The only valid reason for supervising and evaluating teachers is to improve instruction. Boards of education can improve teaching and learning in schools by setting up a teacher evaluation system, letting administrators do their jobs, and giving backup with funding. (MLF)

Positive management techniques yield great benefits in areas such as group effectiveness, problem solving, and staff commitment. Some qualities for a positive environment are defined. The management retreat process at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is described. (Author/MLW)

This article presents results of an analysis of literature which considers the research and conceptual bases of teacher education and staff development. This analysis reveals and discusses several shortcomings in the research bases undergirding teacher education and suggests future directions for inquiry. (IAH)

Describes a Canadian curriculum development project; analyzes underlying policy assumptions. Advocates involvement of prison educators and inmates in the process if curriculum is to meet the educational needs of inmates. (Author/LAM)

Using the research on effective staff development, a rural Minnesota school district developed a grass-roots professional development program which featured opening-week workshops, training programs, mini-grants, a professional library,and a school effectiveness program. (JD)

Two groups of 24 police officers were surveyed. One group had participated in a formal mentoring program; the other group had been informally mentored. Those with an assigned mentor (1) had more job satisfaction, (2) were more likely to acquire discipline from their mentor, and (3) were closer in age and experience to their mentor. (Author/CH)

Pupils can learn better from each other than in some normal classrooms. This article explores current knowledge about "peer tutoring" and suggests how peer tutoring can help special groups of students and how it can be organized. (Author/TE)

Presents strategies to help staff developers and classroom teachers work through the transition phase of a paradigm shift in educational practice, highlighting traditional assessment and grading models and noting the importance of allowing teachers time to reframe and integrate the new model, meeting in small groups to understand the transition.…

Describes the Levels of Technology Implementation (LoTi) framework designed to help school districts restructure staff development curricula to include concept-/process-based instruction, authentic uses of technology, and qualitative assessment. The LoTi framework implementation levels are presented in a sidebar. (JKP)

Describes how coteaching can enhance reflective practice. Three phases of coteaching help promote reflective practice and professional growth are described: building trust and setting goals via initial interviews, reflection-on-action, and reflection-in-action. Recommendations for staff developers are included. (SM)

Interview with Thomas Guskey examines the benefits of staff development, presenting reasons for interest in the topic, advice for educators who want to trace the impact of staff development programs on participants and students, and the need for staff developers to identify some targets and monitor movement toward the targets. (SM)

Describes a weekly meeting of a collaborative elementary school teacher support group in Ohio. Triangular conferencing, which involves parent-teacher-student and is student-led, is the subject of the meeting. Also describes visits to elementary classrooms where new ways to teach reading and writing are implemented with input from Regie Routman,…

Compares costs (for instruction, administration, transportation, and staff development) related to inclusive programs in four pilot elementary schools with costs for traditional special education services in nine other elementary schools in the Greater Clark (Indiana) School District. The fiscal analysis found both programs equally cost-effective.…

A British college attracts traditional nonparticipants through the OUTSET program, in which college staff develop links with community organizations for marketing, curriculum development, and mutual awareness. (SK)

A discussion of college and university evaluation efforts of their leadership development programs looks at a variety of ways in which institutions assess programming needs, leadership styles and skills, program design, leadership development results, and overall institutional impact of leadership programming. (MSE)