Educators and students in schools across the United States have faced sweeping, unprecedented changes to teaching and learning as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which shuttered school buildings in spring 2020. This Data Note offers teachers' and principals' perspectives on some of those changes and presents their…

This book advances discussion and disseminates knowledge and global perspectives on what school leadership looks like, how it is enacted and under what circumstances, and when or where lessons might be portable. This book has wide appeal for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners considering school leadership and how to support it…

The principals of 11 small elementary schools in Renville County, Minnesota, pooled their resources to offer a popular series of Saturday activities for student enrichment, including spelling and mathematics competitions, a Science/Agriculture Exploration Day, and an Arts Exploration Day. (PGD)

Surveys typical challenges, problems, and rewards facing principals in small rural schools by profiling two principals who administer five schools in northern Vermont. The schools have a combined population of 400 students in grades from kindergarten through eighth grade. (PGD)

Describes the results of a survey of 108 rural South Dakota high school principals. Reports that, although principals envision themselves as instructional leaders, a majority of the day is spent on general managerial duties and discipline, with principals more concerned about task completion than about individuals or school climate. (Author/DHP)

The ability of principals to evaluate special education teachers is an area of concern due to the principals' lack of training or experience in special education. Available research findings clearly indicate the need for training of principals in special education concerns. A statewide survey of principals was conducted to determine their levels…

Administrators and teachers were interviewed and civic meetings, sports events, and school activities were observed to determine the supervisory problems and opportunities unique to small districts and schools. Impeding factors were found to be political influences and sports emphasis, while facilitating factors included faculty closeness,…

Principals of smaller and rural secondary schools should think critically about the mix of their goals with staff members' goals. Although very little can be accomplished from the principal's momentum alone, a united group can accomplish great things. Suggestions are given for providing each staff member with meaningful leadership opportunities.…

This report examines the demographic trends, social realities, and complexities that can potentially transform American secondary schools. It describes the nature of diversity in the world and nation and between and within states and school districts. Such information can be useful in selecting successful strategies for implementing changes in the…

This information packet contains journal articles, book chapters, conference papers, and ERIC clearinghouse publications on small schools management strategies for superintendents and principals. Topics cover (1) elements of formal team management; (2) role of the administrator in creating the environment necessary for effective schools; (3)…

The position of rural principal differs from that of the urban school administrator, often requiring more sacrifice to earn administrative credentials and demanding day-to-day involvement in every aspect of school activity. This paper reports the results of a 7-state study of 600 principals to determine differences between principalships in rural…

An exploratory study focused on teacher participation in the decision-making processes of personnel selection in public schools. A stratified random selection procedure was employed to select a sample of public school teachers (kindergarten through 12th grade) in a large midwestern state. The survey was mailed to a total of 305 teachers, 60…

To determine the core curriculum and the specific curriculum needs of small high schools today, questionnaires were mailed to a sample of 475 public high schools with enrollments of less than 500 students. Principals were asked to indicate which of 105 courses listed on the questionnaire were in their school's curriculum and to rate the need for…

Explores backgrounds and characteristics of principals who graduated from rural-oriented principals certification program of Westminster College in Pennsylvania. Compares results with other studies and finds only two striking differences between rural and urban principals: rural principals had little social studies teaching experience and limited…

In rural areas the responsibility for good school-community relations rests with the principal, who must develop a strategy for community relations, understand the people of the community and their values, and know their formal and informal leaders. School principals can use various strategies to increase community involvement. They can simply…