Case Study Response: Decision Making to Improve School Culture

DIANE ANGELINI UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND EDU-701 EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP NOVEMBER 20, 2013

My Goals as an Administrator to Improve Student Culture

Through effective communications, relationships are built, trust is established and respect is gained (Green, 2013, p. 131)

The key to improving the overall school culture is communication among all stakeholders students, teachers and staff, parents and community members. Since my school is an extension of the community, all stakeholders must work together and be on the same page so that all procedures and policies are transparent.

Understand that relationships count more than structure (De Pree, 2004, p. 28)

Changes is my schools structure regarding the issues of student attendance and punctuality, disciplinary actions and school violence will only be effective if positive longterm relationships are built among all stakeholders.

Methods of Gathering Data

Establish a CHAT (CHild At-risk Team) composed of administrators, the school social worker, psychologist, nurse, special education and classroom teachers and guidance counselors to identify and discuss students who are habitually tardy and/or absent and who are exhibiting social and/or behavioral problems.
Develop a form for teachers and staff to report students to the CHAT team who are in need of intervention. Utilize the on-line Blackboard reporting software, Edline, at www.edline.net/ to access students records of tardies and absences Create a survey using https://www.surveymonkey.com/ for teachers, staff, students and parents to complete to acquire data on current reality and disciplinary issues. Set up a Coffee with the Administration for parents to come in and participate in a round table to voice their concerns. Contact the School Resource Officer (SRO) to provide information on students who are facing legal action and committing crimes outside of school.

Processes Involving Teachers and Staff

We have never failed unless we have ceased to try - Eleanor Roosevelt

Teachers and staff refer students who are habitually tardy or absent, exhibiting behavioral problems and/or showing signs of potentially destructive behavior to the CHAT team in a timely manner. The CHAT team along with the parents of referred students meet to develop an individualized plan of action for each student. A Safety Team composed of teachers and staff will be established to review and implement lockdown procedures and drills to practice with students. A Leadership Team consisting of teachers, administrators, special educators, parents, and students will be created. This team will evaluate and re-design the discipline and attendance systems by assessing the schools current behavior profile and behavioral expectations and will implement interventions to benefit all students. Teachers and staff will set aside time in Advisory with their students to discuss topics such as bullying, violence, stress management and self-esteem.

Resources and Initiatives to Improve Student Behavior and School Culture

Research Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) at http://www.iod.unh.edu/Projects/apex/what_is_pbis.aspx. PBIS is a behavioral support and improvement process which helps schools develop programs for students by making them accountable for their behavior. These interventions should decrease the number of disciplinary infractions, improve attendance and punctuality and decrease the propensity for inappropriate actions and violence in school. Enlist the services of the Youth Educational Employment Service (YEES) at http://yeesnh.com/about. YEES provides a means to help students who incur serious discipline infractions. YEES works with a team consisting of family members, counselors, school staff and law enforcement professionals to help students maintain positive behavior so they are successful both at school and at home.

Resources and Initiatives to Improve Student Behavior and School Culture

Every child lives in a world where they feel safe, loved and celebrated. The Challenge Day mission is to provide youth and their communities with experiential programs that demonstrate the possibility of love and connection through the celebration of diversity, truth, and full expression. See http://www.challengeday.org/.

Research the idea of bringing a Challenge Day workshop to school which inspires students, teachers, staff, parents and family members to be the positive change that they wish to see in the world.

Each day 160,000 students do not go to school because they are bullied, teased and harassed. By turning the story of a tragic death at Columbine High School into a mission for change, Rachel's Challenge is helping create safer learning environments and making a world-wide impact. See http://www.rachelschallenge.org/.

Research bringing Rachel's Challenge workshops to school which include programs and strategies that equip students and adults with the skills to combat bullying and eliminate feelings of loneliness and depression by creating a culture of kindness and compassion.

Make a Difference Day, the largest national day of community service. Millions of volunteers around the world unite in a common mission to improve the lives of others. See http://makeadifferenceday.com/.

Work with teachers, staff and students to find ways to give back to the schools community to work towards the goal of students being civic minded. Initiate research on students completing community service projects as a requirement for graduation.

Paths of Communications to Improve School Culture: Students

There may be no single thing more important in our efforts to achieve meaningful work and fulfilling relationships than to learn and practice the art of communication (De Pree, 2004, p. 108)

The student handbook will describe any revisions to discipline procedures. The creation of levels of offenses will outline expectations and hold students accountable. Conferences with the administration will be required and time for time detentions will be served for students who are habitually tardy and absent.

Guest speakers, workshops, videos and handouts will be used for students during their Advisory period as ways to promote positive behavior and respect. In addition, students will be educated about topics such as bullying, cyber-bullying, self-esteem and stress management.
The schools website will be consistently updated with ways for students to contribute positively to the schools culture.

Paths of Communications to Improve School Culture: Parents

Parents will receive an email and a call home when their child incurs a disciplinary infraction and is having attendance and/or tardy issues.

Parents will be encouraged to attend Coffee with the Administration discussion forums to voice their concerns and provide input to changes in discipline and attendance policies.
The guidance department will provide a monthly email to parents informing them of workshops they can attend, college information and website resources they can access in support of their children. Teachers will communicate with parents regarding their students progress academically and behaviorally through the on-line grade reporting system, Edline. In addition, parents will have the opportunities to meet with their childs teachers during an Open House event and Parent Teacher Conference days. The administration will regularly send a general blackboard email to all parents and guardians notifying them of important events and survey them before considering changes to school policies and procedures.

Paths of Communications to Improve School Culture: Teachers and Staff

The administration will provide teachers and staff with resources to improve student behavior and will discuss this information with staff during faculty meetings, late arrival and teacher workshop days. Teachers and staff will receive shout outs for work they have done to promote a positive school culture. Meetings of the CHAT team, Leadership Team and Safety Committee will be held on a regular basis to assess current reality, monitor progress and implement any necessary changes to attendance, discipline and school violence policies. In addition, the faculty and staff will be surveyed periodically to provide input on these issues. A weekly newsletter will be emailed by the administration to the faculty keeping them informed of happenings within the school Practice drills will be conducted regularly so that teachers are properly trained in lockdown and safety procedures.

Paths of Communications to Improve School Culture: Community

A school Facebook page will be initiated to keep the public informed and linked to happenings within the school. In addition, comments and suggestions will be encouraged. Students, teachers and staff will work with community members on school fundraisers and ways to help the local community during Make a Difference Day. All students will be required to complete a Community Service Project which will assist members of their own town. Meetings with the towns police department will be held regularly to discuss joint efforts to promote positive student behavior and establish a full-time School Resource Officer (SRO) within the school.

References

De Pree, M. (2004). Leadership is an art. New York: Doubleday. Green, R.L. (2013). Practicing the art of leadership: A problem-based approach to implementing the ISLLC standards. Upper Saddle River: Pearson.