This week has been very productive! Though I was only able to meet with my site supervisor briefly, we were able to discuss my three topics for possible research. I will admit that I was quite intimidated by this "project" at the end of the last course, especially since it was left rather up in the air upon completing the course, but now I am starting to get an idea of what we are doing! I will also share that this course is much better organized and clearly explained than the last course, which helps to ease my worries and stress. 

      Since my husband and I teach at such a small school and essentially teach on the same campus, my site supervisor suggested that we work together on the same research inquiry. We did a lot of research online this week and spent a lot of time discussing where we really felt our time was best spent to affect the most change for our school. In the end, we decided to research: 

1. What is the effect of time spent serving In School Suspension (ISS) or Alternative Education Program (AEP) on academic success? 
2. How can we motivate these students to improve their behavior?
3. What alternative consequences could we assign that would keep these kids in the classroom, but also evoke an improvement in behavior?
4. How can we encourage staff buy-in, especially with veteran teachers?
5. What number of the students assigned ISS and AEP are labeled At-Risk?

    We feel this is an area of great need for our campus, as we service a large population of Low Socioeconomic and Minority students. The research we have found so far has shown a correlation between the amount of time spent in ISS and AEP and an increased dropout rate which can have large economic effects on our town, state, and country as a whole. With the demographics already putting our students at risk due to poverty, it is even more important that we be proactive in helping these students feel part of the school community to help them stay in school. My husband and I both feel very strongly that if we are not part of the solution than you are part of the problem. We want to be part of the solution. We are very excited to do more research and see what we can find and what has worked at other schools, but also nervous, as this has larger implications for our most important "customers" our students. We truly want to be able to affect a change and are most curious to find ways to get teachers to buy in to this research inquiry to try some alternative forms of discipline. We will need most if not all of them to be on board for this to be truly effective.
Interesting Study on Race, Discipline & Human Capital Effects

Building a Blog on Action Research: Week 1 part 3 Assignment

Starting Course Two working toward a Master's in Educational Leadership. I am amazed at how much I have learned in such a short time.

Action Research is a way to affect change in my school from the inside. The most effective part of Action Research, in my limited opinion, is that it involves the school staff in the current issues that need to be resolved. They are the ones who will be most affected by changes made and as a principal, I will benefit from gaining the value of their insight, as well as buy in when they feel a part of the change. Action research also allows me to work with my staff to form leadership teams to help me identify areas of concern and brainstorm solutions to these problems. These leadership teams will help me to create goals that we can work toward attaining. Upon reaching these goals, we can celebrate our successes and reevaluate areas that need to be addressed. Action Research will also allow me to show myself as a "head learner" and lead by example to encourage my staff to also see themselves as lifelong learners.

The readings have further enforced the value of collaboration in the decision making process for leaders, as was emphasized in our first leadership course. As leaders we need to seek out our teachers' expertise and insights to gain knowledge and ownership by the entire school. With this type of leadership, the teachers will feel an integral part of a larger learning community and that they are valued as an important part of the learning family.

I think blogs would be a good way for principals to communicate with staff to keep them up to date important events and evoke discussion. I also think this would be a good way for them to share information with principals in other districts across the country.