Educational Leadership and School Improvement Portfolio

In this course school-based leadership is examined from a systems perspective. Major research findings, theories, and ideas relevant to the understanding of sociopolitical influences on schools and of the impact of these influences on schools are the focus of this course. The course is designed for building administrators, department chairpersons, instructional lead teachers, staff development specialists, curriculum leaders, and central office supervisors and administrators. Its purposes include expanding knowledge of the larger educational context of schools and of societal forces impacting schools and developing expertise in collaborative work with school stakeholders.

What do I expect from a school?

• Safety and Order

As a taxpayer and the parent of three children, I expect our local schools to be safe and orderly. I want to know that my children will be safe from drugs, violence, and other potential threats to their physical or mental well-being. When I walk into the school building, I want the school to give me the appearance of a controlled environment where a sense of order is maintained by teachers and staff at all times. In other words, I want to see that adults (teachers and administrators) are out and about in the school to monitor and control the normal activities which occur in a school building.

• Excellent Teachers and Staff

I want my child’s teacher to be competent, caring, and most importantly, a good teacher.

I want high quality teachers to teach and monitor my child. I expect teachers to be well-educated, well-spoken, and qualified to teach the subjects they are teaching. I want teachers and staff to be friendly to students and to parents. I want the school environment to be a pleasant place where teachers genuinely care for students. I expect a friendly greeting from teachers, staff, and administrators when I enter the building. I expect teachers to be accessible to parents and to children when additional help or information is needed. For administration, I expect them to be accessible to me and to directly address any questions, needs, or concerns that I may have.

• High Expectations for Student Learning

I want my child to learn and be prepared for the future. I expect the school to prepare my child both academically and socially for a postsecondary education and a career.

• Facilities and Resources

I expect the school facility to be clean and pleasing to the eye. I want the grass to be cut and the trash to be picked up on the school grounds. The exterior of the school building and other facilities should project a positive learning environment to students. When entering the building, I expect to see clean halls, a pleasing décor, and other signs that promote a positive school image. 

How will I meet these expectations?

• Safety and Order

Students will be monitored by teachers and staff at all times. I will place teachers on duty to monitor students during class changes, before school, and after school. Administrators will be visible and accessible to students and parents before school, after school, and during class changes. Students will be expected to follow school rules and will be held accountable for following school rules by teachers and school administration. All visitors to the school will be expected to follow sign-in procedures and wear a visitor’s pass. Emergency plans for the school will be in place. Teachers and staff will practice emergency procedures to know how to react in the event of an emergency situation. As an administrator, I will make sure that all threats to the safety of our students are investigated.

• Excellent Teachers and Staff

I will hire qualified staff members and help teachers to reach their professional potential through additional training and support as necessary. My teachers will be highly qualified.  I will always listen to parental concerns and take action as necessary. I will expect all teachers, staff, and administrators to be friendly and professional with parents and students. I will provide training and staff development opportunities to encourage the use of effective teaching strategies and monitor their usage in the classroom through walk-through evaluations. I will make sure the school schedule gives teachers ample time to meet in professional learning communities to promote departmental collaboration.

• High Expectations for Student Learning

I will ensure that my teachers are teaching using the state-mandated GPS standards. I will monitor teaching to make sure that effective teaching practices are being used in the classroom. I will promote school goals openly in the community and within the school by posting our school goals, talking about them, and measuring our progress on an ongoing basis. I will provide teachers with the resources, collaboration time, training, and support they need to work towards achieving school goals. The academic curriculum will be rigorous. Relevance will be encouraged by exposing students to career options through guest speakers, career-related classes or units, and interaction with teachers and guidance counselors. School activities that promote the social development of students (such as clubs and other activities) will be planned.

• Facilities and Resources

I will encourage teachers, staff, and students to keep the building clean at all times. I will make sure that the school grounds are attractive by keeping the grass cut and the shrubbery and bushes maintained. I will maintain an effective janitorial staff that works on a schedule to keep the halls, classrooms, bathrooms, and grounds clean at all times. I will make sure that the school hallways will be decorated with awards, accomplishments, and other artifacts to promote school spirit. When building maintenance issues occur, I will have them handled quickly so that our image as a clean and attractive facility is maintained.