EOCS 7450                                                                                       Pamela
Barnett

Practicum in
Leadership                                                                  Case
Study #4

ISLLC Standard #4:

A
school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all
students by collaborating with families and community members, responding to
diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources.

Name of Case Study:

Making
Connections

Questions the Case
Study Answers:

1.
How does an
administrator develop and maintain strong connections with families and
community members.

2.
How does an
administrator use available resources to help meet community interests and needs.

The Situation:

On
the surface, our middle school (GMS) attempts to welcome parents and community
members into our school and to involve them in the organization.  Our principal, Mr. Cruise, does support
and participate on the required school council.  Topics discussed at the meetings are
informational and never delve into the “hot” topics that exist.  Parental and community concerns that are
presented are given a band-aid solution because our administrator
“doesn’t want to go there”.  PTO meetings are conducted to permit
parents to pick up report cards.  A
planned informational speech is given and drawings for door prizes are
provided.  Parents have the
opportunity to schedule parent teacher conferences when they visit classrooms
after picking up report cards.  Mr.
Cruise is not prepared to deal with the concerns and needs of parents.  We are missing the opportunity of using
our joint resources, skills, talents and potential.  Overall, GMS is not efficiently tapping
the rich resource of its parents and community.

Answers to Questions:

To
develop and maintain strong connections with families and community members and
use available resources to help meet community interests and needs, Mr. Cruise
could do the following:

1)
Develop and organize a
organization/program

a)
Involve all faculty

b)
Involve community organizations

i)
Abstinence Education

ii)
Talent Search

iii)
Concerted Services

iv)
Family Connections

v)
Migrant Education

c)
Involve parent organizations

i)
PTO

ii)
Booster Club

d)
Involve community organizations

i)
City Council

ii)
Chamber of Commerce

iii)
Local businesses

iv)
Recreation department

e)
Monthly meetings

i)
Span a block of time to provide greater
opportunity to attend

ii)
Provide child care for younger children

iii)
Provide information relevant to middle school

(1)
Research

(2)
Adolescents

(3)
Helping your child learn/with homework

iv)
Provide information on happenings at GMS

(1)
Testing

(2)
Assignments/Projects

(3)
Sporting Events

(4)
Clubs

(5)
Student recognition

v)
Make media center/computer labs/resources
available for students

vi)
Have mini-classes to meet needs of parents

(1)
Provide information on available services in the
community/school

(2)
Provide opportunity for parent and student to
learn together

(3)
Provide adult literacy/language/computer classes

vii)  Highlight/involve
students

(1)
Students present their accomplishments/work

(2)
Students teach parents about what they are
doing/learning

(3)
Student council shares student concerns/needs

viii)Parents

(1)
Survey for future meeting topics/to identify
needs/concerns

(2)
Create a volunteer log for parents and community
members to

(a)
Share a hobby/skill/talent

(b)
Tutor

(c)
Serve as classroom sponsor/helper/mentor

(d)
Be a resource speaker/presenter

(e)
Provide donations/materials

ix)
Provide opportunities for all stakeholders

(1)
To contribute to success of students/school

(2)
To solve problems

(3)
To voice opinions/concerns

(4)
To utilize resources

(5)
To interact and develop relationships