Describes a system for dealing effectively with middle school students' learning and behavior problems through a team approach. (Author/DS)

A Massachusetts school faced with low teacher and student morale as a result of severe budget cuts initiated a year-long competitive program to improve school morale. The program was successful and virtually cost-free. (MD)

Describes the successful use of the Delphi Dialog Technique (a goal-setting process) at East High School, Anchorage, Alaska, where it was used to obtain consensus among staff members about school-growth targets. (JW)

Principals are responsible for initiating career development with teachers at all age and experience levels. Although most teachers want to remain in the classroom, many desire new and expanded roles. Principals can assist new teachers' socialization process and help mature faculty avoid the "plateau" trap. Includes 14 references. (MLH)

Using computers only for word processing, drill-and-practice, and computer literacy wastes expensive technology. After allocating funds for computers, the Shawnee Mission (Kansas) School District established a study team to investigate district computer use and develop an integrated system. Success depended on planning, commitment, training,…

As one Brooklyn high school discovered, quality improvement begins with administrator commitment and participants' immersion in the literature. Other key elements include ongoing training of personnel involved in the quality-improvement process, tools such as the Deming Cycle (plan-do-check-act), voluntary and goal-oriented teamwork, and a worthy…

Principals should delegate leadership authority to professional school counselors to ensure high-quality guidance programs. Principal leadership tasks include organizing for program delivery, advocating for school guidance programs and staff members, defining school counselors' jobs within the guidance program, encouraging continuous professional…

The startup of 465 federal 21st Century Community Learning Center Programs has propelled the idea of school/community collaboration onto national and local agendas. Collaborative action teams in the Southwest have identified three factors that encourage collaboration: the organizing group's commitment and diversity, administrative and campus…

Support teams for teachers can be an effective mechanism for professional development and problem-solving in the classroom. Principals must coordinate team efforts as teachers make major decisions. (CJH)

Discusses characteristics of four common administrator evaluation procedures: management by objectives, traditional rating scales, self-evaluation, and administrator outcomes models. Outlines three broad responsibility areas for special-education administrators that warrant evaluation. Introduces a comprehensive, team-based model that begins with…

Discusses results of a study examining self-perceptions of students moving from middle level to high schools. Kids reported a significant drop in perceived physical appearance, job competence, romantic appeal, conduct, and global self-worth. A transition team can help eighth graders develop an understanding of the academic rigors and cocurricular…

Few administrators fail to become leaders because they lack technical skills. The problem is lack of people skills and inability to exercise good judgment. Administrators can minimize failure by valuing honesty, objectivity, delegation, and feedback and by respecting chain of command and the limitations of power. Other potential pitfalls are…

The case method should be used in both preservice and inservice training for administrators to strengthen training programs and help administrators develop practical human relations skills, learn stress reduction and burnout prevention strategies, learn team-building, and develop critical and reflective thinking skills. (14 references) (MLH)

A project team's success variables are autonomy, outward focus, accountability, and dependence. Administrators can prevent committee-it is by allowing teams to pick their own leaders; communicating who has "chartered" the team; establishing clear goals, decision-making expectations, and time-lines; advocating consensus; and providing…

Students need to develop interpersonal skills, including the ability to work as team members, teach others, and work well with diverse people. A Connecticut high school successfully used curriculum-based teaming to integrate its curriculum and teach the value of teamwork. The 9th-grade Success in Learning program and the 10th-grade American…