This article describes the fundamental components of a comprehensive training program that would enable principals to become more effective in their roles as leaders of special education. Components described include essential beliefs, knowledge, skills, and reflective behaviors. Lists of critical attributes and activities for effective inservice…

The University of Bath (England), a small university awarded its charter just 30 years ago, hired an American vice-chancellor to bring it into the top ranks of research institutions. The university, hit hard by British higher education cuts in 1981, has created a niche for itself in the sciences and engineering. An evaluation of research at 191…

David L. Boren, former governor and Senator, has become the most powerful president in the University of Oklahoma's history. Boren wants to give the university the feel of a small private college. His stature gives him flexibility to act decisively and quickly. However, some faculty feel his priorities are wrong and others feel he's moving too…

Applies to public education the principles that begin to explain why some organizations become great and others do not. States that an organization is able to achieve greatness only by pushing in an intelligent and consistent direction for years and even decades. (MLF)

Examines job-related, client-perpetrated threats or physical violence against social workers in general, and community outreach mental health professionals in particular. Highlights the critical role of supervisors and administrators in developing proactive prevention and postincident response policies and procedures that create an organizational…

Describes the results of an intensive study of Chicago elementary schools on how relational trust among teachers, students, parents, and principals influences school-reform efforts. Relational trust is grounded in respect, personal regard, competence in core role responsibilities, and personal integrity. Describes the benefits of relational trust…

Describes the stages of project management and instructional design. Outlines and compares the roles of project managers and instructional designers, and discusses how designers need to use a systematic approach which combines the stages of each process to remain detail-oriented while being cognizant of the entire project. (AEF)

New Zealand and England's experience with decentralized decision making illustrates that achieving local control and accountability goals may be more elusive than initially envisioned. Additionally, there are problems with training, time management, and principals' professional/personal adjustments. Those advocating radical decentralization in…

Since April 1996, 14.5% of the 103 historically black colleges and universities in the country have new chancellors or presidents, and several more leadership changeovers are in process. The new administrators must adapt to a more complex leadership model and a broader vision for their institutions than those of previous presidents due to the…

The dean of the social work school in a public research university reflects on how the nature of the institution affects the dean's role and presents unique leadership challenges. Issues discussed include budgetary pressures, concerns about the student population, the aging infrastructure for education and research, shifting priorities, global…

Helping every youngster reach his or her potential is a daunting task, but it can be done. Site-based administrators who incorporate leadership guidelines that define the vision, create a positive climate, initiate action, and advocate an equitable learning environment for all students will awaken one day to discover that all students are…

Camp administrators concerned with generating a desirable camp culture should begin by defining the camp's mission and clarifying the details of that vision for staff. The components of a camp culture are discussed: signs and symbols, ritual and tradition, habitual modes of communication, and the director's leadership. These components should be…

Mandated standards do not pose a threat to developmentally responsive middle level programs; rather, how standards are interpreted determines their appropriateness for educating young adolescents. Differences in responses to mandated standards are reflective of an individual school's culture. Understanding culture and cultural leadership provides…

Describes some steps school districts can take to meet student achievement standards of the No Child Left Behind Act. Includes using the "Bully Pulpit," employing standards to reshape instruction, providing a rigorous curriculum aligned with standards, providing extra instruction for students who need it, and assigning the better…

Examines the responses of principals to intergroup conflict that occurred as a result of cultural incongruities between teachers of color and their European American counterparts in desegregated suburban schools. Employs intergroup theory to explicitly define and measure how school leaders managed group conflict in their schools. (Contains 24…