Five questions relating to the management of incompetent teachers are answered: (1) What is incompetence? (2) How can the administrator help the incompetent teacher? (3) How can principals prove incompetence during dismissal hearings? (4) What kinds of resources are needed? and (5) Why is managing incompetent teachers worth the effort? (PGD)

A study of two new middle schools demonstrates that reform is difficult to achieve unless teachers are expert in their work, share their expertise, and seek and create new knowledge to support their work. Leading from the center, school leaders figure significantly in expanding learning and developing community even in "teacher-run"…

Principals and central-office administrators often spend little time interacting or discussing curriculum, instruction, and staff development. Leadership consciousness must be formed through links between schools and the central office. In a restructured setting, central-office leaders support the principal, provide technical assistance and…

Twenty-first century principals will play a vital role in curriculum and staff development. Principals must be prepared to revitalize teachers' energies by mastering and using powerful, research-based strategies, including establishing a common vision, focusing on instructional improvement and accountability, creating a collegial, participatory…

Summarizes a 1992 Wisconsin study exploring relationships among principals' leadership styles, gender, and personality attributes and principals' and teachers' work satisfaction. None of these variables predicted work satisfaction; teachers and principals had different perceptions of leadership. Schools should hire more female administrators and…

This planning and development guide suggests that careful, comprehensive, long range planning combined with gradual program implementation and effective administrative leadership can create responsive middle school programs. Sample sequential objective charts and activity lists are included. (DCS)

The personal development needs of preadolescents make extended guidance programs for middle school students crucially important. This article describes steps for teacher advisory program development--including a sample curriculum outline and learning activity--and summarizes the program role of the principal, counselor, and teacher. (DCS)

Six administrators share their ideas on such things as curriculum change, administrator role, a leisure activities day, career education, and enrollment decline--all in the context of the small school. (JM)

Decentralizing the budget process not only empowers teachers to make decisions about instructional goals and fiscal planning but also involves other stakeholders, including parents, students, administrators, and business people. This article describes a three-phase system that enables secondary teachers to address issues relevant to their…

School effectiveness, rather than distribution of power, is the key school reform issue. The structure of shared decision making should be driven by what administrators and teachers believe is important for kids. In a recently restructured San Diego community school, the principal's primary function as chief executive officer is "keeper of…

Linking his observations with existing research on teacher and school effectiveness, the author identifies four leadership functions directly related and two functions indirectly related to the achievement of instructional effectiveness. Questions to ask to identify effective principals are provided for each of the six leadership functions.…

Underlines the importance of principals' role as democratic leader, introduces a school-improvement theory, and shows how principals can apply it. The theory's basic building-blocks are school structure and restructuring; school culture and leadership; higher order thinking, critical thinking, or problem solving; economic competitiveness; and…

Leadership plays an important role in middle-school community members' collaborative efforts. Principals, by valuing and recognizing contributions of each teacher, staff member, student, and parent, give high visibility to the collaborative process. Principals also bolster collaboration by providing necessary support systems and helping…

Education improves an individual's and a community's standard of living. In a time when education funding is insufficient for schools to meet high quality standards, principals are in a unique position to influence their community to fully support state and local school budgets. By using data to show education's positive influence on human capital…

Alcohol and drug abuse are a threat to our nation's adolescents. Principals can help combat substance abuse by establishing a positive school climate and by developing a counseling program for students with a substance abuse problem. (Author/TE)