Although university-based school administrator preparation programs are required by accreditation agencies to assess the dispositions of candidates, valid and reliable methods for doing so remain scarce. "The School Leaders Disposition Inventory"[C] (SDLI) is proposed as an instrument that has promise for identifying leadership…

Sixteen superintendents from the Southern Gulf Coast area were interviewed regarding their perceptions of the connection of ISLLC Standard One to practice. A comprehensive analysis of superintendent responses to questions related to five research questions suggests 11 major themes. Superintendents discussed the importance of vision, data-driven…

In this article, the author presents ten practical reflections for educational leaders. The author states that educational leaders should: (1) know themselves and where they are going; (2) not be overly prepared; (3) link with others; (4) measure their words; (5) take responsibility; (6) keep others informed; (7) maintain their perspective; (8)…

In 1987, the National Commission on Excellence in Educational Administration concluded that educational leadership preparation programs in the United States were marked by a "lack of collaboration between school districts and universities and lack of modern content." Echoing this concern, scholars have argued for a programmatic change…

A 2003 study of faculty and students in two NCATE-accredited New England universities sought to understand the kinds of learning opportunities the respondents perceived helped them build the capacity for ethical practice as defined by the National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA), and the role of reflection in developing…

Lately, preparation programs for PreK-12 school leaders have been at the center of controversy. Infamous among university circles is the 2005 "Educating School Leaders" report, which calls for an overhaul of university-based principal and superintendent preparation programs. The focus of the report is that school leadership programs are in…

The topic of professional and corporate ethics is one that is discussed frequently in the general media today. With unindicted and unconvicted ethical violators like Kenneth Lay of Enron and Richard Scrushy of Health South appearing as anathemas to those who study and attempt to incorporate ethical tenets into everyday professional life, debates…

Ten national educational leadership associations that make up the National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA) and 24 state departments of education joined forces in 1994 to put together a knowledge base, performance standards, and professional dispositions for administrators. The result was a publication by the Council of Chief…

This article is a report of an investigation into what practicing leaders in Florida believe they must know and be capable of in order to effectively perform their role. The focus is relevant to the preparation of principals and to best practices that can advance the profession of educational administration. Reflecting an unusual approach to…

Looking at medical care administration, 14 assistant principals noted that the hospital administrator managed the business of health care, while the chief of staff provided leadership to the doctors and nurses. The assistant principals then posited: Can the organization model found in many hospitals offer any insight into ways that school…