A mathematics staff development program engaged kindergarten through twelfth grade Georgia teachers in a constructivist approach to learning for use in the classroom. The Problem-Solving and Thinking Project emphasized that teacher and student learning is not done passively and that teachers must be taught as it is hoped they will teach. (SM)

An interview with Public Agenda's vice president examines what Public Agenda's research has determined about: attitudes of various groups toward school reform; students' yearning for discipline and standards; the public's perspective of the value of teachers; the public's desire for immediate improvement; the public's engagement in the change…

Describes an innovative collaboration between a Texas University and several school districts which partners veteran and novice teachers in a professional growth opportunity. Certified beginning teachers receive a fellowship stipend and tuition to get a master's degree, partner with full-time mentor teachers, and perfect their teaching skills.…

Describes a staff-development project that trains K-12 science teachers to use Interactive Multimedia Exercises (IMMEX) software, which expands teachers' content knowledge, teaching them about IMMEX and about how to create problem-solving exercises for diverse students. The paper examines project development and implementation, describes IMMEX…

This interview discusses the school-improvement process, describing difficulties with setting schoolwide goals, what should happen once the goal is selected, what prevents schools from emphasizing a single goal and working to achieve it, the need to develop high academic expectations for all students, how to use research, ways to go beyond test…

Several Colorado schools hired data analysts to help with school improvement efforts. The analysts are teachers who participate on school leadership teams and who support school action research teams. They collect and organize baseline data, help teams measure results of proposed changes, and evaluate results after implementation. Because they are…

Describes the Early Literacy Tutorial, which targets primary school students falling behind in reading. Teachers and assistants receive professional development on the program. Key program elements include individual tutoring, high expectations, teacher-student interactions, a holistic approach, daily reading, and ongoing assessment. Sidebars…

The Toronto school district combines professional learning in literacy with learning about change to give staying power to literacy-driven reform. Using literacy as the basis for large-scale reform can be challenging without equipping staff with the skills they need to cope with and implement such broad-scale change. Teach both skills at once and…

This study examined the role of staff development in implementing full inclusion in three rural kindergartens. Participant interviews, observations, and document reviews over seven months indicated that staff development must be closely linked to teacher concerns regarding inclusion, and teachers must perceive the interventions as providing things…

A study of five rural school districts in Washington State examined the effects of students' cultural diversity on education. Interviews with administrators, teachers, parents, and community members emphasized the need for staff development to consider the characteristics of diverse student populations. Recommendations for staff developers are…

A school district planned and implemented site-based management. Schools developed ad hoc committees (AHCs) and created school management teams and plans. The AHCs effectively allowed school faculties to have input and involvement in developing management plans. The more they employed team building, the greater the impact on intended outcomes. (SM)

A graduate university workshop on action research helped kindergarten through twelfth grade teachers improve their approach to teaching writing. The article examines classroom research as staff development and introduces one action research plan, giving an example of one teacher's use of the plan to improve instructional writing practice. (SM)

Highland Park Elementary School (Manchester, Conn.) aligns its professional development with teacher evaluations and the school improvement plan to create a comprehensive system that achieves results. Data tie the pieces together by helping school teams select school improvement goals, helping teachers choose their own professional growth…

Focusing on the benefits of mentoring for beginning teachers, this article reviews the common goals and organizational formats for mentoring programs, outlines basic knowledge and skills necessary for effective mentoring, suggests resources useful in preparing teachers to serve as mentors, and examines issues about mentoring for staff developers.…

Reports a study of 24 teachers who were mentors for beginning teachers, using information from the second of 2 meetings with each mentor to discuss mentor roles and the benefits of and obstacles to mentoring. Results indicated that teachers considered mentoring valuable, even when under less than ideal circumstances. (SM)