A growing body of research has confirmed the link between excellent teachers and increased student achievement and school success. Consequently, selecting outstanding teachers is critical. This study examines Illinois principals' teacher hiring practices as well as their perceptions of what teachers do to enhance or hinder their selection.…

Index shows that in greatest demand are teachers of elementary physical and health education; elementary music; trade, industrial, vocational and technical education; elementary art; librarians; foreign languages at the elementary level; and, distributive education. (DS)