Describes a home/school partnership in two school communities, one urban and one rural, in Cyprus. Researchers used a participatory approach to help interested parties develop ownership and become fully involved. An evaluation showed that partnerships rarely happen naturally, require dialog, serve heterogeneous parent groups, and inspire hope. (23…

Provides six community-college presidents' insights into the midlevel-management role at their institutions. States that although midlevel managers go by various titles at different colleges, they all agree on the importance and substance of these administrative roles. (VWC)

Pressure for cost containment is growing at even very financially healthy colleges and universities. Institutions need to think concurrently about cost containment in terms of temporary, mid-term, and permanent changes to institutional operations and priorities. It may be productive to reframe the issue as "funding priorities" rather…

School leaders are asked to become transformational reformers who drastically redefine school structures to meet the demographic, globalization, and technological demands of the 21st century. However, administrators' socialization process tends toward maintaining the status quo. Preparation programs must match everyday reality. (Contains 25…

Discusses the role of an English department chair within the modern university. Presents 10 useful lessons for a chairperson who is trying to make a department's case to the administration. Concludes that talking successfully to administrators requires avoiding a "them-versus-us" mentality and being willing to think collectively and creatively…

Discusses changing middle school teacher evaluations to a team approach whereby teachers are responsible for judging their own performance and supervising that of their colleagues. Considers reasons for changing teacher roles in the evaluation process, and the principal's role in collective accountability. Provides a sample "team accountability…

Reformist and spending approaches are complementary strategies for improving teacher quality. In successful school reform, principals must become CEOs of their schools, with each school accountable for academic results. Successful schools should be rewarded, and failing schools need intervention. Discusses: certification of bad teachers; false…

Explores organizational/management consequences of the changing policy environment for UK public-sector education over the past 10 years. Sweeping conclusions about replacing the traditional bureau-professional organization with a managerial one are unwarranted. Managerialism can take many forms and produce different outcomes in different…

Examines how the provisions of the Arkansas Student Publications Act were implemented and the effects of the new law. Finds that many school districts created written policies regarding student publications where none had previously existed; and in 40% of responding school districts, control of student publications was students' or advisors', or a…

In a school-based decision-making environment, a primary role of central office leadership is preparing school councils to carry out their responsibilities effectively. Challenges include reluctant participants, time constraints, the tendency to administer, and legal complexities. A Kentucky school district has developed a forum where…

Argues that middle managers are key to developing successful departments and schools. Discusses results from a pilot project on role changes that shadowed eight department heads in Catholic secondary schools in Birmingham and Manchester, England. Although department heads spent most time on core activities (teaching, coaching, and managing their…

Articulates qualities that distinguish those who teach more than competently. Describes circumstances, experiences, and structures that are likely to promote development of these qualities in early-career teachers. Identifies issues that administrators and senior faculty confront to provide such experiences for junior faculty members. (RS)

Examines teaching effectiveness and the role college administrators play in providing a supportive environment for teaching. Discusses the role of the dean and departmental chairperson in implementing incentives and establishing evaluative procedures for instructors. Contains 16 references. (JDI)

Explores key features of processes school leaders employ to create positive interethnic school communities, identifying five elements for effective intervention and applying an analytical model to each to provide a schema for framing elements of central importance. Addresses how school leaders use their power and authority and how they determine…

Provides a checklist for self study for departments of foreign languages and literatures. Sections focus on data on the community and institution; goals and priorities; curriculum; faculty; teaching; students; operational activities; and resources. (Author/VWL)