Practicum Leadership Case Study 1 by Hector Salas

Practicum Leadership
Case Study 3 by Hector Salas

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.

Name of Case Study: "Involving All the Stakeholders "

Questions the Case Answers:

How does a school administrator create a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment?
To what extend does involving stakeholders help ensure management of the organization, operations, and resources?

The Situation:

Academic year 2006-2007 was a year for monitoring and looking for improvement opportunities. It was mid-spring, school was gearing up to finish another academic year but at the same time, Principal Kaso (not her real name) was already planning for the Fall. She called on me for suggestions for improving the teacher-course matrix for the following year. She also engaged the academic support office to investigate the effect Education Edge, the new school-wide software, would have on operations, and the impact regarding teachers, that is bringing them up to speed two weeks before school would start up again in August! The software was installed for the financial side of the organization but for the academic side had to wait till after graduation.

Meanwhile, Principal Kaso was seeking to optimize the schedule of classes, more specifically the class periods spread over a week's time and the instruction time to allocate. There were enough concern and issues about the schedule brought to her attention by teachers and students that it warrant a needs assessment. She shared with us at each staff meeting the improvement opportunities emphasizing the need to enhance the student learning experience and she was right. The faculty was in agreement, if we were to keep a positive teaching and learning environment, we needed to get creative and tweak a few procedures and practices. But there was another area of legal matter that needed attention - security and safety.

Principal Kaso, like the rest of us, was alarmed at the number of news reports involving shooting at schools across the country. She had delegated security to provide a workshop for the teachers and along with our staff team develop a communications plan and procedures (action plan) in the event of an emergency. Business size action cards were issued with our new identification cards to be worn by everyone who worked at the school. Community experts were also involved in identifying security and safety improvement efforts to strengthen the academic environment. Each staff and faculty member welcomed the sound plan and clear procedures based on research for the safety of everyone at the school. The new school year was looking better before, it had even started.

The actions set in motion by the principal early in the school year provided a smooth transition and support needed to enhance the success of the teaching and learning. The schedule and time tables were adjusted, teachers learned the new software, security operations and procedure were in place, and the resources - facilities, course, teacher assignments, planning time, class period lengths and spread across the week were all properly matched and organized.

Answer to the Questions:

How does a school administrator create a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment?

By planning ahead regarding managing the organization, managing operations, and the resources necessary to facilitate teaching and learning. Involve the staff and faculty, they are the ones that need to work with the resources given to enhance their teaching practice and the student's learning experience. Communicate and involve staff that can help align resources with the vision and that best meets the needs of teachers, students, and the community (accountability).

2. To what extend does involving stakeholders help ensure management of the organization, operations, and resources?

Principals are very busy people and are in the business of helping others be successful, which stands for reason, involving stakeholders in management processes is very important. The extent of trusting people and their judgments play a vital role in facilitating successful processes and activities that lead toward the ultimate goal, that is student achievement. From the teacher who helps with the teacher-course matrix to the academic support office that give attention to staff development - use of software, from the community experts on safety to the regular classroom teacher that utilizes the resources given and makes the best learning environment he/she can make.

Evaluation:

From my perspective the leadership style demonstrated in this case study by the Principle Kaso was Accomplished. Principal Kaso could had made the change decisions all by herself. She is very capable but that is not her style. She believes in, values, and is committed to involving all the stakeholders that are in the trenches with the students. She is considered of the needs of the teachers and students with the focus always on promoting student success. Principal Kaso 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.