A principal can provide support for beginning teachers by gaining specific knowledge of each teacher's curriculum, by developing rapport, and by encouraging teachers in seven key areas. Rapport is built with friendly, solicitous behavior and a lot of listening; it can be destroyed by too much criticism, insensitivity, and aloofness. A principal…

Discusses improving attendance of staff and administrators by providing various financial and recognition-oriented incentives including savings bonds, plaques, and a year-end trophy. Rewards for perfect and near-perfect attendance resulted in a 16 percent improvement in total staff attendance and improvement in 90 percent of individual schools.…

The authors report a study in which they examined how principals utilize instructional leadership in high schools within a Hispanic majority context. The emphasis was on students' academic performance, goal development and implementation, school culture, and instructional management, which make up the broader theoretical framework of school…

Defining a vision based on shared values is a crucial step that administrators must consider as they lead their schools through reform efforts. This article reports findings from a national study of creating professional learning communities in schools and how an organizational framework helped to explain vision development in 18 schools.…

The successful orientation of new university professors has benefits for both the new professor and the university. For the faculty member, benefits of rapid orientation to the new position involve greater control of the factors that cause stress to professors, more rapid pursuit of the contributions that lead to future promotion and tenure, and…

This report proposes a program for orientation and training for public services staff at the Temple University Libraries. In the first section, orientation and training needs are assessed. Goals and an overview of the program are outlined in the next section. The third section describes the five program elements and objectives: (1) an individual…

Fifteen recommendations are made for structuring governing board meetings, delegation of authority, new trustee orientation, trustee development, and communication with the president and campus community, to promote more effective board operation. (MSE)

This annotated bibliography describes resource materials on educational theory and practice related to the first college year. This edition contains nearly twice as many entries as the second edition. Works are grouped into these topical headings: (1) "Academic Advising and Student Counseling"; (2) "Academic Support"; (3) "Assessment and…

Describes one department's experience with curriculum development through the formulation of a departmental mission statement reflecting the shared sociological goals of faculty and students. Discusses the process of achieving consensus, the actual mission statement, and the curricular and program implications of such a process. (KO)

Under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, every school is subject to the controversial mandates for annual test score gains contained in the federal law. The law represents a profound change in the relationship between the federal government and state and local education agencies regarding who controls education and has direct implications for…

The state of Illinois is encouraging schools to better inspect and evaluate the causes of their pest infestation problems through use of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) guidelines developed by the Illinois Department of Public Health. This guide reviews the philosophy and organization of an IPM program for structural pests in schools,…

The Indicators of Quality Schools instrument is designed to be used in school self-studies to identify priority areas for improvement or closer study. Uses for the instrument are outlined in this user's guide. Emphasis is placed on ensuring that the staff is oriented to evaluating school practices. The instrument may be completed by small groups…

Currently, America's racial and ethnic minorities are under-represented in higher education and in almost all occupational fields that require a college education. To investigate the extent to which black females in higher education administration view race as a mediating factor in their career progression, 39 black female administrators in…

A study determined the degree of success that institutions achieve in meeting their articulation program goals. Data were collected through literature review, questionnaires to 462 secondary and postsecondary institutions, and visits to five exemplary articulation sites. Study respondents reported that they were most successful in reaching the…

This article describes procedures and materials developed for substitute teachers working in a learning disabilities resource room, including: policy information; schedules; specific student information; classroom procedures; daily plans; and additional or alternative activities. (CB)