While many books outline the attributes of successful school leaders, few describe how those traits manifest in daily practice. "The Daily Practices of Successful Principals" goes beyond the outward picture of excellence and provides a compendium of daily practices used by successful principals in various settings. Written by former administrators…

Technology expenditures and usage in schools have risen by nearly 300 percent during the last three decades. Few principals claim to be technology experts, but most aspire to design a map that leads their schools to success with educational technology. The key to success on the journey is not to know everything, but to ask the right questions.…

When Nebraska's 310 superintendents were asked to discuss critical incidents experienced with a school board or board member, they noted 151 incidents involving family and friends, board member's roles, who's elected to the board, failure to support the superintendent, the board itself, athletic coaches, individual board members, employee…

This paper presents findings of a study that examined the leadership practices of women superintendents to determine if their practices fit a new paradigm of administrative leadership. Data collection included: (1) telephone interviews with 30 rural and 21 urban female superintendents across the United States, and (2) completion of the Leadership…

Examines dissertation research about women in K-12 educational administration, profiling dissertations completed between 1957 and 1989 according to purpose, subjects, and research findings. This literature review discloses a need to investigate how prospective women administrators may be identified and supported when hired. (MLH)

The literature concerning the superintendency is based on the experiences of men. This paper presents findings of the two studies that examined women superintendents. The first, a pilot study, sought to determine whether women superintendents used leadership qualities that fit a new paradigm for leadership. It also sought to determine if…

Asks what a principal can do to support instruction that best matches the purposes that are valued for school effectiveness. Suggests the principal should analyze teacher behavior during instruction and assist teachers to modify behavior to meet their instructional goals. (MS)

The literature on first-year teachers identifies the difficulties of this transition period and supports the need for first-year teacher-induction programs. Little attention, however, has been paid to the principal's role in the induction of beginning teachers. This paper presents findings of a study that examined the perceptions of principals and…

Survey responses of 55 of the 70 teaching principals in Nebraska described job characteristics and responsibilities, advantages and disadvantages of the position, necessary skills and training, and the origin and future of the position. Contains 13 references. (SV)

Summarizes study comparing superintendents' and principals' expectations concerning principals' involvement in making budget decisions at school site. Respondents differed significantly regarding degree of principal involvement in salary decisions about noncertificated staff, purchase of texts and library books, and decisions affecting building…

Examines perceptions of principals and beginning teachers. Finds agreement on several issues: the nature of first-year teachers' problems, the importance of Fall orientation, and the helpfulness of mentors. Identifies two issues that principals overlooked: the importance of the principal's role in the induction process and the beginning teachers'…

This book offers a research-based, practical approach to recognizing, managing, and preventing teacher burnout. It provides a description of the origins and symptoms of burnout and a personality profile of teachers who are most susceptible to burnout. Organizational issues and administrative roles that contribute to burnout are identified, along…

Describes a study of principals and beginning teachers at Catholic schools in Nebraska to determine what induction methods were most effective. Reports findings related to the expectations that principals and beginning teachers had of each other and differences between desired and actual assistance provided by the principal. Includes suggestions…

In this book, Marilyn Grady examines the twenty most critical mistakes principals make, and provides the strategies needed to avoid them. By surveying both teachers and administrators, and applying her own experiences as both teacher and a principal, the author examines the crucial errors from the following six key categories: (1) People…

The superintendent's role may be difficult to manage simply because of the existence of a school board. To identify critical incidents that superintendents experienced in their work with boards of education, the superintendents of all 310 K-12 districts in Nebraska were mailed letters asking if they had experienced a critical incident with a…