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Data-Driven Decisions and School Leadership (Decision Making Behavior-Chapter 2)

Upon reflecting on our decision making team, some of the key principles that guide effective organizations, I have observed in Rogers Garden Elementary.

The school climate and culture are both developed and underdeveloped in many capacities.  It is my observation that the school's School-Based Leadership Team (SBLT) is developed and thriving.  I feel that the MTSS Problem Solving Team is less developed and cohesive.

In Chapter 2, we are made aware that that the "schools organizational climate ...is a metaphor for the schools distinguishing characteristics" (pg. 32).  That resulted in my reflecting on the team chemistry and purpose in decision making.  Kowalski explains that "an open school climate is characterized by "cooperation and respect within the faculty and between the faculty and principal" (pg. 33).  It is herein that our strength as an organization lies.

Our organizational culture is one of shared beliefs with strong interconnected values as well as a common purpose.

Our SBLT is composed of the following members:
Administrator
Administrative Intern (myself)
Math Coach
Primary Literacy Coach
Intermediate Literacy Coach
Science Coach
Behavioral Specialist/Classroom Management Coach

We meet each week (Thursday's from 1:00-3:30) to collaborate on how to best meet the needs of the learners by utilizing data.

Let me take a step backwards to explain a little about our school.  We are in state corrective Differentiated Accountability action (DA.)  This means we partner with the state to make decisions about the direction of the school.  The state, along with our SBLT and the District-Based Leadership Team (DBLT) makes decisions by doing periodic walkthroughs as a team and discussing what we observe.  We are broken into several smaller teams as it is our goal to identify possible "trends" that may be hindering our ability to perform.  This qualitative and quantitative data is used in conjunction with our school grade to make decisions about how best to move forward.  We come together after very comprehensive walkthroughs and collaboration to create an Action Plan.  The Action Plan contains the 5 Elements required for Successful Schools.  After we create our Action Plan, we get to work.

It is the job of the SBLT to decide how to meet these expectations and goals.  In our weekly meetings, we make decisions about what we are or are not seeing in the classrooms that support or hinder our forward momentum in meeting the goals outlined in our DA meetings.  We also collaborate on best practices and ways to support specific teachers.

These meetings are the essence of collaborating to problem solve based on identified needs observed through data analysis.

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