The Field Guide for Change Facilitators Working With Low-Performing Schools was written to assist those working with schools in the improvement process, especially low-performing ones. As a primer for change facilitators, this research-based guide is arranged in sections so that the user can easily find needed information on specific topics.…

The lead article of this issue, "Taking the Lead: The Role of the Principal in School Reform" (Kathleen Trial), discusses the various roles of the principal: psychologist, teacher, facilities manager, philosopher, police officer, diplomat, social worker, mentor, PR director, coach, and cheerleader. A second article discusses making shared…

This booklet was designed to help families, school professionals, and students understand the function and purpose of comprehensive school improvement. It is part of the SILC Road initiative, which was founded by several education groups in Colorado for the purpose of helping schools educate all students. The volume focuses on the elements of the…

This paper examines proposed changes in a principal-preparation program in a medium-sized state university. The report discusses the implications of national and state standards for school leaders on program quality, describes the design and initial implementation of a longitudinal study instituted to assess student perceptions of program value…

A lack of congruency on the part of many leaders results in diminished effectiveness, if not outright failure. The soundness of a person in authority is an essential characteristic for potency as a leader. Irrespective of what system of ethical thought is proposed, effectiveness for leaders only comes from a stream of thought that demonstrates a…

Describes how counselor educators can prepare school counselors to become action-oriented critical thinkers, encouraging the creation of learning communities among preservice counselors and the schools, students, families, and communities they will serve. The paper proposes a mission-driven model and eight essential elements for change in…

Educational leadership preparation and practice typically concentrate on managerial exigencies at the neglect of definitive functions of the institution of schooling. Educational leadership, however, is truly "educational" when its processes focus on fostering student learning of a worthwhile curriculum and when these processes are themselves…

The papers presented in this paper accompany a core report about the Appalachian Math Science Partnership (AMSP) entitled "The Appalachian Math Science Partnership: A Multi-State Umbrella Partnership Promoting Local Mathematics and Science Reform Report." Each of them focuses on an especially effective strategy or component of the AMSP…

Because of the positive effects of learning communities with undergraduates, these researchers proposed the Collaborative Learning Initiatives that Motivate Bi-cultural experiences model (CLIMB) to implement learning communities within graduate counseling and educational administration courses. This article examines the concept of learning…

As individuals contemplate a new worldview of leadership education, they must step back to reflect on what now shapes and constrains leaders in schools. Their understandings of traditional leadership are rooted in organizational theory that is focused on rationality, effectiveness, and efficiency of bureaucratic institutions, defining the…

In 1987, the National Commission on Excellence in Educational Administration concluded that educational leadership preparation programs in the United States were marked by a "lack of collaboration between school districts and universities and lack of modern content." Echoing this concern, scholars have argued for a programmatic change…

This paper includes a functional model for upgrading the effectiveness of inservice training for school administrators. It is based on the writer's contention that most inservice programs for administrators do not relate to the leadership concerns of each participant, skills developed in those programs often are not applied to the participant's…

This unit reviews educational theory and its relationships to educational practice. Its purpose is not to survey various theories of planned educational change since there is an extensive body of literature dealing with this topic. Theory, as presented in this unit, is tied closely to strategies that can guide leaders in planning and conducting…

Investigation of the feasibility of using opinion leaders to introduce new ideas in vocational home economics. (Editor)

The NASSP Taking the Initiative program was created to help principals and school leadership teams develop essential skills, such as the ability to give meaningful feedback, think creatively, function as a team member, gather resources, deal with resistance to change, and launch an initiative. This article describes the program's success in a…