The purpose of this article is to examine a 'grow your own' model of leadership preparation and placement of educational administrators in the state of Tennessee. The growing need for school and district administrators in the rural counties of Tennessee mirrors a nationwide issue, and state policymakers and practitioners must respond appropriately…

The authors describe how teams of faculty and district leadership development directors used an appreciative organizing in education (AOE) framework using appreciative inquiry (AI) scholarship to promote a more sustainable architecture for the preparation and development of leaders. The AOE framework is introduced and a description is provided of…

Leaders must know how to use evidence to inform district decisions, particularly as decisions related to learning become standard practice, and provide professional development that builds the organizational capacity needed to support continuous and sustainable district improvement. Collaboration and implementation of a shared vision and mission…

Ron Dickson knew he needed a terminal degree. In the early 2000s, he was toiling away as an assistant superintendent in a suburban Phoenix school district, but he had higher aspirations--a superintendency. Yet with a family and a demanding job, he wasn't sure how he could swing a doctoral degree. He diligently checked out the traditional Ed.D. and…

For several years, the author has been traveling a path in school leadership that began in 2002, when she left the classroom to become a curriculum resource teacher. Today she holds the position of an assistant principal in the Orange County Public School District in Orlando, Florida. In this position, she participated in the mandatory Preparing…

The shortage of school leaders has led several universities to offer training programs to increase the number of qualified and certified individuals prepared to assume future leadership positions in public schools, such as assistant principals and principals. The purpose of this study was to develop, deliver and evaluate a participatory leadership…

The Academy for Promising Leaders of Urban Schools (APLUS) was designed (1) to prepare assistant principal for New York City's urban schools, and (2) as the foundation of a continuum of planned leadership development. Piloted during the 2006-2007 academic year, APLUS is a partnership effort among higher education, PK-12 public schools, and a…

Through a collaborative effort, the New Teacher Center at the University of California Santa Cruz and the Association of California School Administrators are offering intensive, coaching-based induction support to first- and second-year administrators that is integral to their professional certification. This program rests on the commitment and…

This article captures how a web-based course, designed as a part of the School Leadership Grant Program, meets some challenges of leadership training and development. The content, structure and discussion board exercises of the sample course are designed to provide more reflective and practical opportunities for leader-learners to develop…