School Improvement Project (SIP)

School Improvement Project
Process Overview

Goals:
* Determine the effects of alternative placement on students' academic performance.
* Find best practices in classroom management to reduce number of discipline referrals and missed instruction time by repeat offenders.
* Implement new school-wide discipline initiative that addresses student needs and emphasizes individual goal setting.

1. Setting the Foundation
Visit with principal to determine the research topic and develop action research question.

2. Analyzing Data
Collect benchmark, TAKS, and discipline data.

3. Developing Deeper Understanding
Survey the staff to determine what they view as needs to strengthen behavior management on campus. Begin research using both online and text resources.

4. Engage in Self-Reflection
Answer the following questions:
* Am I on the right track to have a successful action research project?
* Are all the resources I need being made available to me by administration?
* Am I dedicating enough time to be successful?
* If I find a solution to improve behavior on my campus in order to keep kinds in class for instruction time, will administration be supportive in allowing me to implement a new behavior management plan?

5. Exploring Programmatic Patterns
Meet with administrator and discuss current findings and possible solutions and determine any problems which may arise. Get advice to ensure successful implementation of program.

6. Determining Direction
Answer the following questions:
* Am I clear on what I am attempting to solve?
* Have I met with administration and staff?
* Are stakeholders on board with the plan?
* Are my time lines realistic?
* Do I Have a reasonable plan to monitor the project?
* Do I have a reasonable plan to determine the level of success?
* How will success be evaluated?
* How will I revise and improve the plan as necessary?

7. Taking Action for School Improvement
Form a committee to assist with implementing plan and determine what kind of formative evaluation is needed to assess the success of the plan.

8. Sustain Improvement
Determine how I will maintain the success of my plan and how I can share the effectiveness with other campuses in my school district.

WEEK 2 REFLECTION-5301

In viewing the video lecture from Johnny Briseno, principal from Rancho Isabella Elementary, Angleton ISD I have to agree with his statement about getting the facts first. Also I do not feel that some teachers take the time to get to know their students. If teachers were ale to get to know their students better then different types of learning styles might be discovered. Then having teachers sharing this information with their colleagues are so very vital. Collaboration is key when it comes to teaching students. I also admire the thought of teacher lead faculty meetings. So many times administrators run the faculty meeting and tell teachers what works and what doesn’t. By allowing a fellow teacher to run the faculty meeting other teachers get to hear the information from a peer. The information passed along at these meetings is so very important because it might trigger a thought in another teacher’s mind that might work on a student that they are having trouble with. By aligning curriculum through out the district and passing on information whit upper level teachers could really change a students life If a high school teacher already knows what works for a student they are getting the following school year then already that student has a head start. I also took the thought that if I have a question and do not know where to begin that the idea of “Goggling” it is awesome. Someone somewhere could have had the same problems I am having and maybe they found a solution that is appropriate for me as well.

Action Research

The subject of action research can be described as a process. The actions taken, resulting change, theory of change, and whether or not it was a positive one. I can see this playing an extremely important part in the daily/weekly routine of administrators. Action research can be facilitated alone, with a group, or even a leadership team. Having multiple people involved in the decision process allows for more collaboration within the school.
I truly feel that the more important aspect of action research is the reflection process. Finding the time to reflect on situations, whether in the school setting or even in personal life, is crucial to learning from the past and making better decisions for the future. As a future administrator, I feel action research will help me become a better leader in the school setting when it comes to making decisions that are in the best interest of the school and the stakeholders involved.

How educational leaders might use blogs...

In using blogging to communicate in the school setting, administrators can communicate with their staff on an up-to-minute, daily, or even on a weekly basis. Blogs can be used to encourage professional development by providing a means of discussion for book studies. This type of communication is more like an open forum where, unlike email, everyone has access to the blog and everyone can communicate through it. With the ability of all stakeholders having access to blogs, everyone from the superintendent down to the teachers and support staff can and should have an open line of communication.