The experiences of two school districts (Omaha, Nebraska, and Littleton, Colorado) highlight the actions needed to maintain the momentum of school improvement. Factors that influence momentum include strong and stable leadership, sufficient time to build relationships, empowerment of key parties, parental involvement, community support, staff…

Whole-faculty study groups can help the entire faculty integrate and implement effective teaching and learning practices with the goal of increased student learning. The paper describes the reasons for and the development and implementation of whole-faculty groups, then examines one consultant's experiences with such groups in Georgia. (SM)

Presents suggestions for staff development efforts to encourage teachers and administrators to write for publication. The article discusses reasons to write, then explains the steps to consider when writing for professional publication: prewriting and freewriting, creating the manuscript, fixing and polishing, and selecting a journal. (SM)

In a guided book review, small groups of teachers read a book pertaining to their professional area, think about what they read, and meet to discuss their reactions. The article explains the essential steps of the review process and discusses governance, recruitment, scheduling, and the merits of the process. (SM)

Describes a study that examined how relationships within diverse leadership teams engaged the strengths of all members to make decisions and transform schools. Results indicated that diversity issues affecting team effectiveness were apparent in team composition, agenda topics, and group representation. This paper presents recommendations for…

Staff developers are being called upon to operate in four dimensions as skilled school change facilitators (process leaders, skills trainers, resource consultants, and energy enhancers). For staff developers to adopt the role of school change facilitator, expertise in both change process and group process skills is crucial. (SM)

Results from the Leading for Diversity study suggest that human relations and academic achievement go together. Professional development for school leaders provides them with the knowledge, experience, and skills to address cultural conflict and promote interethnic relations. The paper presents lessons learned which can help create positive…

The Johari Window is a communications tool to help school staff effectively explore who they are and who others are. Using the Johari Window with the core issues of diversity provides a framework to help assess how successfully staff development providers address diversity issues. A diversity-sensitive framework can be incorporated into a variety…

Eighteen schools in the Baltimore City Public School System have developed a successful whole school reform model. The components of the entire whole school reform package (focused professional development with the staffing to support it, a balanced literacy education program, and monitoring of the instructional program) have enabled the schools…

Describes how one school improved after a new principal put data-based decision making (via a detailed needs assessment) at the heart of school reform and staff development efforts, discussing the school's evolution. The paper examines key factors that support the effective use of data in schools: focus to answer questions, reflection to provide…

Describes the HyperTeaching workshop series, developed to get teachers in one school district to use technology by showing them how to use it with their own curriculum. Teachers selected topics they felt could be enhanced using the Internet, developed activities that would require students to use the Internet, and learned how to use Microsoft's…

Hallie Preskill and Rosalie Torres (1999) describe mental models as a set of personal opinions, perceptions, and views of the world. Developed over time, such values, beliefs, assumptions, and knowledge guide people in their everyday lives and are thought of as "truths." Mental models are powerful because they frame and influence the way educators…

The national Accelerated Schools Project has proven accelerated learning is not just for the gifted. Data show teachers have gotten sustained results in student achievement through the project, which helps them change their expectations, focus on data, and commit to a process of professional learning.

A carefully developed, comprehensive professional development plan takes time, energy, and coordination of resources, but when it's done well, it can seem as effortless as a perfectly pitched curve ball. Seven steps, each with a set of guiding questions, can help planners meet the goal and create a program that produces results. [Appended to this…

Measuring the extent of professional development in a large school system is complex. It's challenges to gauge training and its effects when schools choose different instructional reform models, and the task is more formidable when the models are chosen at different times and change. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Schools of Opportunity…