Asserts that principals can increase student learning if they work intentionally and with heart with their faculties. Describes experiences of two Washington State elementary principals. (PKP)

Reports on a study of personal characteristics and attitudes of 155 first-time superintendents as compared with experienced superintendents, based on analysis of national data from 10-year study of the superintendency. Profile of first-year superintendents was nearly identical to that of experienced ones, except for a higher percentage of female…

Results of a research study to determine the extent to which presidents of 4-year institutions with Senior Student Affairs Officer (SSAO) experience share the leadership characteristics of effective presidents as defined by earlier research are reported. Based on analysis of the data using t test and ANOVA statistical procedures, it is concluded…

The shortage of school leaders, mainly caused by the growing complexity of the job is steadily growing in recent years. This study reports on the results of a comparative empirical study into the causes of premature departure for male and female principals in primary and secondary education. Principals who have experienced premature departure…

As the end of the 2002-2003 school year drew near, the author began to reflect on her first year as a vice principal. Her first year had been exciting and adventurous, although it started quite differently from most: she had the opportunity of opening a brand new school while working under the outstanding leadership of Marian White-Hood, the…

Research studies strongly support the fact that the leadership of the school principal impacts directly on the climate of the school and, in turn, on student achievement. National statistics relating to principal turnover and dwindling supplies of qualified replacements show clearly that principal turnover has reached crisis proportions.…

When each new school year begins, young teachers arrive anxious they have not had adequate training to implement new instructional programs. Seasoned teachers are irritated they must adapt their teaching style yet again to meet administrators' expectations, and many administrators are daunted by the responsibility of motivating staff members,…

Strategic leadership is a critical component in the effective development of schools. Currently the educational debate is shifting to focus on how short-term improvements can become strategically sustainable. This article will put forward the view that renewed attention needs to be paid to the strategic dimension of leadership to ensure this…

The US Census Bureau reveals that although there are more than 41.3 million Latinos in the US as on 2004--about 14 percent of the population, only a very small percentage of them attend the country's elite colleges. A large part of the problem is that, like most of the nation, elite colleges and universities have little awareness of the…

Educational administration scholars have long argued that reflective practice and meaningful critical dialogue are important aspects of thoughtful leadership. This article explores the efficacy and utility of these two activities in relation to learning about and enacting leadership for social justice. The article centers on the reflective…

A co-principal leadership model has been suggested as one way to address the shortage of qualified educational leaders for our schools and the increased demands on those leaders. The purpose of this study is to describe co-principals in terms of their personal and professional characteristics; the types of leadership models implemented in the…

This paper provides a framework for understanding the complexity of the chief student affairs officer (CSAO) at higher education institutions, examining existing models and an alternative, "cluster-culture" model. It notes that current literature on the CSAO position is inadequate in its description of the roles, responsibilities, and orientations…

This paper presents findings of a study that explored how staff and parents experienced one school's environment, particularly, the relationship between the principal's caring leadership and the school's environment. The Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Center in Peoria, Illinois, served preprimary and primary grades. Seventy-five percent of the…

For decades women have aspired to leadership positions in business, industry, and education. How women perceive opportunities in education, as well as their perceptions of viable options in meeting their career objectives, are important issues to address in college preparation courses. Sixty-one female students currently enrolled in administrative…

Findings from a study of Kentucky elementary school principals are presented in this paper, with attention to their demographic characteristics and roles in educational reform. Questionnaires mailed to all 1,122 elementary principles (including both public and private schools) in Kentucky yielded 570 returns, an approximate 51 percent response…