Examines the concept of empowerment as a movement to foster the democratization of the workplace and staff development. Empowerment versus participative management, the relationship of empowerment to organizational theory, factors influencing empowerment in organizations, and possible consequences of successful empowerment for employees and…

"Nature-rich mentoring" is a method aimed at changing attitudes and behavior toward the environment. In this method, a small group with members from diverse backgrounds participates in an outdoor expedition with opportunities for daily reflection and discussion. Expeditions should be planned according to participant ability to allow…

As part of Alberta's provincial initiative, stakeholders (staff, parents, students, and community members) at each school in Grande Prairie School District identified indicators of quality education in the areas of student achievement, school climate, instructional quality, and funding. Results were used to develop an individualized evaluative…

To improve student performance on standardized tests, principals must evaluate the school's most recent scores, compile a simple statistical comparison of potential and actual performance on evaluated skills, and discuss results and improvement strategies with groups of teachers. Classroom observations, cooperative planning, and curriculum mapping…

Today's superintendents are unaccustomed to sharing significant power with others and are expected to educate all youngsters effectively. Superintendents' responses to differences with their boards can profoundly affect progress in school improvement. By stressing dialog over discussion, superintendents might keep their jobs without sacrificing…

Confusion about the meaning of education makes truly educational leadership impossible. Education is a continuing effort to work at the worthwhile things in life, and educational leaders must bring communities together to discuss what is good and worthwhile, what kind of society they want to create, and what kind of education is consistent with…

Principal Chris Borgen has led the Fidalgo Elementary School in Anacortes (Washington) to excellence by collaborating with his staff on a commitment to student needs. They implemented a learning model that increased student achievement and IQ. In response to parent requests, a variety of approaches are used, including multiage classrooms,…

David Nufer, Alaska's National Distinguished Principal for 1999, uses collaboration to create a family atmosphere at Finger Lake (Alaska) Elementary School. He turned the scheduling process over to teachers, involved teachers and parents in implementing a two-track system of mixed and single-age classrooms, brought in senior citizens to supplement…

Principals play a key role in developing teacher leadership. To identify, develop, and support teacher leaders in their schools, principals should define teacher leadership, be comfortable with teacher leaders, encourage teachers to become leaders, help teachers develop leadership skills, and provide positive and limited constructive feedback.…

This case study describes the management system of Dickinson College Library. Highlights include a rotating chair instead of a director; collegiality in decision making; rotating departmental responsibilities; developing an acceptable level of expertise in both technical and public services; and an emphasis on professionalism. (Author/LRW)

Advice on making facilities facilitate education includes: an educational vision comes first, involve all stakeholders, working smarter requires a systems approach, systems-focused planning takes time, partnerships stretch limited resources, "beautiful" is not expensive, change is tough, building a community is as important as building a…

Considers strategies for the implementation of quality improvement in libraries. Highlights include structured quality improvement, especially Total Quality Management; organizational change; customer focus; continuous improvement; data-based decision making; systems thinking; employee involvement in decision making; diffusion of innovation;…

Successful development and implementation of outcome-based education requires long-range planning and ongoing commitment from all planning partners. District-level planning is essential. A well-designed strategic plan embraces OBE philosophies, premises, and principles and should consist of a district philosophy, vision, and mission and a set of…

Reflects on the nature of power and the value of collaboration in Writing Program Administration work. Argues that the WPA position is a contradictory one which contains within it the paradox of powerless power (having responsibility and little authority, having insider knowledge and being institutionally ignorant, and needing to cooperate and…

Tries to encourage teachers, principals, and others to strive to achieve authentic practices of teacher leadership and community building. Narrates the efforts of St. Patrick School in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada since 1996 to build a collaborative culture based on trust and good will so that the entire staff was transformed into a team of…