The development and testing of a conceptual framework of board competencies is traced and alternative approaches to measurement are analyzed. There is a focus on issues of theory development, on the use of a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, and on suggestions for further study. (Author/MLW)

Most boards of education across the country when they talk about personnel evaluation mean getting rid of incompetent teachers and administrators. This is a short-range solution to the more important problem of improving staff performance and academic achievement. How the Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools approaches the problem is…

Attempts to match business people's and educators' perceptions regarding the qualities necessary for effective management. Although organization, competence, and fairness are associated with success in both groups, these qualities command more respect in the business community than in school administration. Principals still need to work on their…

Discusses the concept of managers as coaches and summarizes a study that was conducted to evaluate coaching skills among sales managers by using telephone interviews with employees to collect data regarding managers' effectiveness in eight coaching skills. Behaviors associated with high and low rankings are identified. (Contains 26 references.)…

To avoid common pitfalls, novice administrators are advised to clarify perceptions of philosophy and determine the overall school objective, practice flexible shared decision making, maintain high expectations, be assertive, listen carefully, influence staff, delegate wisely, manage time well, provide professional growth opportunities, market…

Assistant principals should be expected, encouraged, and empowered to work beyond their disciplines, outside their cultures, and above their traditional roles. The assistant principal's role in team management is to become an advocate for excellence, a visionary leader, a change agent, a communicator, a motivator, and a determinant of school…

Offers early childhood program administrators time management strategies to increase available time, efficiency, and effectiveness. To manage paper, directors should clear the desk top, use in-out baskets, create a filing system, and handle mail effectively. Tips for managing meetings include preparing an agenda, scheduling meetings for…

Niccolo Machiavelli's buddy Louis made a big mistake in his unsuccessful takeover of a neighboring kingdom: not living there. It is better for school executives to live in community where they work than to live somewhere else. Community members have to feel school leaders share their values, traffic problems, and water. Ways to bypass these…

Effective managers learn to delegate responsibility without compromising their authority. Administrators can easily delegate work that can be done by others, operational and recurring tasks, information collection, meeting attendance, and tasks in the subordinate's job area. Administrators should not delegate performance evaluation, disciplinary…

Exploding in anger has its charm, though putting sand in the social oil is not simple. Rudeness, like celebrity deaths, comes in threes: daily, demented, and inspired. Administrators should be forewarned: rudeness is effective only when coming from power. Powerless rude people are called nuts; powerful rude people are deemed eccentric. (MLH)

Many administrators routinely send imperious, ineffective memoranda without realizing how their messages sound. Good professional talk requires three skills: awareness, anticipation, and attention. Awareness helps change nonproductive communication scripts. Administrators should assess the nature of the information they want to convey, analyze the…

Attentive listening helps meetings and relationships run sensibly and smoothly. Identifies 5 deceptive debating techniques and offers 10 rules on how to listen well, and why doing so pays off. (MLF)

Since 1986, over 1,500 elementary and secondary schools have been recognized and honored by the Department of Education for exemplary leadership, discipline, community support, and high standards and expectations. A recent survey shows that teachers in recognized secondary schools perceive their principals as more effective than teachers in…

Describes a study of secondary principals aimed at generating categories of instructional leadership, identifying sources previously influencing secondary principals emerging into instructional leaders, and noting sources that principals seek out for advice and information. Findings showed that effective instructional leaders are people-oriented,…

A recent study investigated administrator development at a regional assessment center when no specific structured developmental program was provided by the center or by the sponsoring organization. Former participants in an assessment center are likely to pursue professional development activities even though formal postassessment programs are…