An international study of mathematics and science education tells us more about what we need to know to improve math and science professional development. Students need regular opportunities to explore mathematical relationships to develop high levels of understanding in addition to developing skills. Teachers in high-achieving countries offer…

This article describes the Boston Teacher Leadership Certificate program created to expand teachers' capacity for teacher leadership roles. The professional learning was designed to strengthen teachers' leadership skills while also paying attention to whether and under what conditions they were more successful in their roles. To monitor the…

Teacher self-improvement is a concept that can be used as part of a school's program for professional development and teacher evaluation. Methods for helping teachers evaluate their own performances, for obtaining feedback from students and colleagues, for designing self-improvement programs, and for monitoring progress are described. (PP)

Describes the Missouri Accelerated Schools Project and offers information about each component, suggesting activities that teams could use to develop the skills necessary to establish a collaborative culture. Five key components are necessary for productive school teams: establishing trust, developing common beliefs and attitudes, empowering team…

Describes how a principal at a diverse elementary magnet school conducts staff development. She believes her role as staff developer is to focus development efforts. She encourages creating mandatory study groups, keeping teachers with the same students for two years, finding workday hours for training, and trying new, research-based innovations.…

Discusses ways for school districts to implement successful inclusion using various staff development methods that can be tailored to individual needs. The paper explores issues unique to inclusion that demand individualized approaches, offers a model for developing staff development activities, and presents an example of one district's successful…

Describes Supercenter, an in-service training program for new and continuing assistant principals in New York City's elementary and intermediate schools. Supercenter is based on the idea that the multiple tasks assigned to assistant principals are best learned on the job. It offers group meetings and consultations with experienced administrators.…

One fiscally poor elementary school created a place for quality work by staff and maintained the standards for many years through various ongoing teacher development activities. An essential factor in developing the school culture was believing that teachers must be honored, supported, and trusted before they could honor the students. (SM)

Reports a study that examined eight Canadian elementary schools that were implementing cooperative learning, describing the context and design of the cooperative learning project, identifying nine common concerns of elementary teachers beginning to implement cooperative learning, offering suggestions to staff developers for supporting teachers,…

Examines a staff development program that helped school administrators become more supportive, well-versed technological leaders in their schools. The program trained participants in use of educational technology and encouraged positive attitudes toward it. After discussing the development, implementation, and evaluation of the program, the…

Reports current ideas from the general organizational productivity literature to provide a broader context for restructuring schools. The article discusses work culture patterns (involving schoolwide planning, professional development, program development, and school assessment) and describes how to manage productive schools, presenting…

Factors which influenced the success of a New York staff development program designed to improve student writing included district commitment, voluntary participation, in-district training workshops, on-site support, principals' support, parents' understanding, and continuous followup. Teachers learned the importance of seeing content first and…

This article reviews the advantages and disadvantages of various delivery modes for distance education, including correspondence courses, radio, television or satellite-delivered instruction, teleconferencing, computer conferencing or electronic networking, and audiotex. Results are presented from a review of literature, interviews with experts in…

This article discusses ways in which an individualized and collaborative model of staff development can prepare both general and special education teachers to make instructional adaptations to meet the needs of mainstreamed students. Expert systems can support individualized staff development and aid in placement and followup of mainstreamed…

Harold Stevenson, author of "The Learning Gap," describes differences between schools in the United States, which he feels are in crisis, and those in Asia. The article includes important differences in staff development and in the working conditions of teachers in those countries. (SM)