The process for establishing a climate and a framework that promote school-based reform is complex. Describes the steps a typical but fictitious district takes to build support for change. (MLF)

Discusses the importance of community in critical thinking, presenting objectivist and nonobjectivist views of the conduct and teaching of critical thinking. An essential insight for education resulting from the nonobjectivist conception is the development of a commitment to the ethical values of community, democracy, freedom, and equality. (SM)

The article explores the consequences of new systems of shared decision making and governance for the assessment of principals, presenting case studies of two Chicago-area school districts that made substantial progress expanding teachers' professional roles in school- and district-level governance. (SM)

After delineating wider context of Coalition of Essential Schools restructuring in Illinois, paper explores principal's changing role in four schools immersed in restructuring process. Factors inhibiting role changes in shared governance system were lack of stability, support, trust, and commitment. Factors promoting change were new conceptions of…

Reviews the issues of tenure, faculty status, promotion, and compensation for Wayne State University (Michigan) librarians since 1968 and outlines areas in which disagreement among librarians may have contributed to a denial of full faculty status and privileges. (six references/notes) (EA)

"International Programming Issues for Extension Education" (Rosson, Sanders) describes a survey of extension personnel identifying global competition and agriculture as a key issue. "Expanding Our Horizons Internationally" (Richardson, Woods) discusses North Carolina Extension's staff development on global issues. In…

Examines the concept of empowerment as a movement to foster the democratization of the workplace and staff development. Empowerment versus participative management, the relationship of empowerment to organizational theory, factors influencing empowerment in organizations, and possible consequences of successful empowerment for employees and…

"Nature-rich mentoring" is a method aimed at changing attitudes and behavior toward the environment. In this method, a small group with members from diverse backgrounds participates in an outdoor expedition with opportunities for daily reflection and discussion. Expeditions should be planned according to participant ability to allow…

As part of Alberta's provincial initiative, stakeholders (staff, parents, students, and community members) at each school in Grande Prairie School District identified indicators of quality education in the areas of student achievement, school climate, instructional quality, and funding. Results were used to develop an individualized evaluative…

To improve student performance on standardized tests, principals must evaluate the school's most recent scores, compile a simple statistical comparison of potential and actual performance on evaluated skills, and discuss results and improvement strategies with groups of teachers. Classroom observations, cooperative planning, and curriculum mapping…

Today's superintendents are unaccustomed to sharing significant power with others and are expected to educate all youngsters effectively. Superintendents' responses to differences with their boards can profoundly affect progress in school improvement. By stressing dialog over discussion, superintendents might keep their jobs without sacrificing…

Confusion about the meaning of education makes truly educational leadership impossible. Education is a continuing effort to work at the worthwhile things in life, and educational leaders must bring communities together to discuss what is good and worthwhile, what kind of society they want to create, and what kind of education is consistent with…

Principal Chris Borgen has led the Fidalgo Elementary School in Anacortes (Washington) to excellence by collaborating with his staff on a commitment to student needs. They implemented a learning model that increased student achievement and IQ. In response to parent requests, a variety of approaches are used, including multiage classrooms,…

David Nufer, Alaska's National Distinguished Principal for 1999, uses collaboration to create a family atmosphere at Finger Lake (Alaska) Elementary School. He turned the scheduling process over to teachers, involved teachers and parents in implementing a two-track system of mixed and single-age classrooms, brought in senior citizens to supplement…

Principals play a key role in developing teacher leadership. To identify, develop, and support teacher leaders in their schools, principals should define teacher leadership, be comfortable with teacher leaders, encourage teachers to become leaders, help teachers develop leadership skills, and provide positive and limited constructive feedback.…