Department chairs: School leadership's missing linkResearch project Explore Faculty & Research Publications Community initiatives Research projects Quick factsDirector/PI: Professors Brian O. Brent, Karen DeAngelis, and Barbara SurashRelated projects: This project continues Brent's and DeAngelis' work examining the efficacy of pre-service school administrator training. Overview This study strives to frame the skills that secondary school department chairs need to manage effectively their programs.This study strives to frame the skills that secondary school department chairs need to manage effectively their programs. Using a survey of new state principals, the analysis should provide much-needed insights into the nature of the position (e.g., do chairs get course release) and principals' perceptions of the relative importance of a set of leadership skills, such as visioning, communication and resource management.