Relationships between and among school administrative team members are critical components of school culture. They serve as a guidepost for the behaviors and attitudes of staff and students. To invigorate these relationships, three embodied practices have high yield not only for the relationships among administrators, but also for fostering a…

Conflict management is one of the most stressful and frustrating aspects of a school leader's job. An inability to overcome conflicting viewpoints, ever more palpable in today's polarized climate, stymies innumerable school reform efforts. Yet, the subject is rarely examined in graduate-level leadership preparation programs or in-service…

Principal leadership is a crucial element in high-performing schools. Research reveals that principals are second only to teachers in impacting student achievement at school. Accordingly, how school leaders are prepared has received increasing attention in recent years. Drawing from the findings of recent reports highlighting exemplary programs…

Beyond learning how to manage children in a classroom, new teachers also must learn how to manage relationships with the adults in their school. Every new employee must be socialized into membership of their new work organization. In the case of teachers, that's the school and the district. In a study of beginning teachers in Flanders, the…

School districts shape the conditions in which schools operate and as such can support or undermine school success and thus student success. All of which is to say that school districts matter. This article looks at the success of two districts whose low-income and minority students beat the odds in academic achievement. Lessons from these…

This article discusses how schools and school districts across the U.S. face a growing "leadership deficit." Accelerating retirements and reportedly shallow pools of applicants for administrative positions are raising alarms about future leadership. And all of this is happening just when schools will need the best leaders ever. Four…

This principal developed a collaborative teacher evaluation process that is based on an evaluation procedure with clearly defined school goals and performance objectives. (MD)

Outlines four areas in which parents, teachers, and communities can work together to improve teacher performance: teacher recruitment, the quality of principals, assistance to classroom teachers, and a shift to a philosophy of shared responsibility for education. (Author/IRT)

Describes an elementary school principal's struggle to obtain parent, staff, and student assistance with problem student behavior at neighborhood bus stops. Instead of personally monitoring bus stops, this principal shared her authority, took some risks, improved her patience and listening skills, identified common goals, and involved many people…

A new cooperative program jointly designed by Philadelphia school principals and University of Pennsylvania faculty members allows principals the opportunity to earn graduate degrees while studying educational theory in the context of their own practical experiences. (JBM)

In this article, the author argues that small high schools offer the kinds of environments needed to try out some of newer ideas in school redesign. The author also argues that states and districts should pay attention to what these new institutions are making possible.

Reports the positive initial assessment of California's attempt to encourage individual elementary schools to assess the needs of their children, to plan appropriate instructional settings, and to evaluate the effectiveness of their efforts. (Author/IRT)

Examines schoolwide improvement programs initiated by four states. Describes successful endeavors of California, Ohio, and Colorado schools to improve curricula and student achievement and the Connecticut schools' strategy to improve principal-teacher communication. Attributes the success of these reform programs to solid leadership skills,…