Describes a comprehensive staff development program designed exclusively for substitute teachers and devoted to student discipline. (MLF)

A research project on computer applications for special education determined the needs of caregivers (teachers or parents), clients (persons with severe learning disabilities), and staff. Results were used to develop the Living and Learning Weekend, during which caregivers were trained in the use of educational software for persons with…

Administrators involved in school improvement programs are finding that supervision is the essence of instructional leadership. Effective supervisor leadership requires constant searching for ways to integrate several core elements of school improvement--classroom instruction, curriculum development, classroom management, and staff development.…

Examines the role of peer coaching in effective in-house staff training programs. Guidelines to the initiation, monitoring, and evaluation of coaching programs are offered, and the benefits of this approach for staff and clients are discussed. (nine references) (CLB)

Using responses from 127 of a sample of 229 managers, manager-subordinate interactions were compared to mentor-protege relationships. Factor analysis disclosed patterns of interaction that can be characterized as mentoring--career functions (sponsorship, exposure/visibility, protecting, coaching, challenging assignments) and psychosocial functions…

Considers ways in which Catholic educational leaders can help students, parents, faculty, and staff make full use of their capabilities. Highlights instructional strategies based on exploration, the development of competence, reciprocity, and emulation. (DMM)

A description is given of a staff development effort in a vocational-technical school which involved school-based management teams and a series of retreats for the purpose of improving the school's climate and increasing its effectiveness. (JD)

Responses to midcareer issues must develop from the recognition that some values of the emerging work force differ from those of staff in their 50s. An organization's best interest lies in listening to the needs of staff, finding new ways to enrich their lives and accommodate its policies to their legitimate drive for self-direction. (JOW)

Despite the growing popularity of Madeline Hunter's Program for Effective Teaching staff development model, there is little evidence that student achievement increases after such a program has been implemented. A recent study of South Carolina achievement test data corroborates this assertion. Coaching length and quality may be key factors in…

Charges that the Mandeville and Rivers article in the same "Educational Leadership" issue is seriously flawed for failing to address whether teachers actually used Hunter's Program for Effective Teaching techniques as intended. Only careful observation of the 25 participating teachers with two years' experience using the ideas could…

Commends Mandeville and Rivers' article in the same "Educational Leadership" issue for demonstrating familiarity with the Hunter staff development model and acknowledging the importance of proper implementation strategies. Presents evidence showing that abbreviated training periods and insufficient coaching are to blame for the model's…

Describes New Jersey's Academy for the Advancement of Teaching and Management, a central, state-funded training center designed to improve students' education by sharpening teachers' and administrators' professional skills. The program's success depends on three critical qualities--relevance, consistency, and continuity. (MLH)

Rural teachers generally have a long-term commitment to teaching, personal ties with and credibility in the community, and a small work-place conducive to promoting necessary staff interaction. A cooperative staff development program is described that is based on the unique circumstances of rural schools. (JD)

Front-line service providers can be the origin of customer's perceptions about an institution, and these initial perceptions can color subsequent interactions. To improve customer service, institutions need to offer training and recognition for providers. Characteristics of effective service and providing effective training are discussed. (MLW)

Implemented multi-disciplinary program to assist nursing home staff in understanding the behavior of the mentally impaired and to develop effective intervention skills. Found curriculum to be effective in building knowledge and improving skills on the job. (Author/ABL)