Bricoleur, as presented herein, is used metaphorically and in a postmodern or post-formal (Kinch- eloe & Steinberg, 1999) sense to represent methods, practices and cultural materials that the scholar-practitioner uses as she/he interacts in the complex web of relationships among knowledge, inquiry, practice, and learning. The purpose of this…

Leadership development and the creation of school networks are two major strands of the government's reform agenda for education. This study examines the use of a senior team leadership programme as a vehicle for supporting school improvement across an Education Action Zone (EAZ). The study shows that senior team effectiveness is a critical…

The exploration of alternative teaching and learning strategies such as those utilised in Supplemental Instruction (SI) is becoming increasingly important as students arrive at university less prepared for the rigors of higher education. Keeping these changes in mind, it is necessary to review the theories that inform our approach to ensure the…

This case, which was inspired by actual events, describes the efforts of a district to create a culture of accountability for professional employee practice and behavior. In the midst of new district leaders and a shift in district priorities, numerous situations test the fortitude, organizational knowledge, ethical commitments, and political…

Focus group evaluations of a training program for nurses leading clinical development units focused on research-based practice found that leadership and strategic skills were developed. However, participants had insufficient time to assimilate knowledge or develop mentoring relationships and needed more help developing research-receptive culture…

This article presents the findings from an interpretative study of an Australian offshore leadership development programme conducted in China from 2002 to 2003. The study explored the conceptions of learning and leadership brought by a group of Chinese educational leaders to the course and investigated the perceived influence of the course upon…

This study used a qualitative approach to analyze ideal images of educational leadership among administrators in Mexico City and South Texas. Looking at educational leadership from a cross-cultural perspective revealed issues that are hidden when working in just one culture. Though both groups indicated that participation, clear communication,…

Given the challenges of the workplace and the historic exclusion of women and people of color from positional leadership, this dual case study explores women's experiences in two graduate programs designed to support transformational learning of educational leaders. Data included participants' structured reflections on learning about leadership,…

Using a qualitative case study approach, the authors explore social justice implications of inservice principals' practices that affect attitudes and empower teachers. If a primary educational goal of progressive schooling is to create and sustain more democratic schools by enabling the growth of teachers as leaders who are responsible for their…

FFA and 4-H are two youth-based organizations that cite leadership development as a key foundational component. The purpose of this study was to review and document the historical development of leadership events and activities in both programs. Evidence can be found of leadership development in schools, conferences, and camps. Leadership-related…

Describes how one school superintendent started a book discussion group to provide his leadership team with an opportunity to read, review, and discuss books dealing with contemporary educational issues. Identifies some benefits for professional growth and organizational improvement. (PKP)

This paper describes the signature role played by accomplished, experienced teachers in professional learning communities, and the importance that these practitioners make their teaching public and shared. In so doing, the authors describe how accomplished practices can be shared between classrooms and between practitioners with varying levels of…

Definitions are central to both the practice and the power of leadership. This deceptively simple supposition was the basis for an elective doctoral leadership seminar at Illinois State University designed and taught by Lyman in Fall 2005, and replicated by Gardner in Spring 2007. The authors featured the same texts and stimulated students'…

The major purpose of this study was to examine the role of top-level women leaders in the 21st century. The study was conducted in Spring, 2005 as a part of the WS History Month Program. Five prominent women leaders were invited to a university campus as a community outreach initiative. The panelists included: one 4-year college president of a…

The purpose of the study was to advance a model for evaluating educational administrator preparation programs at the individual course level in a Texas university. Results indicated that, of the two preprogram and seven program core principal preparation courses examined, only two had a significant impact on the pass rate on the TExES Principal…