Beginning principals experience problems in three areas: role clarification, technical problems, and socialization to the profession. Formation, a method to help people synthesize learning acquired through coursework and field experiences, has five elements: mentoring, personal reflection, educational platform development, appreciation of…

Over the last decade, concern has grown regarding the faculty shortage in special education (Sindelar & Rosenberg, 2003). In part as a reaction to a federally funded study conducted in 1999, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) increased funding for doctoral study in the form of Special Education Leadership Personnel Grants (Gilmore,…

This report shows that Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states are making progress in developing school leadership systems to ensure that every public school has a principal who can improve student performance, but states need to accelerate their efforts in order to meet their own achievement goals. The report calls for a new generation of…

In the United Kingdom, a hegemonic view of the purpose of educational leadership is summarised by the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) as "transform[ing] the quality of learning for all pupils." School leaders are assumed to be committed to this aim, leading to a view of schools, embedded in preparation programmes, as benign…

The activities of four vocational education planning district (VEPD) centers in Pennsylvania (Temple University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; The University of Pittsburgh, and Pennsylvania State University) are evaluated in this report. Following an introduction to the evaluation project, the report consists of five sections: a summary of…

Evaluates four leadership development programs for minorities to determine what characteristics are most effective. Reports that programs offering the greatest possibility of bringing members into the mainstream are comprehensive education programs with an apprenticeship component that equips participants with both experience and an academic…

This paper describes a retreat, "Leadership without Easy Answers," which was held for leaders in the arts community. It examines whether the retreat had a positive impact on the leadership work of the participants, and it discusses ways that the retreat influenced leadership development in arts advocacy. Attending the retreat were…

Discusses results of information-gathering by the Association of American Medical Colleges' (AAMC's) Increasing Women's Leadership Project Implementation Committee and offers several recommendations, such as: (1) emphasize faculty diversity in departmental reviews, evaluating department chairs on their development of women faculty; and (2) target…

For several years, Colorado school district's staff has participated in new educational management coaching and review process. Shift from centralized educational administration to site-based management involved transforming elementary and secondary director positions to area administrator/coach roles and converting central administration into an…

This paper measures effective leadership preparation and assesses its relationship to what principals learn about leadership, their leadership practices, and school improvement progress and improved school climate (particularly for academic press and continuous improvement). This paper draws on survey research conducted in 2005 with 125 principals…

Available data and selected literature were examined to identify key questions to guide future research and practice in community leadership development. Questions pertaining to (1) how programs influence participation in public affairs, (2) institutional advocacy in public affairs education, and (3) the design of rural and agricultural leadership…

Integrated adventure programs are those in which persons with and without disabilities participate together in planned adventure activities. A study sought to identify the leadership competencies necessary for leaders of integrated outdoor adventure programs and to measure the effectiveness of a staff training addressing one of these competencies.…

Describes results of a study using indepth interviews with practicing administrators working directly with aspiring administrators enrolled in the Danforth Foundation Program for the Preparation of School Principals. Mentoring activities benefit both proteges and mentors. Encouraging experienced administrators to serve as mentors may be a powerful…

Traditionally, administrator candidates have come from the classroom with considerable teaching experience and little knowledge about the larger organizational context. As empowered teachers in restructured schools, today's candidates bring a different set of experiences to training programs. Such programs should be need, criteria, and…

Effective leadership programs have a clearly defined belief structure and a teaching team that provides direction for both the students and the program. Leadership can be learned, but it is a process, not a position. Like dart throwing, leadership skills can be taught if individuals are coached, have a chance to practice various skills, get…