While conducting a qualitative, semi-structured interview study that investigated the role of program administrators and managers in the field of teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), the author encountered a TESOL professional whose 30-year career as an instructor, administrator, and owner of her own language school was so…

Leadership skills and abilities are essential for student affairs administrators and educators. Through a narrative approach, this book addresses current issues in leadership and administration for student affairs from a variety of perspectives. Lessons, tips, and strategies for student affairs professionals at various levels are provided. Letters…

The purpose of this study was to examine the supervision of special education instruction in urban public elementary schools by interviewing three principals regarding their roles in the supervisory process. Through these interviews the researcher attempted to identify concepts or themes that might guide principals in identifying effective…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to look across six first-year principals to investigate their engagement with and sensemaking of specific messages of instructional leadership around teacher evaluation. Design/methodology/approach: This research project, a cross-case study, was carried out using in-depth qualitative observations and…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how principals and school supervisory authorities understand and use feedback from mandatory proficiency tests (VERA) in the low-stakes context of Germany. For the analysis, the authors refer to a theoretical model of schools that differentiates between Autonomous and Managed Professional…

In this study of Pennsylvania Charter Schools; the focus was on the qualifications, duties, and role perceptions of the special education supervisors. Using role theory as a theoretical lens, an interpretational framework was developed in order to both form a survey instrument and to assist in interpreting the participant responses. This case…

The purpose of this study was to describe the meaning of supervisors' perceptions of a positive supervisory experience. Unlike most research in supervision, which focuses on specific variables related to the outcomes of supervision, this study seeks to describe the constellation of meanings inherent in the experience of positive supervision. A…

This paper reports on the final phase of a three-part study on the status of instructional supervision within several New York City public schools. In the first parts of the study the researchers found, through extensive use of surveys (questionnaires and interviews), that centralized educational reform had serious consequences for instructional…

Discusses the changes in administrative structure in the Lunenburg Public Schools (Lunenburg, Massachusetts), including the new management of professional personnel, pupil services, and special need programs, as well as the roles of key administrators. (JW)

Reflective practice in professional education stands in sharp contrast to the assumptions underlying the more commonly used traditional supervisory models. This paper presents findings of a study that examined administrator use of a reflection-on-action process to build a climate of reflection and dialogue. Methodology included a case study of one…

Argues that instructional supervisors must play an active role in translating community-generated goals and processes into effective educational programs. (JG)

Examines academic middle managers' monitoring role in British secondary schools since implementation of the 1988 Education Reform Act, drawing on a large-scale postal survey of middle managers in three local authorities and three case-study schools. Participants acknowledge the need for monitoring colleagues' teaching, but experience departmental…

This study examined the work of a principal of a Midwestern urban elementary school who used instructional supervision as a means of developing a learning community for adults. Implementing a variety of approaches adapted to the culture of the school, the principal crafted a process to meet the learning needs of 125 teachers and created an…

Research findings can assist secondary principals in promoting instructional effectiveness. Factors influencing effectiveness include societal structure, educational goals, teachers' learning theory attitudes, and student maturity, while problem areas range from selecting instructional materials to evaluating student progress. Cases indentify key…

This booklet suggests new methods to personalize supervision by giving teachers and supervisors more concrete techniques and information with which to develop their abilities. Examination of several teaching and supervisory studies provides insights into the supervisory role and teacher behavior. Four models for supervisory practice are suggested.…