Research on school leadership has shown that a principal's influence on student achievement is indirect and significant. A sample of principals who earned the highest (distinguished) rating on the Vanderbilt Assessment of Leadership in Education (VAL-ED) measure responded to open-ended questions during an in-person interview. Principals in this…

Education researchers have continually noted the importance of the principal in affecting student achievement and school success. Despite this importance, school districts seldom use reliable methods to select principals. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the selection processes used to select principals in California. Results indicate…

The daily demands on school principals require clear and consistent feedback, and without a mentor, a new principal may not have this type of assistance. This phenomenological study explores the perceptions of new principals and their assigned mentors in one legislated initiative, named by the researcher as the Vermont mentoring…

School administrators are instructional leaders responsible for ensuring high quality inclusive education for all students including those with disabilities. In this article, the authors review legal mandates, discuss inclusion of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) in practice, and obstacles to effectiveness. Recommendations…

Standardized testing is an external control mechanism for K-12 public schools. Principals, nested between internal and external influences, must manage the tension created by testing's roles as both an internal improvement tool and as an external control mechanism. Five competing narratives, each shaped by author academic background, significantly…

Although research has established links between the principal's instructional leadership and student achievement, there is considerable concern in the literature concerning the capacity of principal preparation programs to prepare instructional leaders. This study interviewed educational leadership faculty as well as expert principals and teacher…

Today's effective school counselors are integral in education reform, school leadership, and student achievement. It is typically the responsibility of building principals to hire effective school counselors. This article builds on previous literature and provides principals with questions to ask and information to gather that may be helpful in…

In the "emergence approach" to interviewing, the interviewer tries to understand how candidates solve problems, relate to others, are motivated, and apply their aptitudes and skills. This paper offers specific suggestions on what to do and what not to do in the interviewing process. (Author/LD)

This article takes issue with recent proposals to eliminate teaching experience as a requirement for principal certification. A principal relies on teaching experience in five areas: (1) employing teachers; (2) supervising instruction; (3) leading and managing teachers; (4) understanding and working with students; and (5) conferring with parents.…

To help secondary schools find qualified journalism teachers and improve the quality of journalism instruction, the Journalism Education Association has designated a commission to establish certification requirements for such teachers. Individuals with teaching credentials and college majors or minors in journalism are considered certifiable. (MLH)

This checklist of interview questions is offered as a resource from which to draw a common base for evaluating applicants for teaching positions. (MJL)

A job description of an assistant principal, in checklist style, which includes an evaluation form. (LD)

Reviews the strategies and flaws involved in schools of education providing "teacher warranties." Describes a more productive model for ensuring teacher quality through the development of a symbiotic relationship between professional educational training schools, their communities, and public schools. (MD)

Discusses nine factors to supplement traditional teacher-selection criteria such as grade point average, coursework, and references. Principals should seek candidates prepared by field-based programs, consider elementary and middle school candidates, appreciate the benefits of age and maturity, recognize differing teacher predispositions, work to…

Summarizes the findings of a study to determine the competencies required for a beginning secondary school principal as perceived by experienced principals and superintendents. (Author/WD)