The relationship of assistant/associate deans to deans in the organization structure of colleges of education is examined, and an organizational model that may aid in improving the management of colleges of education is presented. Based on a spring 1983 survey of 265 colleges of education, 73 public and 3 private institutions provided organization charts of their college of education, and 50 institutions provided written job descriptions for assistant/associate deans. The organization charts and job descriptions were analyzed to determine the line staff relationships between deans, assistant/associate deans, and other positions within the colleges of education. It was found that assistant/associate deans are widely used to assist deans in carrying out their leadership roles. Deans have generally retained direct control over the instructional aspects of their college's program. Assistant/associate deans have assumed leadership roles over such support areas as research, student personnel services, and administration of the college of education. It is recommended that consideration be given to an organizational pattern that makes more use of associate deans in line relationships with the dean and department chairs, and that assistant deans and directors (i.e., student teaching) should be in staff relationships to the associate dean. (SW)