessment Center (PAC) innovation, discusses probable reasons for its popularity, and offers a few reflections on some implications of the success of this innovation. The first section considers the origin and nature of principal assessment centers and describes the model used by the Educational…

This report focuses on the critical relationship between the presidents and governing boards of this nation's higher education institutions. At the outset of the 21st century, colleges and universities face an array of daunting challenges. To name a few: intense global competition, rapid technological advancements, changing demographics,…

This digest in Spanish explores the strategy of paying school administrators based on performance contracts. A performance contract is an agreement between an administrator--typically a superintendent--and the school board that links the administrator's pay to indicators of job performance. Most commonly, performance contracts include bonuses for…

How do more experienced school administrators think about and attend to problems in school administration? This paper presents findings of a study that compared how principals and aspiring principals cognitively processed and solved a problem scenario. A total of 30 practicing principals and 24 aspiring principals (referred to as the "novice…

This paper describes a collaborative model for assessing and developing leadership skills in school administrators. Representatives of East Carolina University's (ECU-North Carolina) School of Education and local school districts collaborated to identify future leaders, assess their leadership skills, and provide continual development. The pilot…

A growing body of literature has found that between women and men as leaders there are important differences in leadership styles, qualities, and priorities. Yet there are few studies that empirically examine the gender differences from a subordinate perspective, particularly in higher education. It is important to identify those factors that best…

This report discusses the attributes of an effective department chair, including the characteristics of the individual and how the chair enhances the opportunity of each faculty member to do his or her job best. The roles of the department chair are many. Each role that a chair plays must in some way advance excellence in teaching and learning.…

This booklet explores the major issues involved in creating effective leadership for today's schools. It summarizes the deliberations of 43 participants involved in a 2-day forum on educational leadership. Participants included superintendents, principals, and teachers from urban, suburban, and rural school districts, as well as prominent…

This digest explores the strategy of paying school administrators based on performance contracts. A performance contract is an agreement between an administrator--typically a superintendent--and the school board that links the administrator's pay to indicators of job performance. Most commonly, performance contracts include bonuses for a job well…

Any individual who might some day consider becoming a superintendent is the target audience for this book. Superintendents face both strong challenges and rich rewards. Currently the pool of qualified candidates for superintendent openings is getting smaller. Many perceive the career as a series of political hassles without the rewards of helping…

The Kentucky Department of Education, Office of Leadership and School Improvement developed this revised and updated technical assistance manual for the 2004-2006 Effective Instructional Leadership Act (EILA) cycle to assist local educators as they strive to improve the quality and effectiveness of their leadership skills and to assist districts…

Discusses guidelines for building principals interested in successful reading leadership: keeping up-to-date with professional literature; working cooperatively with the faculty; encouraging different approaches to learning and assessment; supporting lifetime literacy efforts; and motivating genuine home-school connections. (SR)

Summarizes French and Raven's five bases of supervisory power; then discusses common misuses of power by early childhood program directors, such as "do as I say, not as I do," hiring down, and "the clique heard round the center." Provides pertinent questions for self-examination to break free of these destructive trends. (EV)