Hickory Ridge High School Problem Based Learning Activity
Angela DavisGwendelyn Fristensky
Kasandra GallegosRenee’ L. Hanson
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Introduction to Hickory Ridge
• Urban school• Approximately
1800 students
• Test scores had fallen slightly over last three years but then had risen last year.
• Rooms are all wired and have at least 15 computers in each.
Introduction to Hickory Ridge
• The district would like for Hickory Ridge to become a technological center with computers incorporated into the curriculum and daily instruction.
• Use, however, was disappointing.
• Very supportive parent group. • High community turnover – • stepping off…
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Demographics
• Hickory Ridge• 46% white• 40% African American• 12% Hispanic• 2% Asian
• State Average• 82% white• 5% African American• 0% Hispanic• Less than 1% Native
American and 2% Multi-Race
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Student Achievement
• School board and community:
• “better teaching for all kids”
• “give their children a head start by providing them with critical thinking and technological skills.”
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Leadership
• Jim O’Connor, Principal• Experience: Teacher for eight years, assistant
principal for thirteen years• Problem: not respected by newer staff
members• He is the keeper of the history. • Lacks understanding of current needs.
Superintendent/District Initiatives
• Recognize that the organizational culture is hindering reform efforts with problems such as lack of trust, confidence, power, problematic communication, lack of respect.
• Must identify ways to give the principal and teachers a sense of purpose, direction, responsibility, power, respect, optimism, and mission.
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Staff Concerns
• 27 new teachers in last four years• Fast-trackers, digital natives• Older teachers – rut, digital immigrants• No respect between the two
main groups• Divided
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Basic Plan – Nuts and Bolts
• Involves• Revisiting mission/vision to get all stakeholder
buy-in• Adopt comprehensive school reform models
for implementation• Empower staff• Develop respect• Protect what is good/Change to meet needs
Which way to go?
OLD SAYING:
• “If you don’t know where you are going, any route will do!”
• MISSION AND VISION
• The Education Commission of the States (1992) purports that having a shared vision is a critical piece of the educational reform puzzle that anchors and gives meaning to the whole.
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Mission and Vision
• The current (new) mission and vision don’t necessarily need to be scrapped and tossed out to the dump.
• Revisiting and obtain all stakeholder buy-in.
StakeholdersYou have to have stakeholder buy-in.
Stakeholders in this case start at the top with the school board, superintendent, principal, community members, parents, and students.
cooperation leadership
balance
service
responsibility
3:02 YouTube - Respect
Communication
• Study Groups -is a group of people that come together regularly over an extended period of time to study a particular issue.
2-day affairs2-4 hours after school
weeklya few times in a yearWhen?
The administrators, teachers, and counselors use these principles for guiding their study groups: (Murphy& Lick, 2005).
work is public
students come first
everyone participates
leadership is shared
responsibility is equal
School Improvement and Development
Risk Taking
Support and Empowerment
Research on Reforms and Innovative Programs
What’s Right at Hickory High
Cooperation
• working together toward a common goal (mission/vision)
• Involving the community• Discussing and reflecting
respectfully
Leadership
By providing inspiration, always striving to do the right thing and empowering others to do their best is leadership.
Balance
• Being fair and giving everyone a voice.
• Committees who include new and older teachers.
• Anonymous surveys.
Service
• being an active participant and meaningful contributor to others and the community.
• being of assistance and benefit others.
Responsibility
• Acting morally and fulfilling our commitments• Accepting ownership• Accountable
2-day affairs
helps the group bond and allow for wide ranging discussion.
