During this interview, John Gardner, former Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (1965-68), comments on the substantial overlap between leaders and managers. When principals perform as leaders, they are preoccupied with vision, values, motivation, and renewal. They become politically expert at bargaining, mediating, sorting out, persuading,…

A recent study explored the relative frequencies and intensity levels of selected stressors on Georgia public secondary school principals and the coping strategies they found most effective. In order of most to least frequently used behaviors, Georgia principals reported physical, mental, psychological, direct, and destructive strategies. Some…

Presents results of a 1985 survey to identify the occupational stressors and stress-coping preferences of 212 secondary school principals from excellent schools. Primary stressors are task-based; preferred coping strategies are discussing concerns with colleagues, delegating tasks to others, and taking work home. Principals must improve planning…

Discusses literacy and quality of education problems in the United States, provides literacy statistics (including school dropouts and immigrants), and identifies factors contributing to the problem. Presents unencouraging National Assessment of Educational Progress 1980 survey results, links the need for technical literacy to vocational…

Middle school educators can design a learning environment for early adolescents based on Erik Erikson's social development theories, which divide human life into eight psychological stages. The identity versus role confusion stage characterizing adolescence will significantly determine the developing person's future. Schools can help learners…

Describes the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, a free, residential two-year program affiliated with the University of North Carolina. The school accommodates 400 students and features an outstanding faculty, impressive facilities, a selective admission policy, rigorous graduation requirements, and a mentor program. (MLH)

Describes a collaborative Purdue University and Twin Lakes School Corporation (Indiana) project to specify and demonstrate research-based instructional models facilitating the development of students' higher thinking skills. The project has developed a special site where student teachers can observe and practice teaching these skills. Includes 10…

Evaluation usually includes four stages: allocating tasks, setting evaluation criteria, sampling performances and outcomes, and assessing sampled results against standards. A recent survey showed that, if principals are to improve their performance, the evaluation stages must be clear, specific, and understood by the evaluators and the evaluated.…

Because competency evaluation is such a critical part of educational administration, a clear, unbiased system for evaluating administrators is needed. This article proposes a model with clearly stated competency areas, a list of example indicators, an evidence requirement, and weighted competencies. Includes five figures. (MLH)

Although the need for teacher induction programs is well established, the equally important task of supporting new administrators has been largely ignored. This article discusses a three-pronged induction model with large-group, small-group, and mentoring components designed to communicate district expectations to new administrators. Includes…

Describes the Audit of Principal Effectiveness, designed as a reliable, practical instrument for obtaining teachers' perceptions about principals' performance. Discusses the instrument's domain and factor definitions and lists some applications. Provides a copy of the instrument and three references. (MLH)

Describes the Evaluating Your Faculty Evaluation instrument, a device to help principals clarify their role in the teacher evaluation process and to identify areas needing improvement. To improve instructional leadership skills, principals should involve faculty in criteria development, attend seminars, and constantly examine their own personal…

One hundred principals and 100 superintendents were randomly surveyed regarding the perceived relevancy of their graduate training to their current administrative assignment. Findings showed that principals desired more practical skills and were less satisfied with their graduate training than were central office administrators. Both groups found…

Research shows that most school districts lack established policies for selecting teachers or administrators. This article, based on a study of concurrent validity between performance on the Administrator Perceiver Interview and in the NASSP Assessment Center, shows that the two approaches provide different information concerning prospective…

A successful principal stands on a professional base supported by three legs: management, leadership, and knowledge of schooling. Traditional preparation programs shortchanged leadership and management components. This arrticle underscores the relationship between leadership and culture, advocates administrator internships, and recommends an…