The purpose of this study was to determine how principals spend their time and to test a new structure using business management trained staff to increase principal time spent on academic achievement and gap closure. Twenty-one elementary school principals were randomly selected for a week-long time-task analysis. Data collectors shadowed the…

The centrality of school leadership as a necessary element for school success is a well-determined part of the educational leadership research canon. Although school leadership is broad-based and includes many factors, the central role the principal plays is most often seen as a pivot around which much of a school's progress depends. However, it…

This paper reports findings of a study that explored the changing role of school principals in Washington State. Data were collected during stage 1 through focus-group interviews at an annual conference of a Washington State principals' association. During stage 2, a questionnaire was sent to all members (n=2,431) of the Association of Washington…

This document provides guiding questions and a process for school district personnel to assess the district's organizational capacity for supporting strong educational leaders in a standards-based system. These questions reflect the most recent research literature about leadership and its optimal organizational supports in high-performing school…

This paper discusses the integration of four research projects that focus on educational leadership in El Paso, Texas. Each study raised the following critical issue: It is widely recognized that the quality of school leadership correlates with the quality of a particular campus's educational activities. However, traditional methods of leadership…

This paper examines the turbulent policy environment of school-district leaders by placing five topics under the microscope. Using a first-person narrative, the report describes the move toward a public/private partnership for student transportation, the amalgamation of school boards, issues surrounding governance, school closures, dealing with a…

Describes principal William Corbett and the characteristics that make him an effective principal; his foremost strength is commitment to the instructional program. (JM)

From 1870 to 1975, three types of school administrators were identified: the plateau administrators who remained at initial entry level assignments; vertical aspirants who actively sought advancement; and place-holders who began as vertical aspirants but for one reason or another were placed in non-decision-making positions. (Author/GDC)

Paper responds to the article in this issue that describes the development and implementation of QUEST, offering support for the original description but disagreeing with certain interpretation, particularly characterizations of the Coalition of Essential Schools and the author's role in school restructuring. (SM)

Responds to the article in this issue that describes the development and implementation of QUEST. Though the paper agrees with many of the points from the original article, it suggests a divergent strategy for developing solutions to problems faced during educational change. (SM)

Responds to the article in this issue that describes the development and implementation of QUEST. The paper suggests that the original article admirably describes one school's naive, failed attempt at change, but it also makes many unsupported conclusions and allegations. (SM)

Describes a study that evaluated the impact of information technology on the role of seven high school principals. Findings suggest that the introduction of a management information system into the school resulted in changes in the clerical, managerial control, and strategic aspects of the principal's role. (Author/JKP)

Describes a study of the perceptions of junior secondary school headmasters in Botswana regarding the impact of their activities on improved student performance, focusing on instructional supervision, school management, and communication with the community about student achievement. Discusses implications for headmaster selection, headmaster…

Elementary and secondary public school principals in South Dakota were surveyed concerning their personal characteristics, work history, educational background, characteristics of student body, level of career satisfaction, relationship with superiors including central and board administration, career goals, management approaches, and professional…

Interviews with 42 of Iowa's 44 shared superintendents examined school district motives for sharing superintendents, the need to redefine the superintendent's role, superintendents' personal motivations, sources of frustration, community relations, and factors leading to success or failure of the sharing agreement. Contains 20 references. (SV)