Report of a study of the appointment of acting heads (principals) in 24 Scottish school districts, which explored their effectiveness and reasons for being appointed. Offers suggestions for creating a pool of potential heads to take advantage of opportunities for personal, professional, and school development. (Contains 23 references.) (WFA)

Explores some of the challenges facing educational leadership from the position of university educational-leadership preparation programs. Examines the current and future context of leadership preparation through the metaphor of the sports league, in which each franchise is not independent, but interdependent. (Contains 1 figure and 55…

This article uses the analogy of mastering the game of golf to illuminate education-leadership preparation and practice. A response attempts a connection between the golf analogy as an argument for the implementation of leadership-practice fields in education-administration preparation programs, highlighting the importance of practice in the…

In this article, the authors, two experienced principals from two separate districts and mentors for new principals, explain that being a great principal is much the same as being the host of a great dinner party. The following are a few insights and tips-for new principals that can help any host (or principal) find rewards that go far beyond the…

Purpose: This paper aims to contribute to one's understanding of how beginning principals in Hong Kong exercise leadership by exploring the concurrent influence of their inner worlds and the external contexts on their leadership within a reforming environment. Design/methodology/approach: Based on a study of the work lives of beginning principals…

In order to assess some of the major problems and frustrations faced by beginning administrators, a study investigated nine first- and second-year public school administrators in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Questions asked the principals centered on their recollections of the most challenging problems faced and what was hardest for them as…

This report presents the results of a 7-month study and conversation among field-based educators who attempted to respond to the challenges and responsibilities facing beginning principals. Documented is the role of the principal in affecting the success of school buildings. Apparent in this body of research is the need for the principal to be…

This paper explains the clinical induction experience for beginning school principals. It reflects two themes: emphasis on supervised practice and demonstrated competence as well as networking and collaboration among stakeholders. Generally, it describes the intricacies of an experimental program developed by Louisiana State University faculty in…

Although leadership should not be thought of as manifest only in the acts of a single person, the school principal is the person who arranges the organizational conditions. To help future and present school principals, issues behind leadership and the management aspects of the principalship are presented. The book combines theory and practice,…

This paper presents a case study illustrating the experiences of a first-year elementary-school principal. It follows her through her 18 months on the job, and analyzes the factors contributing to her ouster. The data for the study were gathered through two interviews with the principal and interviews with five other persons in her school…

An evaluation of an Ohio professional development program for beginning rural principals interviewed and observed 23 principals and mentors in 3 study groups. Participants valued mentoring and networking activities, noting they mitigated professional isolation. Participants preferred "unofficial" activities focused on practical problems…

Across the nation, districts are throwing beginning administrators into school leadership positions, mistakenly assuming they already know everything. Training programs are preparing principals for a long-obsolete work environment. Committed mentors and on-call coaches can help overwhelmed and overworked principals become effective leaders. (MLH)

Leading improvement is a challenge faced by all headteachers, but for newly appointed headteachers, the process has particular dimensions associated with the transition into a new and promoted post, often in an unfamiliar context. The early months of teacher headship are concerned with developing an understanding of context, through working with…

New heads taking up their appointments in English schools in recent years have had supportive programmes to help them, both prior to headship and on taking up the role. This study examines the experience of heads new to their role in primary and secondary schools over the period 2002-2004. All were participants in the National College for School…

This paper examines the impact of one leadership development programme, drawing on a model developed by Leithwood and Levin (2004) for the Department of Education and Skills. The New Visions programme, offered by the National College for School Leadership, is aimed at new headteachers and adopts a process rich approach to leadership development.…