John Dewey's conceptions of theory and practice provide a conceptual framework for understanding the moral and political possibilities of educational leadership. The first path illustrates how an educational leader continuously builds a just-school community under changing demographic and political conditions. The second path illustrates how…

Case study of Louisiana's efforts to develop and implement leadership standards for principals. Uses deconstruction method of analysis. Reports several lessons learned for policy and practice. (Contains 23 references.) (PKP)

Uses theoretical model and prior empirical research to investigate effects of site council support and communications and decision-making practices on perceived outcomes. Findings show that decision focus and positive communications have direct effect on outcomes, and that council capacity and authority have indirect effects. (Contains 30…

Examines school reform efforts through a "reculturing," rather than a restructuring, lens, based on a sample of schools engaged with five reform models (Accelerated Schools, Coalition of Essential Schools, Comer's School Development Program, Effective Schools, and Success for All). A newly developed instrument enhances understanding of schools'…

Summarizes a qualitative study that identified four predominant dimensions of reculturing processes in two southeastern U.S. school districts, based on practitioners' observations. Reculturing dimensions included reflecting on and questioning past and present practice; participating in comprehensive, continuous, and purposeful development…

Explores school principal-central office relationships within a school restructuring context. Examines the nature of school-level educational program innovation, support provided by central office personnel, and principals' perceptions about this support. Administrative awareness and involvement were limited to area superintendents and educational…

Summarizes an exploratory study to identify administrative stress and socialization variables that affect the attitudes and performance of new and experienced urban principals. The study found that new and experienced principals possessed remarkably similar attitudes and that experienced principals perceive greater role conflict than do new…

Describes how context influenced 58 beginning school principals in urban, suburban, and rural Louisiana school districts. Results are presented as storylines that demonstrate social issues extending beyond any single district or any one context variable such as race or gender. Commonalities among the job tasks and work attitudes are discussed.…