Principals’ Interview and Survey Responses
Schools and principals
participating:
(FACS) First
Assembly Christian School in Portage, MI
Mr. Tim Gehle, technology director
(TUCS) Tri-Unity
Christian School in Wyoming, MI
Ellen Birdsall, administrative assistant
(MCS) Mattawan
Consolidated Schools in Mattawan, MI
James Wheeldryer, superintendent
Questions for the Administrator
*Mattawan did not participate in this part of the questioning.
1)
How would you define staff development?
FACS a combination of activities to help staff do their job and do it well
TUCS at this point, teaching the basics about technology and how to use it with each subject
2)
When should staff development take place?
FACS whenever it can be scheduled – prep times, weekends, before and after school
TUCS we don’t offer much – 2 day ACSI conference in the fall, in-service days that are usually half-days
3)
Should principals take part in staff development
opportunities?
FACS they need to be there to learn what their staff is learning
TUCS definitely
4)
What support is offered to your staff following staff
development sessions?
FACS sharing after staff development with teachers who would benefit from it, I am moving toward making them accountable for what they learn
TUCS meet with curriculum leader to share – then implement
5)
Do you offer your staff a choice in the types of staff
development opportunities they have?
FACS yes but I try to guide teachers with specific needs
TUCS staff chooses workshops they will attend
Administrator’s opinions of technology development in the district, school, & classroom:
1)
Technology helps students become active learners
FACS
currently: [1-2] (strongly) disagrees this is the situation
ideally: [3-4] somewhat agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [2] disagrees this is the
situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [4] agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
2)
Technology helps students become players and
communicators in a global village
FACS
currently: [2] disagrees this is the situation
ideally: [3-4] somewhat agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [2] disagrees this is the
situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
3)
Technology allows students to engage in knowledge
building on a worldwide stage
FACS
currently: [4-5] (strongly) agrees this is the situation
ideally: [4-5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [2] disagrees this is the
situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [4] agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the situation
4)
Technology planning is guided by desired learning
outcomes recognized by the school and its community
FACS
currently: [1] strongly disagrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [2] disagrees this is the
situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [4] agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
5)
Technology skills are defined for all students
FACS
currently: [1] strongly disagrees this is the situation
ideally: [4-5] (strongly) agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [3] neutral about the
situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [4] agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
6)
Technology is integrated throughout the curriculum to
achieve higher standards and more effective teaching
FACS
currently: [1] strongly disagrees this is the situation
ideally: [3-4] somewhat agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [2] disagrees this is the
situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [4] agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
7)
All teachers use technologies effectively in their
everyday teaching
FACS
currently: [1]strongly disagrees this is the situation
ideally: [4-5] (strongly) agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [2] disagrees this is the
situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [2] disagrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
Administrator’s vision for school/district improvement through effective use of technology:
8)
Has a vision for how the district, school, or classroom
can be improved through the effective use of technology
FACS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is
the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
9)
Visits model sites which have implemented successful,
technology-supported change initiatives
FACS
currently: [4] agrees this is the situation
ideally: [4-5] (strongly) agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [4] agrees this is the
situation
ideally: [4] agrees this should be the situation
MCS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
10)
Collaborates with other administrators who have
implemented successful, technology-supported change initiatives
FACS
currently: [1] strongly disagrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [4] agrees this is the
situation
ideally: [4] agrees this should be the situation
MCS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
11)
Understands major obstacles to achieving successful,
technology-supported change initiatives
FACS
currently: [4] agrees this is the situation
ideally: [4-5] (strongly) agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is
the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
12)
Has a broad range of strategies for overcoming
obstacles
FACS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is
the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
Administrator’s support for staff development:
13)
Considers staff development to be of critical
importance
FACS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is
the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [4] agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the situation
14)
Provides staff with non-negotiable reasons to use
technology
FACS
currently: [1-2] (strongly) disagrees this is the situation
ideally: [4] agrees this should be the situation
TUCS
currently: [2] disagrees this is the
situation
ideally: [3] neutral that this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [4] agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the situation
15)
Assists teachers in seeking out community resources for
technology-supported projects
FACS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [2] disagrees this is the
situation
ideally: [3] neutral that this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [4] agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the situation
16)
Encourages collaborative activity between teachers to
enhance staff development
FACS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [3] neutral about the
situation
ideally: [4] agrees this should be the situation
MCS
currently: [4] agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the situation
17)
Provides one-on-one support from the school’s
technology coordinator for the teacher
FACS
currently: [3-4] somewhat agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [2] disagrees this is the
situation
ideally: [2] disagrees this should be the situation
MCS
currently: [4] agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the situation
18)
Has a strategic plan for staff development that helps
teachers integrate technology effectively into the classroom
FACS
currently: doesn’t apply
ideally: doesn’t apply
TUCS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is
the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [4] agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the situation
19)
Includes staff development as a significant item in the
technology development budget
FACS
currently: doesn’t know
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is
the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
MCS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the situation
20)
Provides multiple options for staff development
opportunities that result in greater understanding of technological
applications to the classroom
FACS
currently: [5] strongly agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the
situation
TUCS
currently: [3] neutral about the
situation
ideally: [4] agrees this should be the situation
MCS
currently: [4] agrees this is the situation
ideally: [5] strongly agrees this should be the situation