Describes how a principal at a diverse elementary magnet school conducts staff development. She believes her role as staff developer is to focus development efforts. She encourages creating mandatory study groups, keeping teachers with the same students for two years, finding workday hours for training, and trying new, research-based innovations.…

Describes Texas'"Enhancing the Quality and Retention of Minority Teachers and Teachers in Critical Shortage Areas Project" which uses peer coaching in teacher training, incorporating accountability, assistance, and professional development systems. Peer coaching helps support first year teachers by promoting their professional and…

In Texas, inservice and preservice education has been mandated for teacher certification. This education covers least restrictive environment, characteristics of handicapped students, informal assessment, and individualized educational programs. The training provided has taken many forms--statewide conferences, school district inservice, retreats,…