Case Study #6

ISLLC #6 A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, and economic, legal and cultural context.

Promoting Success of All in the Community

Questions:

How does an administrator promote the success of all students by understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, and economic, legal and cultural context?

How does the administrator maintain an open communication, which is conducive to student learning and community growth?

There are many traits that a good leader must possess, first and foremost a thorough understanding of the larger political, social, and economic, legal and cultural context. Dogwood Road Elementary School’s principal is committed to education and the importance of continuing dialogue with other decision makers affecting education. By law, a school council must be in place. Members consist of teachers, parents and community members, and bylaws must be followed. The principal of Dogwood Road Elementary assures that the school council meets monthly and always calls each member to assure that it is successful. This council endeavors to strengthen and improve the learning environment of the school. Communication occurs among the school council concerning issues and potential changes in the environment in which the school operates.

Decisions made at Dogwood Road Elementary School are made within the framework of policies, laws and regulations enacted by local, state, and federal authorities. On example of this is the school accounting procedure. In addition to the systems policies, the principles as established a procedure of check and balances. Three members of the school personnel help with accounting system. While the principal is the one deemed responsible for accounting by the system, the principal has established procedures to caught mistakes. The bookkeeper is responsible for maintain records, which are checked by the assistant principal and principal. The school secretary and then the bookkeeper count cash. Accounts are monitor weekly by the bookkeeper, assistant principal, as well as the principal. The principal communicates with the system’s finance department as needed to make sure are procedure are carried out correctly. It is communicated to the system’s finance director when changes are needed in the budget.

At Christmas and other religious holidays, the principal stresses the importance of knowing the student population. She tactful reminds the staff to be aware that all people do not have the same beliefs. By recognizing a variety of ideas, values, and cultures, she knows it is her duty to protect student rights. This often is offends some members of the staff, but she knows the sensitive reminder must happen. Which is evidence that the principal has a clear understanding of equity in a democratic society.

This was a proficient case study and it described an administrator, who is promotes the success of all students by understanding, responding to and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural context. She clearly understands outside environment which influences school operations. She maintains open lines of communication with decisions makers outside the school community. She is active in the community by attending required school meetings, as well as, public forums and being a member of local community service clubs. Her excellent abilities in public relations have proven many times to be an asset to the school as evidenced by procedures she has established. She has gains community support for programs she wants to initiate by making community members stakeholders. She make sure that the school operates within the framework of polices, laws and regulations, even if it involves extra work that is not required, such as the extra accounting procedure she has put in place to avoid mistakes. She is willing to do the work required to make the school as good as it can be. One of the principal’s strong points is her ability to constantly model be beliefs in the vision of the school, thus conveying to all her genuine commitment to the school and the community. She represents the school extremely well in the community as a whole and whenever possible she promotes the schools vision and mission, which in the long run to make the community a better place.