Describes the experiences of California's first and only noneducator superintendent. (JF)

The principal is no longer regarded merely as a middle manager. An effective board relationship should develop his leadership role. (WM)

Explains how being a school board member takes a very special kind of person and how living with a school board member requires some talent, too. (Author)

Six guidelines for school boards in student transportation contracting include writing careful contract specifications, building flexibility into the contract, carefully examining very low bids, having the board's experts write the contract, requesting resumes of top company personnel, and renegotiating contracts from year to year. Characteristics…

Describes the six-step faculty-selection process used by Skokie 68 School District (Skokie, Illinois) to recruit the highest quality teachers: (1) recruitment; (2) screening interviews; (3) administrative team screening; (4) reference checking; (5) followup interviews; and (6) demonstration teaching. (LMI)

The Shaker Heights (Ohio) Citizens' Committee (SHCC) has been actively participating in school board member selections since 1931. The SHCC seeks out possible board members and after a process of interviews, selects a candidate to endorse and back financially. The SHCC seeks out an ethnic and gender balance on the school board. (KDP)

School communities are challenged to find ways to identify good teachers and give other teachers a chance to learn from them. The New Mexico World Class Teacher Project is encouraging teachers to pursue certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. This process sharpens teachers' student assessment skills and encourages…

Incompetent teachers on the staff should be detected and helped. Teacher applicants should be screened to keep out those who are lacking in basic subject matter and literacy skills. (IRT)

Describes an assessment center program that evaluates assistant principals for their suitability to be principals. (IRT)

To ensure that school board members can properly evaluate their school reading programs, some areas for consideration are proposed. These include: (a) analysis of test scores, (b) evaluation methods for teaching methods and materials, and (c) qualifications of personnel.(MD)

Compares the role of the superintendent with that of a National Football League (NFL) referee. Both jobs require intellectual and mental preparation, calmness, and consistency. Also compares the school board role with that of NFL director of officiating and the director's evaluation team. (LMI)

In summer 1999, a group of Park City, Utah, school administrators, personnel directors, human-resource specialists, and substitute teacher coordinators brainstormed on improving the recruitment, training, and retention of substitute teachers. Providing effective preservice and on-the-job training and professional recognition are key suggestions.…

The United States is facing a severe teacher shortage. One alternative for finding well trained teacher candidates is to look to Western European countries where a growing number of teachers are unemployed. Outlines procedures for hiring teachers from West Germany. (MD)