Instructional leadership for principals is not a panacea for the ills of education. Efforts to alter principal practices to meet this poorly defined and poorly researched construct reflect a lack of self-reference in the educational field. More study and thought are needed before plans of action are imposed. (BJV)

The core work of educational administration is school improvement, especially improved school outcomes. The leader must know what to do, why some interventions work better than others, and how to implement them. Longitudinal experimental research, meta-analyses, and evaluations have definitely shown that small classes, at least in K-3, provide an…

Emphasizes that strong communication skills and daily communication with teachers, staff, students, school board members, and the public are necessary for principals to survive. Suggests that principals need not be publications censors since they support the right of students to learn and to practice communication in classes, in co-curricular…

As traditionally structured, American schools, in general, have found it more difficult to educate some students than others. In Washington State, as in most other states, the single best predictor of student achievement at the school level is the percentage of students on free or reduced (f/r) lunch status (Abbott & Joireman, 2001). This fact…

This book was predicated on the idea that an effective principal must be proactive in decision making and have available appropriate information sources to make good decisions. Each chapter analyzes decision making from the perspective of different professionals in education and business management. Through the use of personal accounts and case…

Developed as an assessment instrument for the Administrators-for-Change Training program, this survey of 195 administrative personnel in the Fort Worth Independent School District (Texas) identifies their priorities for training in management skills and the intensity of training desired. A synthesis of literature addressing the changing role of…

A longitudinal study of elementary schools formally implementing the Multiunit School model collected data suggesting that teachers' feelings of autonomy and job satisfaction are less closely associated with teacher participation on faculty teams for the management of instruction and school administration than with the presence or absence of…

A conference on new perspectives in school administration was held for elementary school principals in the summer of 1975 by the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators. This paper summarizes material presented in five topic areas by eight speakers. Steve Goldschmidt's talk on school law touched on the administrator's and the school's…

This practical self-help guide approaches the topic of student discipline from the practitioner's perspective. Chapter 1 prescribes a teamwork approach to schoolwide and classroom discipline, involving a schoolwide commitment to mutual respect among students and staff and positive classroom management by teachers. Chapter 2 offers, as practical…

School site budgeting may be said to exist when the school board and central office administration provide principals, in consultation with staff and sometimes community representatives, with an opportunity to prepare a budget for the allocation of resources at the school level. The objectives of school based budgeting include achieving more…

Data from 258 supervisors of teachers of the deaf who replied to a self administered questionnaire yielded information on the nature of supervisory programs. Of 108 day supervisors (D), 23% were supervisors only while 77% were also either teachers or administrators. One-third reported three-fourths to full time devoted to supervision; one-third…

This booklet is intended to guide elementary and secondary school principals in preparing to cope with a teacher strike. Because each strike is different, major emphasis of the booklet is on anticipating common strike situations and on developing a local District Strike Plan. Guidelines are listed under a variety of topical headings, including…

Discusses the nature of recent calls for educational reform in the context of the historical role of superintendents in the development of the public school movement. Provides a case study illustrating how one metropolitan school superintendent facilitated educational innovation and solidified his own organizational power within his district. (34…

This book was written with the assumption that teachers and administrators must work as colleagues to improve instruction and learning in schools. It was written to be consistent with the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) standards for school administrators, especially Standards 1 and 2, which emphasize a learning-centered…

The tenure of a typical superintendent is less than 4 years. What should a prospective superintendent know about conducting a job search? This book examines the superintendency from a personal viewpoint and provides in-depth guidance on career strategies and family considerations. Chapter 1 describes the history of the superintendency and the…