Shaping School Culture

Case Study. Shaping School Culture. You have served as an assistant principal for one year in a middle school (grades 4-8) that has received a grade of “D”as a school accountability label. Due to recent changes and the retirement of the principal, you apply for the open position and the Superintendent selects you to be the principal for the next school year. Your knowledge of your internal and external community, along with the various school and district systems, plays a critical role in your summer planning for the upcoming school year. Your school has had a reputation of being a “tough” school. Your student body is made up of mostly lower-income families who live primarily in single family homes, condominiums, and federally subsidized apartments. Demographically,the school is culturally diverse, with Hispanic students making up the largest ethnic group. You also have the highest African American student population within the district. The school has approximately 700 students, 33 full-time general education teachers, 1 full-time special education teacher and 1 gifted education teacher. Your teaching staff has remained stable in key areas, but you know that you will need to hire seven teachers across the gradelevels. A large percentage of your teachers are experienced veterans, many of whom have outlived at least 14 administrators that have come through the campus. As you sit in your office in July, you become overwhelmed as you begin sifting through numerous piles of information – student achievement data, the School Improvement Plan (SIP), discipline data, teacher observations, the previous principal’s files, etc. You know you have to find ways to positively influence your outcomes, in particular student achievement, as you are considered by the state as being in need of school improvement. You also know that your student achievement outcomes will not change unless the student discipline data improves. Bottom line, it is obvious that students are missing a tremendous amount of instructional time due to behavioral issues and the assigned consequences. Where do you begin? Read the “Shaping School Culture” case study to inform the assignment. Part 1: Case Analysis In 250-500 words, respond to the case study by addressing the following: Brief summary of the case Issues to be resolved Stakeholders involved in the issues One or two existing laws or court rulings that relate to the issues District policies that relate to the issues Possible solutions to the issues Solutions chosen to resolve the issues Action steps (2-5) for implementing each solution, including a timeline for each step Potential moral and legal consequences of each solution Part 2: Rationale Support the case analysis with a 250-500 word rationale explaining the solutions you chose and how each solution: Is designed for continual and sustainable school improvement to improve student outcomes. Demonstrates cultural competence and responsiveness in decision-making, school planning, and meeting the needs of students. Addresses difficult issues related to meeting students’ needs while promoting a culture of collaboration, trust, learning, and high expectations. Strives to build and sustain positive relationships between school representatives, students, families, and community partners, when their needs conflict. Cite the case as well as 2-3 scholarly resources.Read the “Shaping School Culture” case study to inform the assignment.Part 1: Case Analysis In 250-500 words, respond to the case study by addressing the following:Brief summary of the case Issues to be resolved Stakeholders involved in the issues One or two existing laws or court rulings that relate to the issues District policies that relate to the issues Possible solutions to the issues Solutions chosen to resolve the issues Action steps (2-5) for implementing each solution, including a timeline for each step Potential moral and legal consequences of each solution Part 2: Rationale Support the case analysis with a 250-500 word rationale explaining the solutions you chose and how each solution:Is designed for continual and sustainable school improvement to improve student outcomes. Demonstrates cultural competence and responsiveness in decision-making, school planning, and meeting the needs of students.Addresses difficult issues related to meeting students’ needs while promoting a culture of collaboration, trust, learning, and high expectations.Strives to build and sustain positive relationships between school representatives, students, families, and community partners, when their needs conflict. Cite the case as well as 2-3 scholarly resources.