While resources are abundant for helping the mentor and the new teacher, very little has been written to guide the leaders of teacher and mentor development. This book provides an effective, proven model for developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining an induction and mentoring program that results in highly qualified teachers. A…

Designed for the large corps of professionals and volunteers who work in the growing number of organizations and programs involved in international educational exchange, this book provides two important resources: (1) a comprehensive analysis of the dynamics of the youth exchange experience and the factors that come into play when providing the…

Current research and practice suggest that those who commit to pursuing goals immediately following a feedback experience are more likely to capitalize on their strengths and set a productive path for growth. Any intentional effort to learn, grow, and change involves seeking challenging assignments, training for targeted skills, and developmental…

Many local education agencies, as well as independent school districts, are currently designing induction programs for beginning teachers. One feature of these induction programs is the appointment of a mentor or sponsor teacher. This review is designed to summarize existing literature from the teaching profession on the mentoring relationship in…

Because of longer life expectancies and individually managed supplements to monthly pension checks, planning at retirement is becoming as important as planning for retirement. This article provides advice for retiring administrators concerning personal budgeting, setting goals, estate and tax planning, choosing medical coverage, converting assets,…

Setting organizational or program objectives is seen as requiring three steps (brainstorming goals for the year, prioritizing them, and visualizing them as smaller, discrete tasks) and six principles (making goals group-specific, setting deadlines, being realistic and explicit, writing down goals, defining measurable steps, and creating…

In this article, the author discusses what she was able to learn from an exercise in self-reflection regarding her teaching. She also discusses the advantages of reflection for administrators: First, a reflective practice is data-driven, making it a more valid way to evaluate administrators' knowledge and skills. Second, a reflective practice…

Sustaining results-oriented team efforts is hard work, and achieving diversified solutions to complex issues over time requires commitment an creativity. To support the momentum of learning communities, this book provides an illustrated collection of ready-to-use tools and examples of plans in action for results-oriented faculty and staff.…

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,…

The third of six volumes in the "Elementary Principal Series," this booklet is intended for beginning elementary principals desiring to develop an effective communications plan for reaching their various publics. The principal plays a key role in controlling both the quantity and quality of school communications. Although principals may…

Using retired teachers as mentors for beginning teachers in New York City has made real differences in the lives of the new teachers, their mentors, the students, and the supervisors in approximately 100 schools. In these schools more than 100 mentors have worked with 500 teachers over a three-year period. The New York City Mentor/New Teacher…

Each school district in the state of Florida was required to submit for approval a model for implementing the Beginning Teacher Program mandated by the Florida legislature. The program model required that a support staff, consisting of a peer teacher, building-level administrator, and at least one other professional educator be assigned to assist…

Every college alumni program needs a mission statement specifying why it exists. In creating a statement, administrators should consider who designs it, drafts it, must endorse it, must adopt it. When institutional purpose and resources change, it can be redrafted. It should be an active guide, regularly reviewed and used. (MSE)

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine (a) ways in which elementary principals in Connecticut influenced the induction experiences of new teachers and (b) how school leaders professional backgrounds and beliefs affected their approaches to induction. Research Methods: The study included six elementary principals from three Connecticut …

The second of six volumes in the "Elementary Principal Series," this booklet presents a framework to help beginning principals learn about their schools and the communities they serve. Principals should begin by reviewing key school documents, meeting with office staff, touring the physical plant, and getting to know the teaching staff…