The teacher evaluation process provides opportunity for instructional feedback and teacher improvement, but also may influence the beliefs teachers have about the quality of their own work and their confidence levels as a teacher. Self-efficacy plays a vital role in determining teacher effectiveness and the students' academic experience, but…

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…

The Department of Education is moving to change accountability for teacher preparation institutions to include surveys of the graduates and their supervising principal following paid employment. This study describes one of a number of quantitative studies that examine the validity and usefulness of such follow-up surveys. Using multiple years of…

This article provides an overview of the contexts, the key features, and the evidentiary data--the criteria regarding candidates to engage in administrative work--for five innovative principal preparation programs. Short case studies and cross-case analysis of the sample programs are used to provide thorough descriptions. The five programs in fact…

Examines the nature of administrative control of school principals in 12 especially effective districts in California. Supervision and evaluation of site level administrators were rational and meaningful processes in these districts. The supervision and evaluation functions appeared to form important linkage mechanisms between schools and…

Teachers assigned to teach on an emergency credential are severely challenged by inadequate understanding of classroom management techniques and instructional methods. Also, California's Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Program is not available to these teachers. This article outlines criteria for principals to include in an inservice…

THE CASE STUDY TECHNIQUE WAS USED TO RECORD AND ANALYZE THE FUNCTION AND EFFECT OF A FIVE-MAN ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL TEAM OPERATION OF FIVE SCHOOLS. EACH TEAM MEMBER SHARED THE VESTED RESPONSIBILITY, ADMINISTRATION, AND INSTRUCTIONAL TASKS OF EACH SCHOOL BY PARTICIPATING IN GROUP PLANNING SESSIONS TO MAKE DECISIONS CONCERNING PROBLEMS IN THE FIVE…

This report examines divergent views that may exist among administrators based on administrators' demographic characteristics and how these differences affect curriculum design for this group. It looks at factors, such as the person's age, gender, and ethnicity, that might have influenced whether or not an administrator completed a…

An assistant principal describes longterm benefits from her mentoring relationship with the principal of Santa Monica (California) High School. Chagrined at her principal's close, hands-on supervisory style, the assistant principal gradually gained experience and confidence. She learned that leadership is about serving others, compassion, and…