Describes nine basic steps school leaders can follow to develop high-performance schools. (PKP)

Defining moments generally do not come at a time of a leader's choosing but in the course of leading. In this article, the author explains when she suddenly understood how to best explain and frame her professional mission regarding urban public education. Sections include: (1) Existential Moments; (2) A New Vision; (3) Lifesaving Measures; and…

Most educators have little experience or expertise in cybersecurity. Yet, it is one of the most pressing vulnerabilities in today's society. Beyond simply being aware of this vulnerability, educational leaders must ask themselves: What is an effective strategy for managing cybersecurity concerns? Whom do you trust to give you the best information?…

In this article, the author discusses blogging and its benefits. Blog is shorthand for weblog, which is a series of items posted on the Internet for others to read. It usually includes text, images, and links to other websites. Blogs provide a running commentary or conversation. Although many people use blogs as online journals, detailing the…

This article describes a study that examined the conceptions of three New Hampshire superintendents as to the institutional conditions they believe impact teachers' ability to integrate technology. Common thinking was found. They agree if integration is to be successful, teachers need a better understanding of how these technologies can be applied…

Casey Brown has moved from a job as a school administrator to one in which she will help teach the school administrators of tomorrow. As she looks back over her university experiences thus far, she shares a few of the tips she has learned in leaping from the world of PK-12 education into the world of higher education. Each suggestion is followed…

Dr. Miriam Van Waters was the superintendent (warden) of the Massachusetts Reformatory for Women at Framingham for twenty-five years. She has the distinct honor of holding that position the longest. In 1949, she rose to national prominence when the new Massachusetts Commissioner of Corrections, under allegations of lax administrative policies,…

With the increasing number of Latina and Latino students in California schools, the need was clear for a mentoring program that not only increased the growth rate, but also supported the retention rate of Latina and Latino school superintendents and educational leaders. Such leaders are most often perceived by Latina and Latino students as…

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to use a recent feminist conceptual framework (Tallerico, 2000a) to frame an investigation of whether emphasizing the major roles of the job and district size in recruitment messages for a hypothetical superintendent's position influenced participant job attraction ratings. Research Methods: This study used a…

The purposes of this study were to (a) identify how leadership in a successful rural school districts has helped raise student achievement levels beyond those of comparable school districts as measured by state and federal mandated test scores, (b) investigate the district leadership that aligns with identified effective practices, and (c)…

This study seeks to determine if a Midwestern group of diocesan Catholic schools considers it their mission to educate students of all abilities, the extent to which students with special needs are included in the population of Catholic schools, the types of special needs served, how students with special needs are served when included, whether…

This case, based on actual events, was developed for a course in educational leadership or media management. Students will test their own processes for ethical leadership through this complex crisis in which a superintendent must decide whether to take public responsibility for questionable decisions made by his staff. This case highlights the…

This paper asks: Which of the alternative views that women bring to the position of superintendent have the potential to change the nature of the position itself? The paper examines the classical "feminine" definition of power in light of its potential to support an ethical practice not often attributed to superintendents of schools, namely, an…

School-reform efforts have forced administrators and board members to pay increasing attention to school-community relationships. This paper presents findings of a study conducted during 1993-94 that examined public-relations practices in 168 school districts in 4 midwestern states. A survey of 200 superintendents in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota,…

In an effort to develop programs to meet school-age child care needs in southeastern Pennsylvania, a study was conducted to identify issues and needs as perceived by public school officials in the region. Superintendents and elementary school principals from 61 suburban school districts were surveyed, and 170, or 51 percent, responded. A total of…