Profound change in school begins with profound change in leaders that radiates to others and into the system. Profound change requires more than structural change--it requires changing the brains of teachers and administrators. Creating such change requires that leaders think, speak, and act differently on a daily basis, clarifying their ideas and…

A collaborative computer literacy program in Kentucky involves the University of Louisville and surrounding school districts in a staff development cooperative. University faculty are trained to teach district trainers, who then work with their own staffs. (PP)

This article synthesizes research on teacher effectiveness, school effectiveness, and organizational change and interprets what the findings imply for staff development in the schools. Nine research-based themes for staff development efforts are outlined. (PP)

Alaska has mounted an intensive statewide staff development effort to help teachers and administrators use research-based practices. Leadership teams from each school, with assistance from the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, develop improvement plans and implementation strategies. Administrators, teachers, and school board members…

Project AIM/LOFT (Accommodative Instructional Management/Learning Opportunities for Teachers) is a staff development training program that uses special instructional materials. The five-part staff development project includes: (1) intensive competency-based training; (2) in-class follow-up training; (3) action labs; (4) training in team dynamics;…

One small, rural high school used cooperative professional development (CPD) as a means of group investigation to promote school renewal. CPD involves teaching, identifying, studying, and reporting on an issue of importance to teachers and their school. This paper describes how the school implemented and used CPD, examining lessons learned.…

The Collaborative School Improvement Program (C-SIP) is a successful school-university partnership that encourages collaborative relationships between Eastern Michigan University and area schools through building-level shared decision making. The article describes C-SIP's six-step process, typical school improvement activities, and implications…

One middle school principal stemmed the flight of white and middle-class black citizens from a Chattanooga school district and reopened a magnet middle school. Using staff development, she encouraged her teachers to learn how to work effectively to motivate students. (SM)

Deskilling approaches to staff development separate the conception of curriculum from execution of curriculum. The article discusses the experience of one staff developer regarding deskilling staff-development practices, shares journal reflections, and describes a set of strategies used to encourage teachers to actively participate in their own…

Whole-faculty study groups show promise as a vehicle for integrating initiatives and focusing school improvement efforts on increased student learning. The paper describes the San Diego Unified (City) School District's experiences in developing and implementing successful whole-faculty study groups. The groups increased collegiality and improved…

Argues that members of the education community must adapt to their diversified student body if they are to provide a quality education for all students. Several observations are made concerning state attempts to deal with multiculturalism in the public schools. (GLR)

Describes the teacher change process in an Oregon staff development program, examining faculty development within the framework of Maslow's theory that says people are motivated to satisfy physiological, safety/security, social, self-esteem, and self-actualization needs. Program evaluation demonstrated the interdependence of the cognitive and…

Describes the computer-based multimedia Instructional Framework system which helps teachers expand and refine their instructional strategies. The system brings research and instructional resources directly to teachers via a database of information and resources related to effective instruction, videodisc illustrations of the strategies, and an…

Teachers need focused staff development to improve content knowledge and pedagogy for specific subject areas. An interview with Lee Shulman, professor of education, discusses advantages of content-specific development, noting the important role of case studies and the changes necessary for helping teachers become lifelong students of content and…

These guidelines for staff development programs present four components to guide the purposes, distribution, content, and structure and organization of staff development for middle-grades educators. Claims that the guidelines, if implemented, could alter knowledge and practices of middle grades educators to improve early adolescents' learning and…