This volume provides a tool kit for principals and administrators seeking to improve the quality of classroom teaching in an era of increasing accountability, as well as an overview of the historical and cultural factors that shape teaching as a profession.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 mandates that all teachers be "highly qualified" by 2006, although the criteria for meeting this standard are vague at best.

Meanwhile, half of the nation's teachers are expected to retire by the end of the decade, and turnover among new teachers is high: 30 percent leave their jobs within three years and 50 percent leave within five.

The book provides an overview of the historical and cultural factors that shape teaching as a profession and frame the debate over its future. It goes on to examine efforts to rethink the preparation of teachers and principals; to outline hiring practices that help administrators identify talented candidates and ensure a good fit with their schools; and to assess a variety of strategies for supporting new teachers and providing growth opprotunities for experienced ones. Specific strategies addressed include:

Induction programs
Career ladders for teachers
School-based coaching
Effective supervision for professional growth

Practical, down-to-earth, and up-to-date, this handy volume is an essential and valuable resource for anyone concerned with improving the quality of teaching in today's classrooms.