Case Studies on Educational Administration

by Kowalski, Theodore J.

• ISBN13: 9780137071302
• ISBN10: 0137071302
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-01-05
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

A collection of case studies for prospective school administrators that emphasizes problem solving, decision-making, and effective management. #xA0; Based on the conviction that effective practice in school administration requires both leadership and management, this text provides a mix of problems that require administrative decisions as presented in 24 open-ended case studies. In today#x19;s reform-minded, information-based society, practitioners must be able to frame problems correctly and then make effective decisions to ameliorate them. As leaders, district and school-level administrators are expected to focus on what should be done to improve schools; as managers, they are expected to focus on how to do things successfully. The cases in this book are designed to make students think about common problems of practice by encouraging them to bridge theory and practice. Each case provides an active form of learning, allowing students to demonstrate their ability to apply knowledge to common problem situations.

Author Biography

Theodore J. Kowalski holds the Kuntz Family Chair in Educational Administration, an endowed professorship at the University of Dayton. A former school superintendent, he previously taught at Purdue University, Saint Louis University, and Ball State University, where he also served as dean of the Teachers College. Professor Kowalski is the author or co-author of 18 books and over 135 book chapters and journal articles. He has published in leading journals such as Educational Administration Quarterly, Phi Delta Kappan, Leadership and Policy in Schools, and Planning and Changing. He also is editor of the Journal of School Public Relations and serves on the editorial boards of two other professional journals.

Table of Contents

 

Preface 

Matrix

Introduction

 

1      Who Needs Lesson Plans?

2      Who Should Create the School’s Vision?

3      A Bully’s Threat

4      Lounge Talk

5      The Career Center’s Revolving Door

6      Let the Committee Decide

7      Old School Culture and a New Principal

8      School Improvement through Better Grading Practices

9      Sally’s Socialization

10    A Matter of Honor

11    Individualizing Staff Development  

12    Break the Rules and Pay the Price

13    An Ambitious Assistant Principal

14    Let’s Get Strategic

15    Even on Saturdays

16    Appropriate Punishment versus Political Expediency

17    The Passive Principal

18    A Disillusioned Assistant Principal

19    Who Needs Career-Technical Education?

20    Illegal Drugs, In-School Suspension, and the Novice Principal

21    Let’s Not Rap

22    Is the Devil Teaching Spelling?

23    The Dark Side of Decentralization

24    The Maverick School Board Member