Although inextricable, the act of leading, the leader, and outcome of leadership are unique entities. Lack of such differentiation may ensnare novice leaders in broad suppositions. This conceptual article introduces a tool for analyzing leadership. Leaders can leverage the model to evaluate the act of leading, in route, via a measurable trajectory…

This study reports on four urban middle- and high school principals' emotionally shaped sense making of Race to the Top policies and their ability to balance the competing demands of teachers' emotional needs with the charge to implement mandated, accountability-driven, instructional, and evaluation changes in their schools. Despite the pressure…

Presents easy to use indicators for assessing the organizational health of a school. (Author)

Provides a twofold plan for staff development and peer evaluation linking evaluation and training of teachers. This process enables teachers to have their professional needs met while treating them as individuals and improving classroom skills. Includes a classroom observation checklist and a teacher evaluation system form. (MD)

Guidelines and activities are presented for principals to consider as they initiate the preplanning phase for the self-study, an integral part of the accreditation process. (Author)

The recommendations in this article, drawn from the evaluation of 52 New England secondary schools, were conducted by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges for accreditation purposes. Recommendations cover curriculum, philosophy and objectives, guidance, student activities, and other areas. (Author/DS)

Presents 20 items from a 100-item multiple choice instrument developed to evaluate the characteristics of successful principals. Includes answers to the 20 items and cautions that if something is identified as important it may be emphasized too much. (MD)

This survey of graduating high school seniors revealed an important discrepancy between what students perceive as the most important function of high school (developing emotionally stable persons) and the functions they perceived that the high school does best (teaching the basic skills and imparting information). (Author/IRT)

Team management is presented as a viable, long range alternative to autocratic organizational models in education. The author identifies the components of successful programs. (MD)

At the core of evaluating school outcome is a clear goal statement and the ability to gather important and appropriate information. This process must not be left to chance. Able school leaders develop congruent testing and feedback activity for each phase of the school year cycle. Information is then used to build a framework for school…

The evaluative processes used to judge the services of contemporary high schools need the involvement of a broader cross-section of educators and new insights. Scrutiny of the regional associations of the National Study of School Evaluation is also needed. (MD)

Seven alternative grading systems are presented emphasizing the weighting of honor points for ranking purposes. These systems are for schools using forms of student grouping or phasing systems. (MD)

In an effort to prevent dropouts and improve student self-concept, a Wisconsin high school developed a program establishing caring relationships between faculty and students called "one-to-one." (MD)

This article, first in a three-part series, presents six elements of administrative leadership found in effective reading programs. They represent a realistic way for a principal to provide leadership to a secondary school reading program. (MD)

Supervision is supposed to improve classroom teaching by enhancing teacher thinking, rejection, and understanding of teaching. Evaluation systems are supposed to increase effective teaching behaviors and enhance teacher professionalism. Through the lens of symbolic interaction, we learn that "supposed to" does not matter. In a context of increased…