Changing Course in Jefferson City: Reevaluating a District Initiative to Convert Under-Enrolled Elementary Schools

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-103
Author(s):  
Chad R. Lochmiller
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Schools ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
School Districts ◽  
The United States ◽  
School Enrollment ◽  
Urban School Districts ◽  
State Funding ◽  
Administrator Preparation ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Administrator Preparation Programs

This case positions the reader as the superintendent of Jefferson City Public Schools (pseudonym). Like many urban school districts in the United States, Jefferson City faces a complex milieu of fiscal challenges attributed to inadequate state funding and declining student enrollment. Within this case, the superintendent must address the failing implementation of a district-wide initiative, which converted K-5 elementary schools to K-8 combination schools in response to declining middle school enrollment. The case invites the reader to consider how the district might engage in strategic planning to revise or eliminate the initiative. The case is appropriate for use in administrator preparation programs, particularly those preparing district-level administrators.

Democratic Leadership and Places to Practice It

1996 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul E. Heckman
Keyword(s):  
Preservice Teachers ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
Leadership Skills ◽  
Community Change ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Administrator Preparation ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Democratic Leadership ◽  
Administrator Preparation Programs

The renewal or reform of public schools and their communities calls for a moral democratic concept of leadership, which includes the principles and practices of caring, trust, social justice and collaborative inquiry. In contrast to the bureaucratic concept of leadership that has prevailed in public schools and placed a few people in leadership roles, a democratic concept involves everyone and requires the development of leadership skills in teachers, school administrators, students, parents and neighborhood residents. Such a concept can best be served by a merger of teacher and administrator preparation programs, so that future teachers may develop as leaders as well as followers, and future administrators may develop as followers as well as leaders. In such a merger, there must be community and school forums in which preservice teachers and administrators may practice for their future roles and extend the democratic concept of leadership to students, parents, and neighborhood residents. Efforts of one eight-year school and community change initiative, which is now in its sixth year, indicate the type of forum that might effectively serve this need.

Social Justice Leadership and Family Engagement

2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (5) ◽  
pp. 754-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. DeMatthews ◽  
D. Brent Edwards ◽  
Rodolfo Rincones
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Family Engagement ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Social Justice Leadership ◽  
Administrator Preparation ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
The Status ◽  
Administrator Preparation Programs

Research Approach: This in-depth qualitative case study explores one school leader’s enactment of social justice leadership in an elementary school in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Analysis of interviews and observations revealed how this leader adapted her leadership to prioritize the severe needs of families and students in one of the world’s most violent cities. Findings: The article describes how the leader made sense of the community and its needs. Then, it examines how the leader enacted social justice leadership by addressing the out-of-school challenges that affected student achievement and well-being. Consequently, the leader’s focus shifted toward meaningful family engagement through adult education, community advocacy, and critical questioning of the status quo. Implications: Implications for future research, theory, and administrator preparation programs are presented at the conclusion of the article.

scholarly journals AN EXAMINATION OF ONE FACTOR IN SCHOOL REFORM: INCREASED TEACHER ACCOUNTABILITY IN TWO URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (27) ◽  
pp. 329-344
Author(s):  
Nadine Bonda
Keyword(s):  
Student Achievement ◽  
School Districts ◽  
School Reform ◽  
Standardized Testing ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
The United States ◽  
Urban School Districts ◽  
Case Study Approach ◽  
Study Approach

Beginning in 2009, and with the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, school districts across the United States began to be held to higher standards and their progress publicly reported.  Student achievement began to be measured by standardized testing and great efforts were being made to reduce the achievement gap. This paper is based on a five-year study of teacher evaluation in two urban districts in Massachusetts where improving teacher practice was seen as an important factor in raising student achievement. This research studied efforts to address those teachers who were identified as underperforming and were supported through individual improvement plans.  This paper used a case study approach to show what the practices of a sampling of these teachers looked like, teachers’ reactions to being rated unsatisfactory, and teachers’ reactions to the improvement planning process.

Problems of Practice: From the Principal's Perspective

1993 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen F. Osterman
Keyword(s):  
School Districts ◽  
Secondary Principals ◽  
The United States ◽  
Complex Problem ◽  
Urban School Districts ◽  
Organizational Policies ◽  
Policies And Procedures ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Problems Of Practice ◽  
The Way

This article explores the way that principals understand the nature of the problems that deter schools from better accomplishing their missions. The views presented are those of approximately 40 elementary and secondary principals in two urban school districts in the Mid-Atlantic and Southwest regions of the United States. From the perspective of these principals, schools as organizational workplaces for administrators, teachers, and students are plagued by stress, frustration, and alienation. Although a multi-faceted and complex problem in itself, this organizational malaise is viewed as an outgrowth of an even more complex problem—a growing gap between the culture of the schools and the society of which they are a part. These observations emphasize the importance of examining the way in which organizational policies and procedures of schools and school districts impact upon the motivational needs of administrators, teachers, and students.

Using Covariates to Improve Precision for Studies That Randomize Schools to Evaluate Educational Interventions

2007 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard S. Bloom ◽  
Lashawn Richburg-Hayes ◽  
Alison Rebeck Black
Keyword(s):  
Student Achievement ◽  
Elementary Schools ◽  
High Schools ◽  
School Districts ◽  
Middle Schools ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Urban School Districts ◽  
School Level ◽  
Baseline Covariates

This article examines how controlling statistically for baseline covariates, especially pretests, improves the precision of studies that randomize schools to measure the impacts of educational interventions on student achievement. Empirical findings from five urban school districts indicate that (1) pretests can reduce the number of randomized schools needed for a given level of precision to about half of what would be needed otherwise for elementary schools, one fifth for middle schools, and one tenth for high schools, and (2) school-level pretests are as effective in this regard as student-level pretests. Furthermore, the precision-enhancing power of pretests (3) declines only slightly as the number of years between the pretest and posttests increases; (4) improves only slightly with pretests for more than 1 baseline year; and (5) is substantial, even when the pretest differs from the posttest. The article compares these findings with past research and presents an approach for quantifying their uncertainty.

Potential Problems (and Solutions) of Mentoring in the Preparation of School Administrators

1992 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan D. Muse ◽  
Gloria Jean Thomas ◽  
F. Del Wasden
Keyword(s):  
School Administrators ◽  
Administrator Preparation ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Mentoring Relationship ◽  
Problems And Solutions ◽  
Aspiring Principals ◽  
Administrator Preparation Programs ◽  
The University ◽  
University Training

In a few university administrator preparation programs, experienced principals are being used effectively as mentors to aspiring principals. The mentoring relationship has been found to be more positive and beneficial if the practicum experience is long term and the mentor is seen as an important member of the university training effort. Under the best of circumstances problems may occur that affect the value of mentoring. The article discusses twelve common pitfalls of mentoring and provides suggestions for their resolution.

Administrator Preparation

Education ◽  
2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Hoyle ◽  
Colleen Hoy
Keyword(s):  
Education Policy ◽  
Educational Administration ◽  
Graduate Programs ◽  
Central Office ◽  
Leadership Education ◽  
National Council ◽  
Degree Programs ◽  
Administrator Preparation ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Administrator Preparation Programs

Administrator preparation refers to leadership education graduate programs in universities, granting master’s and doctoral degrees in educational administration or educational leadership. These programs usually include completing requirements for state licensure to serve as school principals, superintendents, and other central office administrators. Students’ degree programs include a plethora of courses including educational finance, organizational theory, leadership processes, education law, education policy, instructional management, research methods, program evaluation and data management, systems planning and analysis, and human resource management. The two most prominent professional associations for individuals engaged in administrator preparation and related research efforts are the National Council for Professors of Educational Administration (NCPEA) and the University Council of Professors of Educational Administration. Researchers for NCPEA reveal that more than 370 graduate programs in educational administration include approximately 3,000 professors and nearly all programs offer the master’s degree and courses leading to administrative licensure, many with an online option. The terminal degree—PhD or EdD—is viewed as a necessity for candidates competing for central office jobs or principalships in many school districts. The historical context and evolution of theory within the field has been important in generating research and change in administrator preparation programs. The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) and the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC), now called ISLLC 2008 Leadership Education Policy Standards, are the primary standards in place for administrator preparation programs. This standardization has raised significant criticism within the field, spurring best-practice research and efforts to reform existing programs. “Interdisciplinary” administrator preparation is a newer movement promoted by growing criticism of traditional administrator preparation. These new degree programs blend graduate-level courses in financial, entrepreneurial, and innovation skills in business administration, public administration, and public affairs with courses in departments of educational administration. In addition to new courses, the popularity of online courses and degrees increases each year. This new program content and the new mode of delivery require research to be conducted to compare the quality of credentials awarded online and through the traditional model.

School Personnel Knowledge and Perceived Skills in Diabetic Emergencies in Georgia Public Schools

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 304-312
Author(s):  
Alesha Wright ◽  
Joanne Chopak-Foss
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
School Districts ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
School Personnel ◽  
The United States ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
School Day ◽  
Health Complications ◽  
Elementary School Personnel

Diabetes affects tens of thousands of school-aged children in the United States. The ability to appropriately manage their diabetes is essential to preventing life-threatening health complications if occurring during the school day. The purpose of this study was to assess school personnel’s knowledge of diabetes (types 1 and 2) and perceived self-competence in performing diabetes management skills. A non-probability sample of elementary school personnel ( N = 809) from five different school districts in Georgia completed a diabetes knowledge and competence questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, and principal component analysis were performed to analyze the data. School personnel reported limited knowledge of diabetes basics and an overall low perceived self-competence in performing many of the diabetic management skills. Despite state legislation enacted to assist children with diabetes in school and available training for school districts, the study found that school personnel are not well trained and lack confidence in performing diabetes management.

School Nurses Practices Promoting Self-Management and Healthcare Transition Skills for Adolescents with Chronic Conditions in Urban Public Schools: A Mixed Methods Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 105984052110532
Author(s):  
Roselaine Charlucien-Koech ◽  
Jacqueline Brady ◽  
Anne Fryer ◽  
Maria E. Diaz-Gonzalez de Ferris
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
School Districts ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
School Nurses ◽  
Urban School Districts ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Healthcare Transition ◽  
Urban Public Schools ◽  
Practice Questions

Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with chronic conditions should acquire self-management skills as part of their healthcare transition (HCT) from pediatric to adult-focused care. HCT/self-management skills have the potential to help mitigate health disparities among minority AYA with chronic conditions. This study investigated school nurses’ practices promoting HCT/self-management skills in urban public schools. Methods: Seventy-nine nurses from three urban school districts in Massachusetts completed a survey of 32 Likert-type questions on HCT/self-management skills, eight demographic questions, and five open-ended practice questions assessing how often they have asked students with chronic conditions about HCT/self-management skills, based on the UNC TRxANSITION IndexTM. Results: Among the 79 school nurses who participated (response rate 76%), 67% never or rarely assessed students’ knowledge of HCT/self-management, and 90% would use a tool that promotes/measures HCT/self-management skills. Conclusion: In our study sample, most school nurses acknowledged the importance of assessing HCT/self-management skills. The majority favored using a tool to promote these skills.

Teaching Yoga in Urban Elementary Schools

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Cohen Harper
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Schools ◽  
School Districts ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Program Implementation ◽  
Urban School Districts ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Urban Elementary Schools ◽  
Regular School ◽  
Successful Program

Teaching Yoga to children is a fulfilling but challenging journey, particularly in poverty-stricken urban school districts. The physical, mental, and emotional impact of poverty on children has serious implications for their academic achievement. Introducing Yoga as part of their regular school experience shows tremendous potential for helping students navigate challenges that interfere with learning. This article helps teachers and therapists understand the experience of providing Yoga and mindfulness programs in urban elementary schools and provides specific information on ways to ensure successful program implementation, including a sample class description, activity instructions, and best practices in training teachers and teaching.

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