This book makes available to a wider audience for the first time material based on fieldwork carried out by the Solomon Island researchers in their own country. The findings will have vital relevance to policy makers, teachers and students. Over the past four years the School of Education, Solomon Islands College of Higher Education and the…

The U.S. Department of Education recently published a notice of draft priorities and requirements for applying for "Race to the Top" (RTT) funding--$4.35 billion in competitive federal grants. Even though it constitutes the smallest piece of education stimulus funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, "Race to the…

New Mexico's unique demographics and rich intellectual assets, including two of the three largest national engineering and science research laboratories in the country (Sandia and Los Alamos), provide an excellent national setting for educational transformation. With approximately 320,000 K-12 students, New Mexico's demographics are distinctive:…

In this study, we explore the competencies required for a project manager to be effective in the workplace. We used a Web-based Delphi method to lead experienced project managers through an anonymous consensus-building process consisting of two rounds of surveys. The Round I analysis of 147 respondents, all with 20 or more years of project…

This paper seeks to explore the notion of risk as an organisational logic within schools, the impact of contemporary accountability regimes on managing risk and then, in turn, to posit a systems-based process of risk management underpinned by a positive logic of risk. It moves through a number of steps beginning with the development of an…

A new principal frequently has a great impact on the school climate. This paper presents findings of a study that examined the degree of change in school climate in three schools with new principals. The Effective Schools Climate Inventory (O'Neal 1990) was administered to staff members in one elementary, one middle, and one high school at the…

There is a plethora of information about the qualities and skills needed to be a good educational leader. The focus, however, is usually on what educational leaders "should do" rather than on what they "should not do." This paper presents findings of a study that identified the mistakes that school administrators, educational leaders, or…

Feedback provides information that lets people know how they are doing. When they are monitoring their everyday work, it lets them know how they measure up. When they are setting development goals, it reinforces changes they are making. Many people know they need feedback, but are unsure how to get it. Three things must be considered: whom to ask,…

A doctoral research study was conducted on the job-specific information and assistance needs of beginning principals and the types of induction strategies that helped or hindered their first year in the principalship. Study subjects consisted of all individuals appointed to their first principal position in Washington or Oregon public school…

A successful principal combines "vision" (projects) with effective leadership strategies (actions to implement the projects). Observation of a principal's work style illustrates how the leadership role is performed. A telephone interview and document analysis provide the methodological framework for this individual case study. Work style is…

This book offers six stories on how administrators worked to improve mathematics instruction in their school districts. Each situation is unique and so is the approach each of these administrators took for improving the teaching of mathematics. Common to all of the stories is the knowledge that improving mathematics instruction is a complex task…

At the heart of every good school is a good principal who provides the necessary leadership to create an effective learning environment. Measuring the condition of high school leadership is an important part of the agenda of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). This survey is designed to add to a knowledge base about…

This book provides leaders and those who aspire to be leaders with information in four areas to help them lead reform efforts in their schools, districts, or other organizations. These areas are leadership, change management, lifelong learning, and group facilitation. There are four sub-books contained within this one document: "Leadership…

In 1991, Huntington Beach High School scarcely had a day without a fight, a theft, or vandalism. Disrespect of staff and defiance were rampant with referrals and unserved detentions backlogged. Students felt anonymous, and authority appeared arbitrary. By 1994, the very same high school was a California Distinguished School. The single most…

This book is designed as a practical, concise, easy-to-read guide for relieving stress. It is written specifically for educators, with examples and anecdotes that relate to professional educators' experiences. It assumes a holistic approach to stress relief that incorporates thought, verbal and action strategies and techniques. The harm that…