A national survey of 184 social work managers concerning the frequency of use and importance of 12 managerial competencies did not reveal significant differences between urban and rural respondents. Suggests that the demand for complex and managerial competencies and skills is universal among social work managers. Addresses implications for social…

To discover corporate America's perceptions on effective leadership qualities for the 21st century, questionnaires were sent to chief executive officers of Mobil, McDonnell Douglas, 3M, Pfitzer, and IBM. Respondents said that integrity, self-esteem, and decision-making ability are essential leadership characteristics. Desired affective qualities…

Discusses superintendency expectations and effective schools. Research indicates superintendents must have effective administrative management and supervision skills plus the ability to evaluate principals' instructional leadership. Though there is increased emphasis on instruction, research does not suggest the superintendent's position is any…

Describes a survey of library development officers in state library agencies that was conducted to investigate the types of governance structures of public libraries. Highlights include consolidation of public library services, public library boards, trends in public library governance, financial support and managerial effectiveness, and…

Discusses the state of education in Africa. Argues that programs must be modified according to the political, social, and economic conditions of each country. States that school enrollments have stagnated, and quality of education has declined, resulting in increased school failure and a low level of cognitive achievement. Discusses collaborative…

School principals are in a difficult environment filled with stress and plagued by weak support. Most principals are unprepared for site-based decision making. University professors must take the initiative to use the emerging knowledge base and develop professional studies degree and staff development programs to prepare principals. (24…

Many school boards have considered searching for their next superintendent in the ranks of the business community. Both Minneapolis (Minnesota) and Milwaukee (Wisconsin) have businesspeople as superintendents. Contains a number of comments concerning advantages a businessperson can bring to the superintendency, as opposed to the need for proper…

A survey of 208 teachers/graduate students at a Georgia university found that teachers regarded their principals' supervisory behaviors positively. The supervisory climate was more positive in elementary than secondary schools. More experienced and educated teachers were more dissatisfied with their principals' level of trust and decision making.…

Leaders bring to new jobs their values and vision, the authority of their position, and their reputation and accomplishments. How new superintendents conduct themselves during the critical entry/"honeymoon" phase affects their subsequent working relationships and leadership effectiveness. Structured interviews with staff, parents, and…

Effective schools exhibit unique structures and continuous change. Moral imperatives inspire people to sustain the commitment critical to building effective schools. Over 450 interviews with practitioners, parents, board members, politicians, academics, union leaders, consultants, and others are joined with background literature and research to…

This book describes outcomes of the Maine Academy for School Leaders (MASL) a professional development program designed to improve student-learning outcomes through improved leadership performance. It evaluates the impact of new leadership behaviors on the 58 participants' schools. One-half of the participants were teachers or other staff who held…

This handbook describes skills and competencies that are consistent with the most generally accepted middle school philosophies. These include the philosophy that middle schools should be student-centered, should ease the transition to high school, emphasize an integrated curriculum, and implement instruction that emphasizes active learning.…

Community college department chairs are called upon to be colleagues and peers, managers, and teachers, with duties and responsibilities that are usually far more complex and demanding than any college document can convey. As a result of the demands of the position, department chairs may experience role conflict or strain. Role conflicts are…

This paper reports on a study that investigated the role, attitudes, and behaviors of department chairs in higher education. Specifically, the study investigated four objectives: (1) to examine role factors of effective chair performance; (2) to assess the impact of antecedent variables such as individual characteristics (gender, marital status,…

This study examined what men and women faculty members expect of university presidential leadership, whether men see leadership in terms of authority and hierarchy and whether women look more for community. Using an analysis of discourse, the study interviewed 30 faculty members at a public, research university in the western United States. The…