This study examined perceived advantages and disadvantages of teacher-paraeducator teams, discussing how to enhance the effectiveness of such teams. Focus groups were held with three groups of paraeducators and three groups of teachers from rural and urban schools in Idaho and Utah. Participants shared their views on using a team approach to their…

Followup and tie in between regular classrooms and gifted programs are essential for quality programing. "Ownership" of the program by the entire school community, including counselors, librarians, and administrators, is also important. (CL)

The author suggests that the transdisciplinary approach, in which rigid boundaries of professionals' disciplines are broken down to facilitate teamwork, is the most effective way to implement mandates of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act.

Small group inquiry changes the leadership role of the teacher to create an open classroom and focus on the social and intellectual development of the student as a future thinking and adaptive citizen, not just a reluctant member of an audience for specialized information. (Author)

Many schools are trying new teacher evaluation designs, such as some Wyoming districts' 360-degree feedback model that elicits input from students, peer teachers, principals, parents, student achievement data, and teacher self-evaluations. Rochester schools have crafted a parent survey. Columbia, South Carolina, high school teachers are setting…

This article offers a framework for planning teams to use to implement inclusive education. Four planning dimensions (action planning, management, evaluation, and reflection) are discussed, including specific considerations for classroom teams. An example of one school's efforts toward developing an effective inclusion program is provided. (DB)

District custodial costs can be cut without sacrificing quality by adopting team cleaning. A team of trained cleaning specialists performs specific tasks (dusting, vacuuming, and restroom and utility cleaning) systematically, thereby achieving total cleaning with higher productivity and quality. If internal personnel are retrained, contracting out…

Presents an interview with Mike Eisenberg, co-founder of Big6, that explains how the Big6 process for information-based problem-solving can be used to address the challenges educators face related to the No Child Left Behind legislation. Highlights include the need for teamwork between principals, library media specialists, teachers, and…

Describes a professional learning effort in Victoria, Australia, designed to help principals process and learn from their experiences with recent school reforms. Principals reported that learning to reflect helped them do their jobs more effectively, challenged their conventional ways of thinking and acting, helped them be more proactive, and…

One measure of a school executive is the ability to put together a winning administrative team. Offers tips for building teamwork. (MLF)

Increasingly, school boards are using consultants to help them hire the right superintendents for their school systems. Proposes extending the consultants' contracts to coaching both board and superintendents on developing an effective working relationship. (MLF)

Suggests that the principal's role in promoting student learning is to stimulate teachers and parents to help identify serious educational problems the school is encountering while attempting to educate all students. In today's world, all children, not just a small fraction, need to learn what schools are expected to teach. (MLH)

To effectively prepare for negotiations: develop a sound philosophy; establish priorities; plan how to promote those priorities; practice fair negotiating procedures; and then assess through a postmortem the gains achieved by both parties, to help prevent personal and personnel problems. (Author)

Schools are realizing that the future success of their students will be reflected in their ability to effectively function in a "team" environment. (MLF)

The current educational reform movement differs from past efforts primarily because of the greatly expanded role of teachers and their organizations in school management and improvement. This broader context of teaching is reflected in such innovations as participatory decision-making and school improvement teams with teachers as equal partners.…