This work provides sample letters, charts, timelines, and checklists, to help principals adequately prepare for possible teacher dismissal. Chapter 1, "Describing the Marginal Teacher," lists traits common to marginal teachers. Chapter 2, "Establishing the Teacher Evaluation Process," presents a monthly timeline for assessing teacher performance during the school year. Chapter 3, "Beginning the Evaluation Process," offers a review of key steps and provides nine sample documents for use in September evaluations. Chapter 4, "Identifying Teachers in Need of Assistance," explores processes for providing, in October, those resources needed for teacher improvement, and includes 20 sample documents. Chapter 5, "Implementing a Plan for Intensive Assistance," explains how to implement improvement strategies beginning in November. Chapter 6, "Deciding on Retention or Dismissal," provides a timeline for final staff decisions by December. Chapter 7, "Following Through With the Dismissal Process," explains the critical steps required to remove marginal teachers from classrooms beginning in January, and includes seven sample documents. Chapter 8, "Preparing for the Third-Party Hearing and Bringing Closure," traces the challenging steps from February to June involved in dismissal, and includes four sample documents. Successful personnel policy outcomes require adequate preparation and documentation. (Contains six appendices providing key descriptors and phrases, structuring hearings, calendars, examples of poor documentation, and supplemental forms and letters.) (TEJ)