This case study investigated the organizational culture of a community college and how it both contributed to and prevented organizational chaos during a period of change. The study made use of themes from William G. Golding's novel, "Lord of the Flies," to analyze the setting. The period of change started with the arrival of several top…

Findings from a study that investigated the consequences of role conflict, role ambiguity, and demographic and organizational factors on work satisfaction and somatic complaints are presented in this paper. Data were derived from a survey administered to 225 Taipei (Taiwan) junior high school administrators, which elicited 211 responses (a 93…

Educational administrators have the power to determine the nature of decision-making structures and processes within their institutions and the extent to which decisions are implemented. This paper reviews assumptions underlying decision-making structures and processes established by school administrators; examines potential individual motives…

Issues raised by the devolution of decision-making to the school level in Western Australia are described in this paper. The first part provides a background of governance structures and school organization. Prior to 1980, Western Australia had the most centralized system of educational administration in Australia. The second part describes the…

This chapter on positive behavior management is taken from a guide to designing, implementing, and evaluating instruction and services for students with disabilities. The chapter describes considerations in designing positive management programs to prevent inappropriate student behaviors, foster the development of student responsibility, and…

Administrative support is critical to the professional success and self-esteem of special education teachers. This chapter provides practical strategies for administrators at both the building and central office level to use to support special education teachers. J. S. House's framework is used for considering the different types of administrative…

A recent case at a state university sought to challenge the notion that Directors of Forensics are empowered to make decisions that will govern tournament entries. A student who had been doing extremely well in forensics, but was causing some difficulties in the program was admonished for her behavior. The student's debate tournament participation…

This report includes three papers on longstanding questions in educational administration. In chapter 1, "The New Realities: The Social and Economic Context of Administrator Preparation," Thomas A. Mulkeen outlines the changes that have immediate impact for public education and preparation programs. A shift in the U.S. economy from an…

Recent medical and surgical advances as well as court decisions have led to special education programs serving a growing number of students with extreme medical and educational needs. Particularly close bonding between the special education teacher and student with severe disabilities can occur, as the teacher provides so many services and works…

This document describes an interdisciplinary course in educational administration designed to develop teambuilding capabilities. The experiential, interdisciplinary approach of the course used the knowledge bases from both educational leadership and guidance and counseling. It is noted that the teambuilding course was designed as a combination of…

This study identified the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed by teachers and other school staff to encourage high levels of parental involvement. It also developed an evaluation instrument of these factors for future use. The first phase of the project encompassed a review of the literature on teachers' roles in encouraging parental…

The School-Based Improvement Project (SBIP) is a joint venture of the Office of Community Education of the Massachusetts Department of Education and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS). SBIP is a multiyear professional-development initiative designed to help public school superintendents become effective leaders in…

This case study presents findings from a year-long ethnographic study of the female principal of a secondary school in an innercity setting. It concludes one of seven studies conducted in elementary and intermediate schools in urban, suburban, and rural settings to investigate the instructional management role of principals. Data collection…

There are many forms of school decentralization within and among countries. This paper presents findings of a study that compared decentralization efforts in England and the United States to identify changes that have been made in school-management structures and the effect of these changes on school operation. Data were derived from: (1)…

The concept of superintendent "vision" as a key element of effective leadership is discussed in this paper, which develops a framework for understanding the creation of vision, its implementation and articulation, and organizational impact. Vision differs from strategy in that it represents a set of beliefs about the school district's aspiring…