ISLLC Standard 1
A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community.
Case Study 1
Key Questions:
- How will the new administrator get the teachers to work as a team?
- How will the new administrator increase teacher morale?
Situation
The first day of pre-planning for school teachers was a very anxious day for teachers at T. Primary School. A new administrator had been brought in to take the place of an administrator who was re-assigned, to open a new school building. The past administrator also took about half of the teachers with him. Teacher morale is very low because they do not what to expect from the new administrator or from the new staff members.
Answers to Questions
Working cooperatively with all staff members is one of the goals the new administrator has set for the 2007-2008 school year. One of the first things on the agenda for pre-planning was a cooperative learning activity. Teachers and other professional staff were paired into groups. The activity was insightful yet entertaining. The administrator tied the activity with the yearly vision “We are a Learning Community for the Success of all Children”.
During pre-planning, all teachers and professional staff members were split into “teams”. These teams will work cooperatively throughout the year to discuss lesson plans, professional learning, etc… Teachers and professional staff members are then disseminated into other teams such as the Sunshine Team, Better Seeking Team, Operational Team, and Instructional Team.
To increase morale, the administrator advises the Sunshine Team when to place “Thinking of You” messages and treats in teachers’ mailboxes. Breakfast and lunches are also, provided at certain times throughout the year. The administrator also has an open door policy and actively listens to the concerns of his staff.
Evaluation of Leadership
I believe that the administrators involved in this case study should be classified at a proficient level. The administrator clearly implemented a new strategy by using “teams” to increase teacher moral and increase collaboration. However, I do believe that the administrator should have allowed teachers to choose the team they wanted to be apart of.
ISLLC Standard 2
A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.
Case Study 2
Key Questions:
- How can the administration develop a program that encourages teacher cooperation in developing lesson plans?
- How can administration develop a program to help teachers with analyzing student data?
Situation
Some teachers feel that they are not given enough planning time to collaborate with other teachers and to develop lesson plans. New laws regarding SST placement has also placed a strain on teachers to collect data on their struggling students.
Answers to Questions
During the third faculty meeting of the school year, the assistant principal over instruction provided a power point presentation to the faculty members. This power point presentation outlined goals for a new “teacher pullout” session that would occur throughout the school year. During the “pull out” sessions certified teachers would be taught how to used data that they have collected using weekly common assessments, probes, “classworks”, HCLI, and standardized tests to help their struggling students. These sessions are taught by administrators and resource teachers.
It is also during this time they could work with their “quad” members to develop lesson plans and to collaborate with each other. Each pull out session would last three hours.
Evaluation of Leadership:
I believe that the administrators involved in this case study should be classified at a proficient level. The administrators clearly developed a way for teachers to receive the help that they needed in order to not only collect data but show them how to use the data. Administration also gave the teachers extra time to collaborate with other teachers so that they can develop proficient lesson plans.
ISLLC Standard 3
A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by ensuring management of the organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment.
Case Study 3
Key Questions:
- How does the administrative team plan for emergency situations at a school housing 780 primary school students?
- How can the administrative team best disseminate the safety management plan to faculty, staff, students, and parents?
Situation
Public schools are required to provide a safe and healthy environment for all students. With so many violent incidents that are occurring in schools how does an administrative team plan for such incidences and emergencies. T. Primary School has approximately 780 students in Pre-K through first grade. These students’ ages range from 4 to 7. How can teachers be properly prepared to safely guard these students if an emergency would happen?
Answers to Questions
During pre-planning faculty members were given the “Emergency Procedures Handbook”. This handbook includes directions for faculty members during emergency situations. There are three sections to the handbook. These sections are for “Code Red”, “Code Green”, and “Code Yellow”. The principal discussed each code at great length and told faculty members the protocol that has to be done for each code.
The administrator also told faculty members that there would be drills that would have to be completed throughout the school year. These drills would help teachers feel more comfortable if there is a real emergency situation.
Evaluation of Leadership:
I believe that the administrators involved in this case study should be classified at a proficient level. The administrators clearly developed a crisis plan that would help faculty members and students to stay safe if there were an emergency situation would occur.
ISLLC Standard 4
A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by collaborating with families and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources.
Case Study 4
Key Questions:
- How does an administrator best collaborate and communicate with parents of students?
- How does an administrator inform the public of important information involving the school?
Situation
Public schools are required to collaborate with the parents of its students. Public schools are also required to collaborate with the community. T. Primary school does not receive a lot of parental support. The PTO does not consist of many members and it is hard to contact parents. T. Primary School is a Title-I School that is located in a small rural town. Many of the parents work in factories and cannot take off to come into the school.
Answers to Questions
The administration along with the counseling department and the school social worker has begun a new parenting program that allows parents to become more involved in their students education. Program such as “Hot Dog Your Reading” invites parents to volunteer in their students classrooms and also learn how to teach their child reading skills.
The administrators, counselors, and social workers do home visits in the community to talk to parents during the evening and daytime. Parent support programs such as “Parent Connect” are held in the evening. Parents are able to talk to administration, counselors, social workers, and some teachers during this time.
T. Primary collaborates with outside agencies to provide parents with additional support. This support includes healthcare, food, and energy assistance.
Evaluation of Leadership:
I believe that the administrators involved in this case study should be classified at a proficient level. The administrators collaborate with the support staff in the school to determine the needs of the parents and students. Administrators provide funding for the programs and also help with there implementation.
ISLLC Standard 5
A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by acting with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner.
Case Study 5
Key Questions:
- How can an administrator protect the confidentiality of its students?
- How can an administrator serve as a role model and exhibit personal and professional values?
Situation
Administrators are required to protect the confidentiality of its students. In a time were public information is not only stored in files but also on computers it is important for administrators to have procedures in place to protect students.
Answers to Questions
The principal of T. Primary School provided teachers with a copy of the Teacher’s Handbook that clearly states the ethical guidelines that teachers and other faculty members must follow. These guidelines discuss confidentiality in depth. The principal when over the guidelines with all faculty members and they were required to sign a form stating that they understood the information.
Teachers at T. Primary School are only allowed to check out the files of the students that are in their class. They must sign the file out and they must view the file in the office. Only administrators and some support staff may view the majority of the information that is stored on the computers. Teachers have the ability to input grades and attendance.
Evaluation of Leadership:
I believe that the administrators involved in this case study should be classified at a proficient level. By requiring teachers to view files in the office and by limiting the information that teachers and other faculty staff members the administrators are lessening the incidences of ethical issues. However, ethical issues should be discussed more than one time during the school year.
ISLLC Standard 6
A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by ensuring management of the organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment.
Case Study 6
Key Questions:
- How can an administrator help to maintain security during school hours?
- How can an administrator confront potential problems in a timely and effective manner?
Situation
T. Primary School was once a high school. There are many doors that lead out to parking lots and these doors must remain unlocked, which make security an issue because adults can enter without being noticed. T. Primary School’s population consists of students whose ages range from 4 to 7.
Answers to Questions
The principal of T. Primary School placed security cameras in all of the main hall ways. The halls can be viewed at any time in the main office. Notices were placed on all of the exterior doors that state for parents to come through the main doors. Parents are then required to check-in through the main office.
Walkie-talkies are available on each hall and all administrators have a walkie-talkie to communicate with each other and with other staff members.
Evaluation of Leadership:
I believe that the administrators involved in this case study should be classified at a non-proficient level. Other security measures should be done to ensure the safety of the students and staff at T. Primary School.
