Leading a school can be a lonely, challenging job, Elena Aguilar has found in her years coaching principals. Aguilar describes how coaching approach she's developed--transformational coaching--helps principals get three things most of them need: a neutral person they can talk with confidentially, job-embedded professional development, and a safe…

Since humans change from the inside, it is more valuable for administrators to try to change themselves than to prescribe staff development for others. Principals can cooperate in self-development programs by participating in principals' centers being established around the country. (PGD)

The Instructional Leadership Project of the Anne Arundel County (Maryland) Public Schools determined staff development needs in the district's secondary schools and designed a three-year program to help administrators, guidance personnel, and department chairpersons build the requisite staff development skills. (PGD)

Interest in staff development for principals bodes well for teachers and students. By engaging in and modeling learning, principals can create a community of learners. (MLF)

George Wilkinson, who has managed planning for United Way of America since 1980, observes that local planners using strategic planning raise more money and solve more community problems than those without such a process. Marketing is identical to strategic planning; both involve looking at an organization, doing and analysis, examining the future,…

Describes an assessment center that not only identifies strong candidates for administrative positions but also helps participants improve weak skills. (Author/JM)

Describes a project to help teachers and administrators identify challenging goals for professional development. Activities that help to heighten awareness include breaking routine, changing perspective, examining assumptions, and reading challenging material. Two important ingredients for the professional development process are time and…

Outlines a 10-step model of performance management from corporate and government practices for use in teaching appraisal. Performance management emphasizes each teacher's uniqueness while recognizing the need to support school system goals. Steps include: build rapport, identify key results areas, jointly determine specific objectives, and…

Makes a case for more developmental activities for principals, lists characteristics of ideal programs, identifies important competencies for which principals have indicated training needs, and reviews ways to overcome problems involved. (JM)

A school administrator describes her experience in developing her administrative skills at the National Association of Secondary School Principals Assessment Center. (JM)

Faced with the possibility of mandatory continuing education laws, educators can learn from the mistakes and successes of other professions. Teachers and administrators must take a leadership role in planning and participating in continuing education programs throughout their professional careers. (Author/MLF)

Researchers who have worked on administrator mentoring program reveal some benefits of mentoring. The various characteristics of a successful mentoring program are presented.

In Anchorage, Alaska, aspiring principals are getting on-the-job experience through a two-year intern program that facilitates long range planning by enabling the district to test and mold its future administrators. Interns serve as administrative assistants, troubleshooters, and participates in instructional supervision and policy decision. (TE)

Discusses the purpose of the theory of developmental supervision, as well as the phases necessary to put the theory into practice. In this developmental model supervisors match their style of assistance to teachers' conceptual levels. Includes a table and references. (MD)

To address the social challenges facing schools, administrators must revitalize the work culture. Borrowing from successful business practices, the School Management Institute has implemented a 25-day Managing Productive Schools leadership training program in Florida, Minnesota, and Virginia. The program is based on the cultural conditions,…