This paper presents a model of graduate education for advanced teachers and aspiring school administrators that establishes and fosters the foundations for the development of the professional community in schools. Graduate students enrolled in the first distance-education cohort of a new graduate-degree program became cognizant of the need and…

Findings of a study that examined facilitator leadership in three teacher collegial groups (TCGs) and the effect of school organization on facilitator leadership behaviors are presented in this paper. The teacher work redesign program was implemented in a rural Georgian school district to enhance teacher independence and empowerment. Methodology…

A survey of 108 elementary and secondary teachers in southern New Jersey was conducted to determine the extent to which the teachers viewed grant development as a factor in their professional growth and development. The survey revealed that fewer than 1 percent of the respondents reported that they "often" engaged in grant-related…

A study examined the general nature of the teamwork and beliefs of four "activists" (elementary school teachers in southwestern Michigan who were selected on the basis of their joint efforts to influence county-wide writing curriculum). Data included interviews, field notes, and documents gathered during the set-up and running of a Young…

This paper presents findings of a study that examined the extent to which professional development techniques for teachers existed within a sample of elementary and secondary schools. Data were obtained from a survey of a random sample of 47 classroom teachers and 15 principals in one region of a large northeastern state. A majority of both…

Described in this report is a plan to improve public education in Houston, Texas. Specifically discussed are program components relevant to students; parents, business, and the community; and educational staff. Student components of the plan focus on achievement objectives, minimum competency testing, standards, proficiencies, extended educational…

Speech communication can make a difference in the teaching of English Language Arts and in improving basic teacher communication skills. A wealth of research indicates that instruction in speaking is not only important in itself but also highly influential in the development of other language arts competencies. Preparation in both English and…

This paper draws from a case study of first year district implementation of the California Mentor Teacher Program in one of the largest districts in California. The paper focuses on the opportunities offered to teachers who work with mentors. Through the presentation of a selection of vignettes of teachers who worked with mentors, the paper…

To provide students with the literacy strategies necessary to function successfully in a technologically supported society, teachers must realize how the multilayered grammars of computers continue to affect their definition of literacy. Computer-supported writing centers are an excellent site for teachers to share ideas about this changing…

On many campuses, student ratings of courses and teachers are routinely given to instructors as feedback about their teaching. This review applies meta-analytic techniques to 30 studies of the effectiveness of student ratings feedback. The studies met the following criteria: (1) they used student ratings as the primary source of feedback; (2) they…

An experimental program designed to test an inservice method for introducing the practical aspects of John Dewey's educational philosophy to teachers was received positively by 17 of the program's 20 volunteer participants. The program used a limited version of R.A. Gibboney's "Toward Intellectual Excellence: Some Things to Look for in…

This paper deals with four issues: (1) the aging of the faculties of high schools in the northeastern United States; (2) frequently observed characteristics of teaching seen during site visits to secondary schools for the Department of Education's Secondary School Recognition Program; (3) elitism in high schools; and (4) observations on the status…

This study investigated the effects of an intervention--audio-cuing--on teaching behaviors of a male elementary school physical education teacher with five years of teaching experience. The audio-cuing intervention was applied by way of a micro-cassette recorder that was concealed in the teacher's clothing. Cues were prerecorded and could be heard…

Issues for policymakers at the national and local authority levels concerning teacher appraisal are discussed, from the perspective of a local educational agency advisor in London, England. Teacher appraisal is one of the ways in which the plurality characterizing the English and Welsh education systems is being replaced by a national system. At…

The development of processes for considering student achievement data in the evaluation of teaching is discussed. As an alternative to the inappropriate and indefensible use of standardized test scores, the project on Expected Student Achievement (ESA) of the Kentucky Career Ladder Commission considered a management by objectives, or goal setting…