ERIC Number: EJ843081
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 6
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1931-6569
EISSN: N/A
Quality Internships for School Leaders: Meeting the Challenge
Gaudreau, Patricia A.; Kufel, Andrew P.; Parks, David J.
AASA Journal of Scholarship & Practice, v3 n3 p27-32 Fall 2006
An internship is essential for the development of competency-based leadership. Variation in the quality of time spent in clinical settings depends on the use of approaches that provide interns with opportunities to observe, participate in, and reflect on the problems of leadership and management found in schools. In essence, the internship is an apprenticeship for aspirants to experience job-embedded learning through problem solving and coaching. As a working definition, the principal internship is a planned and sustained clinical experience that is supervised by an expert. The purpose of this paper is to move from defining to identifying a quality internship. Policy analysts urge the use of research-based practices to improve internships. The Southern Regional Educational Board (SREB) conducted a survey of department heads from 61 university-based programs to find the activity level for interns as well as key program features. From their findings, SREB recommended the following policy guidelines for states seeking to improve the quality of internships: (1) ensure that state guidelines for internships are based on research for effective school leadership, (2) develop a valid and reliable performance evaluation system, and (3) provide comprehensive training to all mentor principals. Each of these recommendations is addressed in this paper.
Descriptors: Instructional Leadership, Principals, Leadership Effectiveness, Surveys, Department Heads, Internship Programs, Identification, Educational Policy, Guidelines, Performance Based Assessment
American Association of School Administrators. 801 North Quincy Street Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22203-1730. Tel: 703-528-0700; Fax: 703-841-1543; e-mail: info@aasa.org; Web site: http://www.aasa.org/publications/jsp.cfm
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A