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.
Name of Case Study: Making Connections
Questions the Case Study Answers:
1. How does an administrator develop and maintain strong connections with families and community members.
2. How does an administrator use available resources to help meet community interests and needs.
Scenario:
Our high school (GHS), looks for ways to welcome parents and community members into our school and to involve them in the organization. Our principal, Dr. H, has looked for innovative ways to get our ninth grade parents involved in the school culture. About three weeks into the new school year, the administration hosted an evening called Follow Your Child's Schedule Night (FYCS). The evening opened with all teachers of ninth graders attending a Power Point presentation created by veteran freshman teachers. Ideas and strategies were presented to teachers that have been shown to be successful for our freshman population in the past. After the presentation, teachers went to their rooms to await the parents and accompanying students. The parents then followed their student's complete school schedule from 1st period to 6th period, for a total of seven minutes per class. Teachers were encouraged to use the Smart board for a mini-lesson, which allowed parents to see what their children were currently working on in class. After each seven minute class, the bell was rung, and parents had seven minutes to get to the next class, which is the same amount of time that students have during the school day. During the 30 minute “lunch” period, parents enjoyed a Club Fair which highlighted all of the clubs and activities that their child could become positively involved in during their high school career. At the conclusion to the evening, many parents sought out Dr. H. and other administrators to thank them for the informative evening.
Response to Questions:
Many freshman parents are naturally worried and frightened when faced with sending their students off to high school. It is important that parents feel their child is in a safe and nurturing learning environment. Knowledge of how a typical school day works, the opportunity to meet and interact with all of their child's teachers in a small setting, and seeing all opportunities their child has to be a part of a school sponsored club all greatly help freshman parents adapt to the high school environment.
Discussion:
I feel that the principal of GHS earns a proficient rating because she was thinking outside of the box when implementing the FYCS Night. No other high school in our county has done this before. Parent response was overwhelmingly positive and many signed up for volunteer opportunities, either in the classroom or in the school front office. Since the FYCS Night was so successful, I feel that the school leader's leadership style could be described as proficient in this scenario.