This volume on leadership practices is designed to serve as a professional handbook for directors of vocational education. Ten major areas of educational responsibility are discussed: (1) selection and improvement of staff (e.g., job descriptions, tenure, and evaluation of teacher effectiveness); (2) curriculum development (e.g., advisory committees, curriculum research, and development of lesson plans); (3) supervision of instruction (e.g., individual conferences with teachers, classroom visitation, and use of consultants); (4) student personnel relations (e.g., pupil census, discipline, and job placement); (5) selection and use of instructional resources (e.g., evaluation of printed materials and selection of instructional equipment); (6) development and maintenance of school plant (e.g., desirable facility characteristics, renovations, and financing); (7) appraising the school program (e.g., use of the school survey, advisory committees, and outside consultants), (8) community relations and participation (e.g., relations with students, parents, and community agencies); (9) financing, budgeting, purchasing, and business management; and (10) relations with special services (e.g., adult education, cafeteria, and transportation). Other chapters deal with the nature and function of leadership communication skills, and office and time management. (JH)