In 1987, the College of Education at Virginia Tech restructured its principal preparation program. Internships are conducted by principal-mentors expected to be teachers, models, and supportive colleagues. The program allows mentors, central office staff, and professors to meet with graduate students in an environment where all are learners. Any…

Until recently, teaching at Virginia Tech meant 1 professor in a room with 20 randomly assembled educational administration students enrolled in an isolated, narrowly defined course. program. Under the NASSP Alliance project, professors have developed a holistic, team-approach to instruction and benefit from a reading program that encourages idea…

When asked to mentor or to participate in field-based, collaborative administrator preparation programs, principals should realize that these energy-intensive approaches involve willingness to enter into a long-term relationship with a learner, tolerance for lengthy meetings, desire to share the lessons of experience, and a predilection for…

In effective principal preparation programs, interns are encouraged to observe a wide range of well-administered schools through exposure to varied styles. Mentors are carefully selected, highly competent professionals willing to accept the role of teacher, confidant, and role model. Mentors should volunteer; they should never be assigned.…

In 1990, Florida State University joined the National Alliance--a Danforth/NASSP-sponsored group of four universities who initially would receive performance-based leadership training for revamping their administrator training programs. So far, Florida State has completed a five-year participation plan, reconceptualized three advanced degree…

This article has two thrusts -- the first, to present the model and guidelines developed at the Purdue NASSP-PSSAS Conference, and the second to summarize reactions from the field to the proposed model. (Editor)

Summarizes Virginia Tech's educational reform activities inspired by the NASSP Alliance project, focusing on improved mentor training for faculty, the positive influence of assessor training on curriculum design and delivery, practitioners' increased involvement in program planning and implementation, consortium networking's effects on information…

Principal preparation programs are now incorporating several components: entrance requirements aligned with principalship demands; cohort models; clear performance-based standards; opportunities for individualization; development and assessment of skills; an emphasis on reflective practice; and continuous program review, with input from current…

Florida State University's Educational Leadership Consortium Specialist Degree program grew out of collaboration among 17 school districts and Florida State educational faculty. The program recruits practitioners from the 17 districts who demonstrated high leadership potential and wanted to develop their leadership capacity. ELC Specialist degree…

A middle-school principal initially skeptical of Margrove College's distance-learning program for teachers was pleasantly surprised by the teacher teamwork and cooperative-learning classroom activities this Master's degree engendered. The program effectively transferred skills to practice by blending theory, demonstration, practice, feedback, and…

This case study, conducted by a doctoral student in educational administration, indicates that Florida State University's Department of Educational Leadership is changing from a traditional classroom setting to a performance-based, student-centered ambience. Service is being delivered to students in various ways. Faculty members and students…

Outlines recommended practices for strengthening administrator preparation programs. Preservice programs should emphasize development of reflective skills; ethical and moral leadership qualities; adult learning principles; coherent, integrated curricula; and updated teaching and learning processes. Aspiring principals need more opportunities for…