RUNNING HEAD: CASE STUDY: SHAPING SCHOOL CULTURE

Case study: Shaping school culture

Bradley J Ostendorf

Grand Canyon University: EAD-529: Clinical Internship II: Learner-Centered Leadership

Dr. Michael Lichucki

04/06/2022
CASE STUDY: SHAPING SCHOOL CULTURE

Summary

In this case study, I have taken over the role of principal at a middle school who currently

holds a “D” accountability letter grade. The school has a very diverse population and has a

reputation of being a “tough” school. Behavioral issues have been identified as the main reason

student achievement outcomes are so low. With approximately 700 students and around 35

teachers, it will be my responsibility to improve student achievement and improve the overall

school accountability grade.

Issues

As stated prior, student disciplinary issues are the leading cause of low student

achievement levels. Students are spending far too much time out of class and in the principal’s

office. I also believe having one special education teacher on staff is not enough. Learners with

learning disabilities, or other special needs, need to be supported to learn at their own pace based

on their skillset and abilities. (Okech, Yuwono, & Wamaungo, 2021) With only one special

education teacher, there is a high likelihood that disciplinary concerns from both students and

teachers stem from a lack of support being provided to students in need.

Stakeholders

The main stakeholders involved include the students, teachers, administration, and

parents.
CASE STUDY: SHAPING SCHOOL CULTURE

Laws and Policies

In Mills v. Board of Education, it was concluded that school systems have the legal duty

to provide a publicly supported education to all students regardless of their disability. This

includes mental, behavioral, physical, or emotional disabilities. (The Right to Education, 2020)

The school described in the prompt could be potentially denying students services that are

guaranteed to them by right.

Solutions and Action Steps

The first solution would be to hire at least two more special education teachers. As stated

in the prompt, one of my responsibilities is to hire seven teachers across all grade levels. I would

make it a top priority to make sure that at least two of these hires will be teachers who can

support the needs of our diverse student population.

A second solution includes reviewing the current curriculum to ensure that it is servicing

the needs of the students. The student population consists of a majority of Hispanic students. The

school also has the largest population of African American students in the district. This diverse

student population calls for a curriculum that educates students beyond the mandated state

standards. A goal of mine would be to help students and staff develop critical consciousness.

Critical consciousness is defined as the ability to recognize and analyze systems of inequality

and take action against these systems. (El-Amin, 2017) These behaviors have been shown to

improve student motivation and achievement for marginalized students. By adjusting curriculum

so that students are provided the opportunity to learn about equity, the systems that surround

them, and what they can do to advocate for themselves, our students may find themselves more

engaged in their learning.

CASE STUDY: SHAPING SCHOOL CULTURE

I would use the summer prior to the school year to collaborate with varying stakeholder

groups to identify or create an approach to educating our students on these topics. Ideally, this

new program would be rolled out the first week of school, however, I would work hand in hand

with the district office and the school board to ensure that the program is implemented in an

acceptable timeframe and in an appropriate way.

Consequences

Leaders have an ethical and legal responsibility to promote the success of all students.

This includes students of varying abilities, ethnic backgrounds, gender, religious beliefs, etc. For

this prompt, the student population is very diverse, and the school does not seem suited to meet

their needs. Failure to provide appropriate services could result in legal action being taken

against the district. I, as an administrator, would also endure an ethical struggle in knowing that I

am preventing many students from reaching their full potential.

CASE STUDY: SHAPING SCHOOL CULTURE

References

El-Amin, A. (2017, February 4). Critical consciousness: A key to student achievement. Retrieved

from Phi Delta Kappan: https://kappanonline.org/critical-consciousness-key-student-

achievement/

Okech, J. B., Yuwono, I., & Abdu, W. J. (2021). Implementation of Inclusive Education

Practices for Children with Disabilities and Other Special Needs in Uganda. Journal of

Education and E-Learning Research, 8(1), 97–102.

The Right to Education. (2020). Retrieved from Disablity Justice:

https://disabilityjustice.org/right-to-education/