Data from a study of 113 elementary school principals in the Chicago metropolitan area support the proposition that non-socioeconomic characteristics of the parental community (assertiveness, responsiveness, homogeneity, and eagerness to participate) account for variations in principals' perceptions of parents. Makes recommendations for effective…

A common perception is that the leadership problems facing the presidents of small, independent liberal arts colleges are simply a subset of those facing larger schools, but small colleges operate in a unique economic environment that offers opportunity as well as peril. The president's involvement is required at every level. (MSE)

A former Secretary of Education discusses the presidential and Department of Education responsibility in providing leadership and advocacy for educational change and improvement. (MSE)

The burden of managing a secondary school is unequally distributed when staff and students perceive one administrator to be consistently difficult to deal with. This problem can be avoided with the "Gray Hat" strategy, in which administrators alternate in yielding and nonyielding roles. (KH)

Gives suggestions for implementation by teachers and administrators of the plays submitted to the Young Playwrights Festival, which is designed for the junior high school student and performer. Also discusses themes and subject matters of these plays. (VLC)

A reversal in the decline of strong college presidents is occurring, and governing boards are realizing their responsibility to set the stage for assertive, enlightened presidential leadership and then to support their administrations. (MSE)

An article on presidential evaluations by James L. Fisher and Gary H. Quehl prompted a college president to look at his own evaluation. Thoughts on his own evaluation are presented. The evaluation produced a mixed review of presidential performance. (MLW)

Reviews the history of citizens' advisory councils and the attitudes toward them, the uses to which they are put, common problems they pose for principals, and their potential for contributing to the schools. Notes that principals usually view such councils negatively, and that principals' attitudes determine council effectiveness. (PGD)

The City Magnet School in Lowell, Massachusetts, involves parents in policymaking, the principal and teachers in curriculum-setting and budgeting, and the kindergarten to eighth-grade students in defining the design and operation of the simulated "real world" society that forms the context in which the school's educational efforts occur.…

Demands of the institutionalization on regular and special education teachers and administrators are described, as are the competencies required of special education teachers. Results of a recent Canada-wide survey of the current status of programs training teachers and other personnel to work with students having severe and multiple handicaps are…

A registrar replacing a long-time college registrar describes how it feels to follow an institutional legend and outlines some facts, approaches, and viewpoints learned during his first year of experience in the job, such as student and faculty attitudes, typical situations, and pitfalls. (MSE)

This paper constructs an administrator succession model specifying major school process and outcome variables. The succession literature is reviewed using the model's components which include the selection process, organizational structure, school culture, educational programs, successor actions, community, and succession effects. Strategies for…

Argues that effective supervision requires the ability to acquire skills in a variety of areas, to select those appropriate to a task, and to use them in concert. Discusses a number of skills necessary for good supervision. (FL)

Jobs should be perceived in terms of their roles in achieving organizational objectives. As those objectives shift, jobs should be redefined. Job performance evaluations should focus on results rather than on activities. Job planning should involve both the organization and the individual job holder. Appendixes cover head teachers' job…

Describes the career development plan adopted by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (North Carolina) Public Schools. Reviews the preparatory steps through which new teachers rise to career status. Assesses the role of "mentors" or master teachers, the administrator's role, and the impact of the teachers' action-growth plans. (PGD)