This book identifies 26 essential traits and behaviors of effective principals to show how they achieve success as instructional leaders. The contents and conclusions are based on 81 key research articles from the last 20 years. The book also reviews differences in instructional leadership between elementary and secondary principals; male and…

This book, for the practicing school principal, is intended to bridge the gap from the traditional notion of the principal's role to innovative conceptions that respond to changing conditions and demands. It describes the traditional understandings of the role and then proposes innovative conceptions that focus on change and instructional…

The sixth in a series of studies investigating the educational context and outcomes for high school students with disabilities (SWDs), this study compared views of general education and special education administrators on the educational programs for SWDs and other at-risk students. Administrators in three high schools in urban areas, three in…

This guide presents a series of scenarios that encapsulate the legal, philosophical, and common sense challenges faced by middle and high school teachers every day. Each scenario includes the vignette, the topical problem areas into which it falls, four possible solutions, space for the readers to state what they would do in each situation, and…

Efforts to change the role of principals over the past 30 years typically reflect a leader-centrist perspective of schools illustrated by the metaphors of a marching band or the slightly less hierarchical classical orchestra. In these conceptual systems, policy (score) is generated (composed) by policymaking bodies (composers) with principals…

This monograph explores the social context of the school and how this context influences, for better or worse, the academic and social behavior of students. It reviews how most student behavior serves a meaningful purpose for the student and how similar behaviors may serve distinctly different functions for various students. It also explores how…

The primary purpose of this paper is to illuminate how a school principal employed three identifiable leadership initiatives to support adult learning within the context of her school and to show how her own thinking about her leadership practices on behalf of teacher learning changed and developed over time. A discussion of current efforts to…

This qualitative study examined the nature of teacher leadership as it was perceived by 12 inservice elementary school teachers. Data collection involved in-depth, semi-structured interviews with the teachers. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed for analysis. Results indicated that half of the respondents were unfamiliar with the term…

This study of the classroom practice of an elementary school teacher of Aboriginal students in Western Australia demonstrates the way in which teacher intentions are hindered by the sociopolitical context of the school. The teacher had been identified by the school as a successful teacher of Indigenous students and was accepted by Aboriginal…

This book presents the reflections of 53 award-winning first-year teachers who talk candidly about their successes and setbacks, emphasizing the relationships they formed with colleagues, university professors, and students' parents. It is based on discussions sparked by questions about supports that they needed in their first year of teaching and…

This article argues that successful implementation of Reading Recovery requires a systematic plan to ensure that everyone at the district level, school level, teacher level, and parent/home level understand the goals and benefits of the program, including school board members, community members, central office administrators, principals, teachers,…

Problems of faculty unionization cases stemming from the application of laws and doctrines developed for industrial labor situations to an academic setting and findings of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) are discussed. It is suggested that NLRB jurisdiction depends on definition of the role of the faculty. (BH)

Examines the effects of teachers' decision-making power on core educational issues involving conflict among teachers, students, and administrators. Discovers a positive relationship between increased teacher autonomy and decreased school conflict. Identifies and discusses several types of decisions made by teachers. (MJP)

The paper examines how shared decision making can help reframe the purpose of social foundations in teacher education, arguing that it bridges the gap between teacher as decision maker and the content of foundational studies. Four studies that represent different levels of educational decision making are highlighted. (SM)

Examines the efforts of an elementary private school principal to create a motivating school climate. Discusses four ecological principles: (1) the development of activities that recognize individuality and demand involvement and adaptation; (2) the expansion of resources to the whole school community; (3) the interdependence of activities at each…