This article examines liberatory pedagogical practices utilized in graduate level courses offered within an educational leadership preparation program (ELPP). The research explores how these tools support the development of culturally responsive school leadership and actively anti-racist leaders in a program purporting to develop social…

Presents scenario for the future of school leadership and discusses role of problem-based leadership development. This scenario fosters several assumptions concerning capacities needed by future school leaders: ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment; attitudes and skills in lifelong learning; more varied leadership roles; and increased…

Describes results of a study examining the nature and consequences of 11 university-sponsored school-leadership preparation programs from graduates' and teacher colleagues' viewpoints. Survey results suggest that these programs contributed significantly to leadership as actually practiced in schools and that constructivist instructional strategies…

Describes an instructional innovation using field-based action research to enhance program quality and improve administrator preparation. Describes the learning experiences of graduate students enrolled in a supervision of instruction class while participating in a collaborative school/university project. Action research is a demanding strategy…

Discusses the nature of reflective practice and its importance in school leaders' preparation and professional development. Professional preparation that develops reflective practice helps resolve the theory-practice dichotomy and improve professional practice. Preparation programs must provide experiences that elicit critical application of…

Reviews current elements of administrative thought and practice, aiming to provide a comprehensive outline for new programmatic ventures in educating future principals. Describes an existing nontraditional leadership preparation program at Butler University that allows students to work cooperatively on projects, learn through self-direction,…

Some university administrator preparation programs use experienced principals as mentors for aspiring principals. The mentoring relationship is more beneficial if the practicum experience is long term and the mentor is seen as an important member of the university training effort. This paper discusses 12 common mentoring pitfalls (such as…

Uses a case study model to investigate the Wright State University Teacher Leader Program. Discusses the demographic profile of classroom teachers enrolled in this outreach graduate program, describes how the program has responded to the needs of employed and distant teacher learners, and offers suggestions concerning the knowledge, skills,…

The National Policy Board's design for principals, by recasting preparation programs to reflect the real world school environment, stressing the learning environment, focusing on decentralized management and collective problem solving, designing a new knowledge base with performance standards supported by a national certification process, and…

Definitions of effective instructional leadership inadequately address supervision and strategic deployment of student support personnel (counselors, psychologists, social workers, and others) as critical resources for school success. Engaging their skills and understanding expands professional discourse, improves teaching and learning, and…

Investigates the needs of graduate students in educational administration programs, focusing on what learning would prove most valuable to administrators dealing with diverse constituencies and cultures. From indepth interviews, researchers found that graduate students learned far more about diversity (of gender, race, ethnicity, and social class)…

Effective administrator preparation programs provide students with self-awareness and insight about their thought patterns and behaviors' influence on executing their leadership roles. This paper describes a current university pilot program based on these assumptions, discusses program effectiveness as perceived by student participants, and…

Context is a powerful tool for understanding educational organizations, devising professional development programs for school administrators, and preparing future administrators. Specific strategies should be expanded for harnessing that power in analyzing educational settings, transferring knowledge across settings, and developing appropriate…

The Professional Studies Doctorate is a new 3-year administrator preparation program at Texas A&M University that blends theory, research, and clinical experiences for a select cohort of 14 practicing school leaders. The program includes intensive summer seminars, extended clinical weekend sessions, and ongoing evaluation and research…

Using telephone survey data from National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers representatives and information from official union publications and research reports, this article summarizes AFT and NEA perspectives on shared governance and administrator education programs in light of school restructuring efforts. The central…