Successful principals of urban schools are able to understand the interactions between the city school and its environment and are able to take advantage of the array of urban resources, buffer the school and its students from some negative environmental influences, and provide services that help offset negative factors. Against a backdrop of…

Societal changes driven by computer technology have contributed to the call for schools to prepare information-literate students. This paper presents findings of a case study that examined the roles that principals played in successful efforts to mainstream information-literacy instruction. The study also examined whether the change-implementation…

Conflict resolution at community colleges or other organizations requires an analysis of four situational factors: the conflict issues, the organizational setting, hierarchy and role relationships, and the personal styles of the conflicting parties. These factors yield insight into the dynamics of the conflict and provide the groundwork for…

This case study examined the role of parents as decision-makers in the founding of an elementary (K-1) charter school serving 44 children and their families in a California metropolitan area. The study focused on the working relationship between the parents and the founding director, and the effects of this relationship on the organization's…

A number of changes have been initiated in Washington State public schools in recent years. Policymakers and the public assume that principals have the capacity to lead the implementation of many reforms and regulations while carrying out a variety of responsibilities. This paper presents findings of a survey of Washington State principals to…

Dramatic changes in the work environment of education have resulted in role ambiguity and role overload for school principals. This paper explores the role of the principal of self-managing schools, especially as the role relates to educational leadership over the next decade. Several themes in the educational reforms likely to emerge and grow…

In Kentucky, the administrative roles of the superintendent and the principal have received considerable attention from state-level policymakers since the passage of the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA). Although there are comprehensive, ongoing assessment procedures for Kentucky principals and superintendents, there are no state-level…

This digest discusses the use of teaching portfolios in higher education, in light of recent criticisms of faculty teaching productivity and the reward structure of universities. Teaching portfolios can be defined as vehicles for documenting teaching (with an emphasis on demonstrating excellence), empowering professors to gain dominion over their…

This document consists of three papers presented during a symposium on instructional delivery moderated by Larry Dooley at the 1996 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development (HRD). "Distance Education: An Emerging Concept for HRD Programs" (Margaret R. Schlais et al.) examines various distance education methods, the current…

The context of teaching has changed dramatically in the wake of two national waves of educational reform. This dissertation examined the relationship between elementary principals' use of transformational leadership strategies as determined by teacher reports and the presence of social-organizational factors within the schools. The five…

The superintendency is often described as an unpleasant, even impossible, job. This book examines the changing conditions that affect the superintendency, presents strategies for easing the burden, and offers guidance from practitioners. The first part defines the superintendency and places it within its contemporary context. In the six chapters…

In response to demands to incorporate distance delivery and technology into education to increase access and decrease costs, Mount Royal College in Alberta, Canada, has developed a multi-modal model of distance delivery to enhance learning. The model includes eight modes of distance instruction, each with its benefits and challenges to…

Due to the increase in the number of institutions asking for donations from businesses and individuals, community colleges seeking to raise funds must be responsive to the needs of their local business communities. In conducting major fundraising campaigns, its is important that potential donors believe that the need is crucial and have the…

An index to the problems and solutions discussed in the the first 9 volumes of the 10-volume series, Successful Schools: Guidebooks to Effective Educational Leadership, is provided in this handbook. This "troubleshooting guide" lists topics in alphabetical order, describes the issue, and lists the corresponding volume and page number. (LMI)

This paper is premised on the belief that school leaders can influence the climate and culture of schools, thereby affecting student learning outcomes. Leaders for Change, an inservice training program developed and tested by the National Center for School Leadership, was greatly influenced by the thinking of Doug Mitchell, who, in "Principal…