Staff development specialists worked with elementary school personnel to improve school morale by gathering information to assess the current climate, establishing task forces to deal with the problems, and training staff members in techniques for ameliorating the problems. (MLF)

Professional development from the school system's point of view is a planned, comprehensive, and systemic program designed by a school system to improve all school personnel's ability to design, implement, and assess productive change in each individual and in the school organization. This booklet provides an overview of and strategies to…

The article discusses the rationale for providing special education paraprofessionals with the necessary interpersonal competencies to effectively contribute to the education of handicapped students. Among conclusions is that a tangible reward system should be a necessary component of interpersonal skills training. (SB)

The U46 Administrators' Academy, sponsored by School District U46 in Elgin (Illinois), provides administrator inservice training at no cost. Academy instructors, primarily central office administrators, are selected for their credibility with their peers, for their knowledge of the topics, and for their ability to teach. (Author/MLF)

There are no quick fixes to any problems that school systems face. The best solution lies in building a common approach to solving problems utilizing an established procedure; an interactive process; and a trained team of administrators, teachers, and nonteaching staff members. (MLF)

School-based inservice programs are the best way to achieve staff development and keep up with changing educational needs. Effective staff development programs should be comprehensive enough to meet the needs of all school staff. Good programs also help foster collegiality among staff, increase participation and communication, involve parents, and…

Based on planning, training, and technical assistance experiences of services providers involved in the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory's (SEDL) Rural, Small Schools Initiative, this guide provides rural school administrators with a resource in identifying, selecting, and negotiating with staff development providers. The resource book…

A newsletter addresses the issues school administrators should consider in planning and implementing the use of microcomputers in their schools. Described are ways in which microcomputers will change management, the variety of ways computers can be used in educational administration, classroom activities using computer-based instruction, criteria…

This module contains 11 sequential learning experiences designed to provide educators with background information and opportunities to develop plans for implementing competency-based education (CBE) programs within their institution. Following introductory material focusing on the organization and objectives of the module, resources required for…

This guidebook is one in the Target Topic Series developed to highlight issues and concerns related to effective community education operation. It is intended for the community educator who is responsible for working with the community education program staff--both paid and volunteer. A pretest covers material discussed in the guidebook. The…

Explains how an Illinois school district was forced to develop a plan for writing an entire district curriculum in one day and how the plan was effectively carried out. The approach is not presented as a model for emulation but, rather, as an example of what can be done with limited resources. (MD)

Describes an interactive television educational delivery system connecting three small schools in rural Iowa. (MD)

An inservice training program for school maintenance employees in a suburban Chicago elementary school district has motivated the staff to feel an ownership of their jobs and to suggest ideas of their own. Both factors have helped the district save thousands of dollars. (MLF)

Reviews three areas of knowledge needed to select an appropriate needs assessment strategy: (1) the criteria for selecting the method, (2) nine needs assessment methods, and (3) a means of categorizing methods. Provides an example of an assessment activity conducted in a small rural hospital. (LRA)

Principals can be trained to supervise maintenance personnel. An in-service custodial management training program designed for principals is outlined. (Author/MLF)