To tackle low achievement and a 22% freshmen student withdrawal rate, a Seattle, Washington, high school gradually restructured its vision, policies, and curriculum. A committee fashioned the Bridge project, providing all freshmen with access to opportunities promoting academic achievement, responsibility, school spirit, fellowship, acceptance,…

Offers advice on preparing for job interviews, highlighting materials to take along, interview conduct, types of interviews (normed, locally structured, unstructured, and committee), interviewing techniques, types of questions, and disqualifying questions. (MLH)

Describes The Social Development Program, a way to foster social responsibility and in the process reduce unacceptable classroom behavior simply and easily. The strategy is based on several principles: positivity; empowerment by choice; the importance of self-evaluation and self-correction; assumption of social responsibility; and authority…

The Multiple Menu Model is a practical set of planning guides that teachers can use to design indepth curriculum units. This model differs from traditional approaches by balancing content and process, involving students as inquirers, and exploring knowledge's structure and interconnectedness. Components include menus for knowledge, instructional…

Based on a study of change facilitation in eight high schools, this article debunks three common myths concerning administrative organization as an obstacle to managing high school change. Tentative guidelines are provided to help determined managers cure stagnation and thwart bureaucratic intransigency. (MLH)

Summarizes the Carnegie Foundation president's September 1987 speech concerning this generations's most urgent task--rebuilding the nation's schools. Warns that today's teachers may have gained in competency and responsibility, but not in empowerment to shape curricula, plan inservice programs, or shape student retention and special education…

Any plan to create a communications/governance structure to empower stakeholders must address several questions: rationale, potential advantages and disadvantages, problems to be considered, format, committee structure and responsibilities, and evaluation techniques. Includes 10 references. (MLH)

Although the process of participative, school-based budgeting might seem tedious and time-consuming, it can truly empower teachers and administrators. One cannot set instructional and budgetary priorities without knowing costs. A costing formula to help facilitate the budgeting process is presented. Includes 18 references. (MLH)

Raising professional standards and improving teacher preparation programs will have little effect unless teaching becomes a more attractive career. Local administrators should involve faculty members effectively and satisfactorily in the decision-making and management process so that teachers don't need to enlist collective bargaining to force…

School bashing has been a national pastime for years. Government officials and business leaders demoralize teachers and administrators carrying out improvement efforts by telling them how poorly they are doing. Although many educators truly believe in a national desire to improve education, there is no national will to compensate and empower…

Institutionally empowered principals provide teachers with decision-making possibilities and use this empowerment to benefit the exchange between teacher and principal. Cultural empowerment requires even more effort. Teachers and principals must work together on the school's institutional and cultural climate by using dialogue and critique.…

McKinney (Texas) Independent School District is developing a program aligned with Goals 2000 standards that stresses individual, collegial, and organizational improvement. The result is the Instructional Technology Academy, which tries to provide a catalyst for transforming the teaching/learning process and developing best practices to enhance…

The effective leadership literature fails to present a clear understanding of the principal's relationship to the curriculum. Principals must understand the enacted curriculum process, not just the official curriculum, and work with teachers to negotiate curriculum meaning. Empowerment involves trust, open dialogue, a collaborative support system,…

To achieve excellence in education, school leaders need to dispel five myths concerning educators' talent and commitment, higher teacher salaries, societal influences on schools, tough educational standards, and the free market or voucher system. The key is visionary leadership based on openness to change and educator empowerment. (MLH)

Although parents are eager to play all roles at school from tutor to decision maker, they are hindered by lack of support from educators. Superintendents, school boards, principals, and teachers must rethink the definition of power and control. Real power means that all stakeholders, including parents, make decisions together to meet students'…