NASSP Bulletin

Decisiveness is one of several skills considered necessary for effective administration. Some have described it as the key to the administrative process. The authors explore its characteristics here with the hope that readers may understand the concept more as a behavior than a trait.

This article focuses on problem identification and the presentation of a Method that will help educators come to grips with the identification of "real" problems.

In an era of tight money, expanding demands, and increasing accountability, it is imperative that principals improve their ability to plan effectively, capitalize on staff potential by proper delegation, and set priorities for optional use of time and resources, says this writer.

How good is your approach to staff development? The authors, who believe this article, will help readers evaluate their programs, delineate the issues, assumptions, and characteristics of four models.

Public organizations can be managed soundly and run effectively by skilled managers, says this writer, who reports here the results of a survey of southeastern principals on attitudes toward management.

Managerial gibberish ultimately reduces to managerial folly, says this writer, who reviews the "state of the language" and offers his thoughts on good writing.

School administrators should vow to refine their own use of the language and see to it that their students are taught to communicate clearly, says this writer.

Proper planning is a necessary ingredient in any teacher evaluation conference, warns this writer, who lists some basic guidelines to follow in preparing for such conferences.

School administrators can make better educational decisions by applying the findings of brain research, says this author, who hopes that this article will inspire readers to investigate the growing library of neuroscience studies.

School boards and district administrators are slowly recognizing the need for a team approach to school management, say these writers, who propose a model that recognizes and amplifies the role of the principal in this process.

Sometimes the recruiting process becomes a fiasco. This writer proposes that school admnistrators take a few lessons from the Boy Scouts to ensure a successful recruitment campaign.

These writers provide the format fur a simple, nonthreatening process that allows principal and teacher to work together in solving performance problems.

The schedule is only a tool, not an end unto itself, says this writer, who notes that computer capabilities have not been used to the fullest. Suggestions are provided.

Principals already have an especially difficult role as frontline administrators; the diffeculties, however, are sometimes exacerbated because of the middle positions in which they find themselves. This article summarizes a study of the concerns of middle management.