Principals are powerful: They are the primary catalysts for creating a lasting foundation for learning, driving school and student performance, and shaping the long-term impact of school improvement efforts. Yet few principals would characterize themselves as powerful. Rather, they're self-effacing, adaptable, pragmatic, and quick to share credit…

The evaluation of a superintendent is often a stressful, unpleasant experience for both the superintendent and the members of the school board. Typical board trustees have little experience in evaluating CEOs. Worse yet, they are hamstrung by the limitations inherent to their roles. They lack the advantage of a day-to-day working relationship with…

Professional school counselors are directed to develop comprehensive, data-driven, results-based programs. A 10-year content analysis of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Bulletin (1997-2007) was conducted to determine the extent to which school counselor reform aligns with the work of educational administrators.…

Too often the principal is left without the benefit of a plan or the awareness of how to deal with the problems that inevitably arise when opening a new school. The school facility is an instructional tool and as such, it may either enhance or detract from the educational program. The success or failure of how a new school opens or is perceived to…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of Alberta's Principal Quality Practice Standard as a framework for the roles and responsibilities of school principals. Methodology: Three principals participated in the study, and each principal had more than 25 years of teaching and school administration experience. Each principal…

This paper discusses the use of simulations in the professional development of school leaders. It compares two National Association of Secondary School Principal (NASSP) programs: the "Springfield Development Program" and the "21st Century School Administrator Skills Program" (SAS) and identifies the characteristics of SAS that…

Offers suggestions for effective long-range educational planning, outlines steps for school district budget planning, and discusses the relationship between the two. (JG)

Administrative team management is the best way to provide direction and leadership to an individualistic group of professionals such as educators. Some suggestions to make management teams run smoothly are: (1) use the team to gather facts; (2) make sure the team works with the people (teachers, parents, and business people) who may be affected by…

This booklet describes the rationale, design, and structure for conferences organized for school principals. Drawing on the experiences of New York City's Community School District 2, it describes standards-based professional development for school leaders. It opens with a description of the District Network for Standards-Based Reform--a project…

The handbook, published by the State Department of Education of North Carolina, was designed to provide answers to many questions pertaining to the administration of migrant education projects. As stated in the handbook, "local educational agency personnel who have a responsibility in the local migrant education project should become familiar with…

This booklet briefly outlines the cyclical process of ongoing planning as it should be employed by school administrators and offers lists of do's and don'ts for effective ongoing planning. The discussion is organized in three main sections that correspond to the main stages of the program planning cycle--program monitoring, program evaluation, and…

This publication is intended to aid practicing educators in reviewing and utilizing current principles of problem-solving and decision-making. The booklet is organized in five short sections that briefly discuss different aspects of organizational problem-solving and outline suggested steps to guide educators in applying problem-solving techniques…

In order to show how planning might be implemented and structured at the state education agency level, basic principles and guidelines regarding the establishment and operation of educational planning units are identified and related to the development of planning capabilities in state education agencies of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota,…

This guide presents a unique look at leadership succession issues in the public school sector, particularly the shortage of quality principals. It provides a stimulus for conversation for senior leadership in school systems, an outline for those educators interested in preparing their own leadership succession plan, and an actual leadership…