In the fall of 2015, the University of Missouri St. Louis (UMSL) College of Education welcomed a small cohort of teachers to spend two years preparing to be principals of high-need schools. In many ways, their preparation will be similar to how UMSL has historically prepared school leaders; they will take courses within the University's approved…

This case study examined action research conducted by bilingual education teachers in urban schools as a tool for progressing from novice-to-expert teachers. We described a longitudinal study across four cohorts of first-year bilingual education teachers as action researchers (n = 9). The study investigated the following: (1) how school leaders…

This article reports on a study of the value master's students in a principal preparation program placed on a variety of instructional strategies. The aspiring principals completed a survey with fixed-response and open-ended items. The students' most valued class discussions were about how their personal experiences related to the class topic and…

This case study presents a chronicle of events spanning a decade in Kentucky that led to state policy changes for principal preparation and details the response to those mandated changes by professors at the University of Kentucky. Professors' collaborative efforts resulted in a new teacher leadership program and redesigned principal certification…

A review of the research, state legislative mandates, and education department requirements (Levin, 2005; Hess & Kelly, 2005; Marzano, Water, & McNulty, 2005; N.C. House Bill 536, 2007) shows different demands for the redesign of principal licensure programs. Program redesign always has some sort of catalyst. However, just because there is…

The Professional Learning Community (PLC) model has moved to the forefront in the field of education as one of the most effective frameworks to improve student achievement and overall school success. The research conducted for this paper provides evidence for systemic and action based improvement using the PLC model in four diverse venues:…

Whereas researchers have examined dispositions in teacher education programs, literature to assist the field of principal preparation is limited. However, the Educational Leadership Constituency Council standards clearly delineate dispositions that are essential for the success of school leaders. The faculty at a southeastern public university…

This volume contains papers submitted to the 11th Annual International Conference of the Bulgarian Comparative Education Society (BCES), held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 14-17 May 2013, and papers submitted to the 1st International Distance Partner Conference, organized by the International Research Centre "Scientific Cooperation,"…