This study, involving extensive interviewing of 27 women superintendents (and husbands, board members, administrative staff members, and observers), examines gender issues in the theory and practice of educational leadership. The distinction between task-focused and follower-focused leadership may involve an integration of the two styles. Women…

Summarizes theories of group development encompassing the stages of orientation, conflict, integration, achievement, and breakup. Relates group development stages to leadership styles and the leader's relative concern for dimensions of task and relationship. Applies the five-stage model of group development to the progress of groups involved in…

A Connecticut principal who has headed 6 schools in 22 years believes that moving around has improved his leadership capabilities. The district's rotation system has kept him professionally fresh and adept at facing the unknown and handling crises. Undaunted by outmoded buildings or violent hallways, this "gypsy" principal feels that…

Stylistic friction between superintendent and school board underlies much of disharmony that often characterizes these relationships. The most successful matches occur between high corporate-type boards and high task-oriented superintendents or between high familial-type boards and high relationship-type superintendents. Friction reduction or…

Presents leadership models for outdoor education which emphasize flexibility and a balance between achieving the task and exercising affective skills. Leadership styles run on a continuum from high leader control to high group control. Stresses safe practice in outdoor activities. Offers recommendations to improve outdoor leadership. (KS)

Draws on Blumberg and Greenfield's studies of effective principals to offer an operational definition of school vision, based on teacher perceptions. The instrument developed consists of three subscales (vision exchange, internalization, and sacrifice). The perceived robustness of the principal's role was significantly correlated with two School…

Multicampus study examined transformational and transactional leadership factors of hall directors (n=84) and resident assistants (n=806). Results indicated both male and female hall directors practiced transformational leadership behaviors. Hall director leadership behavior accounted for two-thirds of the variance in resident assistant…

Details a demographic study of all school board members in West Virginia, focusing on their personal characteristics, motivations, and communication preferences. Given the ever-expanding body of educational research, a knowledge of school board members and the best ways to reach them is invaluable. The data, procedures, and implications of this…

Presents an overview of the research on gender differences in leadership, examines the impact of sex stereotyping, looks at the organizational effects of various types of leadership, and argues for the acceptance of a diversity of non-gender-linked leadership styles. (43 references) (LRW)

Assessed self-perceptions of empowering leadership and achieving style practiced by female student leaders. Administered Achieving Styles Inventory and revised student version of Leadership Practices Inventory to 27 female college students. Found female student leaders to be most comfortable with empowering leadership practices of "enabling others…

Uses a large random sample of California principals to determine the relationship of certain personal and organizational variables and principals' perceived use of four organizational leadership approaches. Explores the relationship between using these approaches and student outcomes. The political leadership approach strongly predicted schools'…

A survey compared the behavior of male (n=440) and female (n=435) city managers. Results showed that women city managers are more likely than their male counterparts to incorporate citizen input, facilitate communication, and encourage citizen involvement in their decision-making process. (JOW)

Responses from 47% of 3,540 U.S. and German employees of a multinational company revealed lower levels of transformational leadership among Germans and other cultural differences in work values. Cultural values predicted leadership style. Job category had a main effect on cultural values. (SK)

Tested the curriculum leadership framework that Stark and Lattuca adapted from Quinn's competing values model of management styles. Chairpersons of departments nominated as effective in curriculum planning answered a survey about their leadership activities and styles. Factor analysis partially supported the model. Activities that chairs reported…

A study of two elementary schools identified school conditions affecting implementation of Kentucky state reforms of primary education: innovation advocates, teacher-relevant implementation strategies, and supportive principals. Essential elements were a fit between leadership style and faculty needs and time to develop collaborative working…