This article examines the types of recurring problems that can inhibit K-12 mentoring team relationships and intervention strategies to remedy those problems. The study examines 149 mentoring teams in four school districts over a 2-year period. Data collection was coordinated by the researcher who was also the trainer for the four school…

In this paper we draw on the high-profile, project-based, self-managed career of New Zealand film-maker Peter Jackson, which reflects an accumulation of knowledge creating an example of a new style of career, transforming the industry environment around him. We consider his career capital through three key "ways of knowing" that comprise…

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to analyze the relationship between the organizational learning capacity of manufacturing companies in the Spanish Basque Region and their management systems. Design/methodology/approach: To this end, an ad hoc questionnaire was devised and addressed to the Chief Executive Officers of a representative…

Despite the growing appreciation among professional educators, teachers unions, school districts, and university researchers of the need for effective school-based mentors, many new teachers still report a "sink or swim" experience as they enter the profession. Not surprisingly, about one third of new teachers in the United States leave…

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to provide readers with an understanding of how the assessment protocol for executive coaching can be adapted to more effectively meet the different needs of clients who are seeking developmental, transitional, or remedial coaching. Design/methodology/approach: This article is based on the author's 20 years…

Collaborative teacher teams, whether they are new or have been re-formed over time, require that principals understand how to support and sustain them. To sustain collaborative team structures and support teacher empowerment beyond the first years of an initiative, it is important for principals to understand how these three factors--namely, the…

The notion of critical friendship is central to self-study. A critical friend acts as a sounding board, asks challenging questions, supports reframing of events, and joins in the professional learning experience. In this paper, we share our experiences of acting as critical friends for each other in two separate self-studies of practice. We…

The big question which has arisen with the growth of ICT is how to incorporate this new technology into existing curriculum. The authors relate how they established a viable cooperation and transfer of knowledge between subjects biology and ICT in their school in Slovenia. The result was that their students produced more than 150 biological Web…

When your school or district wants to do more to help all teachers become effective teachers of reading and writing, here's a book that will show you how to maximize your efforts through differentiated literacy coaching. This research-based, school-proven approach helps you implement eight professional development formats ranging from coplanning…

This qualitative case study describes the transitional experiences (first 4 1/2 months) of four school leaders. The "life cycle" of leaders is often short, necessitating job changes with resulting transitions, when new leaders must simultaneously learn their positions and make changes to improve schools. Using previous leadership…

The organizational context of charter schools may facilitate the formation of a strong teacher community. In particular, a focused school mission and increased control over teacher hiring may lead to stronger teacher professional communities. This paper uses the 1999-2000 Schools and Staffing Survey to compare the level of teacher community in…

This article describes a case study of an educational organization, the Big Picture Company, trying to implement a highly unusual school design. It offers a close look at its professional development strategies and how its comprehensive program helps create a culture where teachers can, and do, learn. I detail five professional development…

Continuing professional development is a foundation of the student affairs field. To stay current, practitioners use a variety of methods to learn about areas that they need to master to be successful in their careers. Results of this research indicate that staff use interactive methods such as consulting with colleagues and mentoring more so than…

The first 3 years of one high school's efforts at school change are detailed in this book. It describes the implementation of the Quest Program, a teacher-designed, interdisciplinary experiment in curricular reform at Brookville High School (a pseudonym), Massachusetts. The participants--teachers, administrators, students, parents, and college…

Assistant principals (APs) who successfully influence principals to behave in ways that support their goals increase their chances of achieving desired resources. This paper describes how assistant principals can build influence and strong working relationships with their principals. To begin, APs must understand themselves, their principals, the…