The National Diffusion Network (NDN) has, since 1974, disseminated information about exemplary elementary and secondary programs, processes, and projects. State facilitators, usually based in the state education agencies, perform coordinating and brokering roles in program development. Programs are validated by the Joint Dissemination and Review…

Using an attitudinal questionnaire, the National Middle School Study surveyed 153 principals and 567 teachers in "exemplary" middle schools in 37 states. The questionnaire sought to learn the respondents' attitudes concerning the needs or functions of middle school students, teachers, principals, curricula, facilities, and organization.…

Although much research on staff development is unenlightening for school administrators, a few studies have useful findings. The four studies reviewed here suggest a number of guidelines for choosing staff development programs. The best programs appear to be those that do not utilize lectures but instead emphasize demonstrations and opportunities…

The explosion of knowledge, the development of technology, the increasing demand of minority groups for equal opportunity, and the growing importance of education to each individual and to society--all these affect the role of the teacher. His central role remains that of the stimulator of learning for individuals and groups. Teacher educators and…

This research study began as an attempt to discover the extent of professionalism and variables (individual, community, school, etc.) related to it among public school teachers. Preliminary analysis of survey data gathered from 3189 undergraduate college students and 9688 public school teachers indicated few relationships of any of the independent…

This document reports on a study that investigated the relation between the secondary principal's instructional expertise -- as perceived by the classroom teacher -- and the likelihood that a teacher with an instructional problem would seek the principal's assistance. The major conclusions were: (1) perceived expertise is the most important…

This study examined existing relationships between the leader behaviors of elementary school principals and the organizational processes of their schools. T-tests were used to determine significant relationships between leader behaviors (measured by the Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire-Form XII) and contrasting school typologies…

The effect administrator style has on the behavior and morale of teachers is the subject of this bibliography and literature review. It is comprised of three major topical sections: (1) the school as a social system; (2) administrator style; and (3) teacher behavior. Documents in the first section are primarily concerned with two aspects of the…

A recent meeting of college deans revealed their major concerns to be faculty relations, how to fairly represent both the administration and the faculty, response to inappropriate faculty requests, adjusting faculty workloads fairly, getting faculty support for curriculum changes, staying current in their academic disciplines, and making career…

This report synthesizes information from the Study of Personnel Needs in Special Education on factors associated with special education teacher quality and teachers' intent to remain in the profession. It applies these findings to the school administrator's role in promoting teacher quality. Concerning teacher quality and career plans, it finds…

This report discusses factors affecting the decisions of minority groups to become teachers in gifted education. Forty-four minority teachers participated in this study. While 42 percent of the teachers reported that they currently work with gifted students, few shared their reasons. More teachers discussed why they had not become teachers of…

Three factors were found to distinguish effective from less effective schools in Washington, DC: (1) principals' leadership style and support of teachers; (2) teachers' role in instruction; and (3) staff development programs. (Author/GC)

Aspects of both formative and summative evaluation of academic advisors, primarily full-time faculty, are addressed: administrator roles, faculty attitudes, accountability, and evaluation criteria. It is recommended that guidelines for advisor evaluation be disseminated throughout the institution and painstakingly followed. Adequate resources…

Describes a Wellesley (Massachusetts) study concerning why parents are moving their children from public to private schools. The reasons--school closings, discipline problems, unresponsive schools, and lack of teacher and administrator concern for the individual child--point to the importance of the principal. (Author/JM)

Presents the findings of several studies of evaluation processes and identifies a model that helps to make explicit the components of the evaluation process. Suggests rules of thumb for conducting successful evaluations. (Author/JM)