Biografisk notat

Robert G. Owens is professor emeritus at Hofstra University and also the City University of New York. He began his professional career as the teaching principal of a three-room school. After serving as principal for eighteen years in a variety of school environments he became a university professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo and moved subsequently to Brooklyn College of City University of New York, then Indiana University and, later, Hofstra.  His research, publications, and service have always focused on, and been centered in, the practice of improving the organizational effectiveness of schools. He can be reached by email at rgowens@comcast.net   Thomas C. Valesky began his career in education serving as teacher, high school counselor, elementary principal, and superintendent — both in the United States and abroad. He is currently professor of Educational Leadership and coordinator for the Doctor of Education program at Florida Gulf Coast University. His work has resulted in numerous journal publications and the co-authorship of two books, Training for Quality School-based Decision Making (pub. Rowman & Littlefield, 2003) and Challenge to change: The Memphis Experience with School-Based Decision Making (pub. National Education Association, 1994). Previously, he served as a professor at the University of South Florida (1993-1997), and professor and then chair of the Department of Educational Administration and Supervision at the University of Memphis (1984-1993).  At the University of Memphis, he was also a senior researcher and team leader for the Tennessee state-sponsored Center for Research in Educational Policy (CREP), studying school-based decision-making and school finance.    Dr. Valesky was President of Southern Regional Council on Educational Administration (SRCEA) in 2001-02 and served on the Executive Board from 1998 to 2003.  In addition he has been active with the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration (NCPEA) where he served as a member of the Executive Board from 1995-98. Other service to the profession includes membership on editorial boards of four national peer-reviewed journals, and as editor for school finance and business for the NCPEA Connexions project, an open-source peer-reviewed online database hosted at Rice University.