CHARACTERISTICS OF INNOVATORS ARE DISCUSSED WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE PROCESS OF SOCIAL CHANGE. ABOUT 2.5 PERCENT OF THE EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATORS TEND TO BE INNOVATORS. SIX GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INNOVATORS ARE LISTED--(1) THEY ARE GENERALLY YOUNG, (2) THEY HAVE RELATIVELY HIGH SOCIAL STATUS IN TERMS OF AMOUNT OF EDUCATION, PRESTIGE RATINGS, AND INCOME, (3) IMPERSONAL AND INFORMED SOURCES OF INFORMATION ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM, (4) THEY ARE COSMOPOLITE, (5) THEY EXERT OPINION LEADERSHIP, AND (6) THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE VIEWED AS DEVIANTS BY THEIR PEERS AND BY THEMSELVES. FOUR IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ARE SUGGESTED--(1) THERE IS A HIGH DEGREE OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF A SCHOOL SYSTEM AND ITS INNOVATIVENESS, (2) THE SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS, SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND COMMUNICATION BEHAVIOR OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL STAFF ARE RELATED TO THE INNOVATIVENESS OF THEIR SCHOOL SYSTEM, (3) SCHOOL SYSTEM POLICIES MAY AFFECT THE INNOVATIVENESS OF THE TEACHER, AND (4) THE ABSENCE OF AGENTS THAT PROMOTE CHANGE MAY BE A FACTOR IN THE RELATIVE SLOWNESS WITH WHICH SCHOOLS ADOPT INNOVATIONS. THE COMPLETE DOCUMENT, "CHANGE PROCESSES IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS," IS AVAILABLE FROM THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCED STUDY OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION, UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, EUGENE, OREGON 97403, FOR $2.00. (HW)