This paper explores ideas about the role of the school principal embedded in New York State education policy. Many public schools across the state fail to deliver equitable opportunities and outcomes for an increasingly diverse student population and improving school leadership offers the potential for substantial returns. Drawing on concepts of…

The paper brings together for the first time a sequence of six studies, from the one university faculty, on middle leaders from Australia, Chile and Singapore. All studies followed a consistent approach using multiple-perspective interviews. Middle leaders were seen to be key personnel in improving teaching and learning, and when they have…

This article reports on the role of the external adviser to school governing bodies in relation to headteacher performance management (HTPM) in England. School leaders are crucially important for the effective functioning of schools and there is an ever-growing body of inspection and research evidence which shows this to be the case--leadership…

This review examines the literature related to leadership and the decentralized control of schools. It first considers the distinctive goals of public and private agencies, the specific constraints that shape the autonomy of leaders in different sectors, and the ways in which new models of public management are infusing public agencies with…

This study of one mid-sized Canadian school district employed a case study approach to uncover and document the influences of organizational socialization, sensemaking, and perceptions of self-efficacy on the development of administrators' role identities. Findings describe formal and informal socialization processes experienced by administrators,…

In this article, the author has equated the principal's relationship with the president of the teachers' union as a dance where each wants to lead and yet there is, as in most relationships, a mutual dependency that makes each person realize that there is a time when one leads and a time when one follows. The author presents the details of when…

Arguments presented in this paper and the evidence from the Tasmanian Successful School Principals Project support broadening "what" counts for successful schools and school leadership. This broadening needs to embrace student outcomes, including non-cognitive social outcomes such as student empowerment. In examining who should provide…

The well-informed principal should understand the parameters involved in developing and maintaining an effective school guidance program. Principals must learn about information sources, professional counseling organizations, and effective program characteristics; keep current on legislation, litigation, and regulation developments; work…

Based on data from three successive surveys, this article examines whether principals of small secondary schools perceive their roles differently differ from those administering larger schools. Although results are inconclusive, a significant decrease was reported in the number of principals reporting major scheduling problems, reliance on fund…

Administrator evaluators perceive principals' leadership styles variously as principal/teacher, general manager, professional/scientific manager, administrator/instructional leader, and curriculum leader. Currently practice promotes the administrator/instructional leader view of principals (for principals one knows) and denigrates the general…

According to "Information Power" (1988), the school library media specialist plays three roles: information specialist, teacher, and instructional consultant. As instructional consultant, the media specialist works with teachers to help them maximize their use of available professional resources to aid student learning. Tips for…

As shown by a survey of three middle-level assistant principals, student discipline consumes an inordinate amount of attention. Also, participants did not see their position as an avenue to help youngsters. Since school administration duties should be shared, assistant principals must shed their "noneducational,""daily operations…

A survey of 77 Missouri high school principals revealed a traditional view of the school librarian as one who purchases, processes, and circulates books and provides occasional reference services. Skills indicating involvement with the instructional process rated average in importance. Principals did not view library media specialists as teachers.…

Summarizes a study to determine the job skills needed by beginning U.S. principals. Data were collected from both practicing and aspiring principals. The two groups disclosed major perceptual differences. Whereas aspiring administrators believe that demonstrating technical skills is most important, their experienced colleagues believe it is more…

Coaching occurs in many fields, including music, drama, and various sports activities. Building a "coaching" metaphor might help clarify differences in coaching roles that principals and teachers find confusing. Most head coaches recognize that responsible evaluation is more helpful than absolute power in helping each player be the best…