Shows how 28 contemporary films' messages about educational administrators shape and limit popular discourse about schools and their mission. Hollywood's celluloid images cannot capture our school communities' complex, challenging everyday realities. Practitioners should understand how mass media shapes policy debates about public institutions and…

A qualitative study of 12 women superintendents identified seven success strategies: balancing role- and gender-related responsibilities; focusing on caring for children; communicating meaningfully in a "feminine," indirect way; refusing to act like men; letting go of gender expectations that block success; becoming fearless risk-takers with…

Summarizes a qualitative study of principal burnout, focusing on causes of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment in the principalship. Nine principals explain how the job has changed, what job elements precipitated burnout, and why they are leaving. Discusses implications, including the need for improved support…

Over 800 American teachers responded to an open-ended questionnaire by identifying and describing characteristics of principals that enhanced their classroom instruction and what influences these characteristics had on them. The data revealed 11 strategies and 2 effective-leadership themes: talking with teachers to promote reflection and promoting…

Advocates a stronger comparative emphasis in the study of educational administration and management while acknowledging comparative educational administration's weak knowledge base. Clarifies the potential import of a comparative, cross-cultural perspective embracing five societal/cultural dimensions: individualism versus collectivism, power…

Reflects on the practice of mentoring from a consultant/trainer/principal's perspective. The strengths of mentoring programs far outweigh existing limitations. Interested districts and schools must consider issues such as planning, training, and appropriate matching of mentors and proteges, if mentoring programs are to succeed. (MLH)

Explores how nine U.S. schools participating in a project to create empowered schools defined empowerment, structured the change process, and transformed school culture. Participating schools fell into three categories (the opportunity school, the shifter school, and the no-go school) regarding their success in changing school culture, creation of…

Describes how microcomputer technology for processing textual data offers new options for the qualitative researcher in educational administration. Identifies both the potential benefits and limitations of such computer-assisted procedures, drawing on a study of local educational governance. Describes ETHNOGRAPH, a sophisticated, user-friendly…

Analyzes the evolving U.S. principalship between 1960 and the present, focusing on three influential roles: program manager, instructional leader, and transformational leader. Assesses these roles in light of contextual changes, particularly developments in national and state educational policy. Unfortunately, a strong administrative leader image…

Draws on other articles in this journal issue to identify emergent themes concerning the principal's evolving role in several countries. Explains the context for change, including reform pressures and political response, and examines principals' changing work environment, their transformed roles, and preparation and professional development…

Explores administrators' basic modes of information processing: relating to and recalling information without considering implications; relating to information according to practical implications; posing critical questions about information's validity; and relating to information according to fundamental principles. Administrators have different…

Reports on self-appraisals in educational settings using perceptions of teacher interns and their supervisors. Unlike self-ratings performed in noneducational settings, educator self-appraisals and supervisor appraisals were found to be significantly correlated, with self-appraisals showing less leniency than corresponding supervisor appraisals…

Describes school principal leadership in the United States, reviews current literature, and suggests future research for facilitating effective school administrator preparation in various contexts. Leaders are only sometimes "masters of their fates." Given the current demands for implementing school-level reforms, too much leadership is being…

When interviewed about school personnel's serious misconduct incidents, 50 superintendents indicated they case managed the incidents, mindful of due process. Comparisons were made with a previous study of principals. Results suggested that institutional organizations theory's blanket emphasis on ritualistic legitimation, the logic of confidence,…

Although "climate" has become a part of teachers' everyday language, it is a devious metaphor. An interactive model of school culture (with both covert and overt dimensions) is a more useful concept that could help teachers develop a deeper understanding of school context while reducing their manipulation by researchers. (30 references) (MLH)