Educators are many things to many children going well beyond the teaching of academics. School administrators are responsible for ensuring that they have practices and personnel to support all learners' diverse needs. Children come to school each year with more and more burdens on their shoulders in the forms of abuse, trauma, or mental health…

This qualitative study compares the instructional leadership practices of rural and non-rural principals, seeking to understand contextually based differences in how principals create a focus on teaching and learning. Principals across settings report similarities in instructional leadership tasks; however, they reported significant contextual…

The word conflict conjures up a variety of images. Some people may think of it as something to avoid while others look at it as an opportunity for growth. Unresolved and lingering conflict in a school can affect productivity, school environment, and ultimately achievement scores. It is the administrator's job to resolve or mediate conflicts as…

This technical report provides information about the sample, survey instrument, and resultant data for the American Instructional Resources Surveys (AIRS) that were administered to principals and teachers in spring 2019 via RAND's American Educator Panels. The AIRS focused on instructional resources used and supported in English language arts,…

The purpose of this case study was to develop an understanding of the elementary principal's perceived role in creating and sustaining a collaborative workplace environment within their school. Collaboration among education professionals, when used effectively, is one strategy that has demonstrated improvement of instruction and student learning.…

The role of principal is a multifaceted one. Beyond the duties associated with the general education program, principals are essential in making inclusion work within their buildings (Quigney, 1996). Information about the ways in which rural and small-school principals administrate the special education programs in their buildings was the focus of…

This article discusses walk-throughs as a valuable source of instructional data for teachers and administrators. Data gathering and analysis can be a dynamic and exciting process when walk-throughs are incorporated into a school's improvement plan as an instructional snapshot. At Norris High School in Firth, Nebraska, the principal uses…

Survey responses of 55 of the 70 teaching principals in Nebraska described job characteristics and responsibilities, advantages and disadvantages of the position, necessary skills and training, and the origin and future of the position. Contains 13 references. (SV)

A survey of K-8 school districts in northwest Nebraska examined whether part-time principals mandated by Nebraska legislation were improving the school's instructional setting, as perceived by the school board president. The 41 responses of school board presidents rated importance and existence of 9 factors of the principal's role. Includes…

Inclusionary schools occur through purposeful leadership, and the principal is the key to lead others through the process of change. This pilot study surveyed 155 principals of small rural schools in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming to gather information about the ways in which principals administer special education programs in their…

A Nebraska principal describes her experience of a two-day workshop in the assessment center at the University of Nebraska. Both the oral and written feedback helped her formulate long- and short-term goals, increased her skills in conflict resolution and stress management, and improved her classroom observation skills. (TE)