Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership recent issues

Teacher with a Learning Disability: Legal Issues and District Approach

Clayton, J. K. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:41:49 PDT

This case study focuses on a teacher who discloses a learning disability to her Principal. Given the teacher’s challenges in retention of her content material, the district is faced with how to handle the personnel situation of an employee with a disability. This case raises questions of how to balance the needs and interests of students with the employee’s rights under the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Building Action Research Teams: A Case of Struggles and Successes

Du, F. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:41:49 PDT

Teaching teams can hold the promise of being an ideal vehicle in which collaborative action research is conducted. This case documents the mixed results of a team leader’s efforts to improve teaching and introduce inquiry-based professional development through action research in a community college. This case paints a realistic and multidimensional picture of the often frustration-fraught process of leading teacher collaboration. Touching on the issues of action research, team building, and team leadership, this case could be used in various levels of leadership and organizational development courses, particularly those aimed at training teacher leaders.

Professional Behavior: Crossing the Line

McConnell, T. J., Rorrer, A. K. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:41:49 PDT

This case, which was inspired by actual events, describes the efforts of a district to create a culture of accountability for professional employee practice and behavior.¹ In the midst of new district leaders and a shift in district priorities, numerous situations test the fortitude, organizational knowledge, ethical commitments, and political prowess of the district leadership. As the case unfolds, there are opportunities for students in an educational leadership preparation program to explore the political, legal, ethical, and organizational change dimensions of district leadership, particularly around areas of human resource and supervision. In doing so, the case illustrates the importance of inter- and intra-personal dynamics of leadership, particularly leadership during transition.

Hard Choices in School Consolidation: Providing Education in the Best Interests of Students or Preserving Community Identity

Warner, W., Lindle, J. C. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:35:40 PDT

Educational leaders face difficult decisions in ensuring that all students learn despite ongoing scarcity of resources. School communities play an important role in establishing positive learning environments and supplying the resources for student learning. Declining community conditions often present school leaders with tough choices between facilities management and instructional needs. This case illustrates how school districts maintain a focus on the best interest of students in the face of economic decline in surrounding communities. How does a district address school consolidation? How can two communities focus on their children’s futures rather than grieving over past distinctions in community identity?

A Principal's Dilemma: Full Inclusion or Student's Best Interests?

Oluwole, J. O. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:35:40 PDT

This case highlights one principal’s struggle to reconcile his philosophy of full inclusion with the best interests of a student with serious emotional disturbance. It raises a number of issues that bring to light challenges posed by a system of full inclusion. It also provides an opportunity for educational leadership students and administrators to critically confront and appreciate the ethical and legal dilemmas presented in the provision of special education services to students with serious disabilities.

Turning Around Maple Shade Middle School: A Principal's Initial Reform Efforts

Salmonowicz, M. J., Levy, M. K. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:35:40 PDT

This case was written for use in courses dealing with school administration, specifically those related to organizational change, school improvement/turnaround, and the principalship. It explores a veteran principal’s first year as a "turnaround specialist" in a low-performing middle school, where she works with a sense of urgency to achieve an increase in student achievement. Students reading the case should assume the role of the principal as they analyze and reflect on changes made during year one and determine a course of action for year two.

To Track or Not to Track: Curricular Differentiation and African American Students at Highview High School

Venzant Chambers, T. T., Shawn Huggins, K., Scheurich, J. J. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:35:40 PDT

This article explores tracking and its effect on African American students at Highview High School, a racially and socioeconomically diverse, first-ring suburban school. Mary Johnson, a White assistant principal, is troubled by the existence of racially identifiable course enrollment patterns and knows that meaningful change will only occur if a plan is created that appeals to everyone. The question remains: Should tracking continue in some form or be abolished completely? This study enables students to understand the implications of informal policies on various student populations and design comprehensive intervention strategies to address stratification due to tracking in their own schools.

The Case of Tommy Skinner and the Ubiquitous Two-Way

Hobson Horton, L. D., Johnson, L. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:35:40 PDT

This case scenario addresses allowing electronic devices in schools as well as how districts can establish acceptable use policies. The dynamics of the case illustrate how various stakeholders conceptualize and view building management and facilitate a desired school climate and culture. The case is designed to prompt students’ thinking about (a) how district policy development or a lack thereof affects local building administration, (b) the impacts of climate and culture on schools, (c) the outcome of principal and assistant principal relationships in leading and managing schools, and (d) the development of policies that address technology.

Erratum

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:35:40 PDT

Improving Academic Achievement, But at What Cost?: The Demands of Diversity and Equity at Birch Middle School

Castagno, A. E. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

This case focuses on an urban middle school that has recently seen much improvement in the academic performance of its students and its reputation within the community. These positive changes, however, have come about largely because of what might be perceived as a narrow focus on standardized curricula, pedagogy, and assessment techniques. Readers are asked to consider the relative costs and benefits of this focus; the implications of change for faculty, administrators, students, and the larger community; and what it really means to lead with a goal of social justice or equity in mind given the nuances presented in this case—nuances that are shared by many urban schools across the nation.

Doing All the Right Things: Teacher Retention Issues

Brown, K. M., Schainker, S. A. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

Teacher retention has become a national crisis. This case study describes one principal's efforts to support new teachers and reduce the turnover rate at her school. Recognizing the problem a few years ago, the principal took what she thought were a number of proactive, decisive steps to resolve the issue—she is doing all the right things. However, instead of improving, her new teacher attrition and migration rates are actually getting worse.

Grades and Graduation: An Ethical Dilemma

Salmonowicz, M. J. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

This case was written for use in courses dealing with school administration, philosophy of education, or ethics in educational leadership. It deals with the ethical dilemma of an assistant principal at a low-performing, urban high school. Caught between a principal and a teacher who have different views on plagiarism, the assistant principal must decide whether to bring to light allegations of illegal grade-changes for two students that could threaten their status as high school graduates. Students reading the case should assume the role of the assistant principal and, considering the perspectives of the opposing parties, resolve the situation in an ethical manner.

Democracy and Leadership: Does Every Vote Count?

Helterbran, V. R. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

Good judgment and ethics in decision making are important criteria in all areas of teaching and administration. This case study chronicles the actions of a class sponsor whose decisions modify the results of a high school's senior class elections and the fallout that results. The principal must assess the problem, take appropriate action to ethically resolve the situation for the sake of the students involved, restore integrity to the election process, and ameliorate attending problems created by the circumstances of this case. Because of the complexity of the situation, ramifications exist well beyond the election, affecting the school in general and the community at large.

Old School Meets New School: Unsettling Times at Freedom Junior--Senior High

Gause, C.P. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

This article is a case study designed to challenge the beliefs, values, and ideology of graduate students in educational leadership preparation programs regarding social justice and democratic education. This case is designed to assist students in developing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to navigate the micropolitical environments that exist in learning communities. This case navigates the multiple sociocultural and political issues a superintendent might experience regarding demographic and cultural change. The case is multilayered and can be used in courses for the principalship and/or superintendency, as well as courses in the foundations of education and leadership.

The Intersection of Aestheticism and Administrative Placement at Payton High

McCray, C. R., Beachum, F. D., Richardson, H. R. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

This case is centered on the term aestheticism, the discrimination or bias against those who do not possess the most desired physical qualities. In this particular case, the authors have chosen to highlight how African American administrators might be selected, assigned, or appointed based on their physical attributes and characteristics. The authors have chosen to reintroduce the term aestheticism, which originally appeared in Victorian England in the mid-1800s. It had a connotation of an appreciation and dissemination of middle class beauty with regard to art and style. However, it is the authors' goal in this reintroduction of aestheticism to "ismatize" it as a potential "ism" that highlights a void regarding the covert and overt discrimination that many individuals face on a daily basis as result of physical appearances that are not directly related to their race, ethnicity, religion, or gender.

Mark Edwards: Mission Impossible in Higher Education?

Santora, J. C., Sarros, J. C. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

This case chronicles some of the problems a corporate executive encountered on his transition from the private sector to the deanship of the College of Business in a university of higher education. His deanship, which resulted from the recent reorganization at State University, gave him significant responsibility for undergraduate and graduate students, programs, and faculty. However, the position failed to provide him with a supportive organizational infrastructure, appropriate fiscal and human resources, or other mechanisms required to implement the charge he was given by the president of the university to bring the newly established College of Business into the 21st century.

(No) Support for a New Principal in an Urban District: A Case Study

Peters, A. L. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

A large, urban public school district has been engaged in high school reform over several years. The reform involves creating small learning communities (SLC) from large underperforming neighborhood high schools. In many cases, brand new principals have been chosen to found and lead the SLC schools into reform. The district has had some difficulty with providing support to principals in these roles. This case is designed to highlight issues of providing support and mentoring in a structured way to individuals new to the principalship. The case can be used in courses on the principalship as well as courses that prepare central office leaders.

A New Principal for Tchikobou High School: Resistance to Change

Boncana, M., Crow, G. M. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

This case study explains the functional or practical difficulties that many organizations face when they change their leaders. By describing the experiences of the two principals, two distinct styles of leadership are displayed, each of which provides the reader with the opportunity to understand some aspects of frames in organizations: structural, human resource, political, and symbolic. The case also illustrates conceptual frameworks about the tacit difficulties change agents may encounter as they attempt to implement their visions in environments where the organizational culture is not prepared for the change or is simply resistant to it.

County Funding Versus Municipal Aspiration: A Case Study

Houck, E. A. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

One town in a countywide school district wants to provide additional financial support for its students. The ensuing debate over governance, finance, and authority strains relationships across the county as multiple political actors and interest groups take sides. The school superintendent takes steps to provide a peaceful resolution to the issue, but uncomfortable questions raised by the debate remain. This case is designed to highlight issues in local school governance, political coalitions, and systemwide leadership.

"This is MY school, NOT YOURS": A Novice Assistant Principal's Attempt to Lead

Karpinski, C. F. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

A novice assistant principal, eager to lead, begins her career as an administrator in school beset with problems and far removed from the textbook definitions of learning community . She works with inexperienced teachers, disillusioned veteran teachers, and a principal who is distracted and overwhelmed by personal concerns. Her suggestions are disregarded, her requests halfheartedly filled, and her mandates ignored. Drowning in paperwork, meetings, and administrivia, she wonders how and whether she can lead. Can a new assistant principal lead?

Knowledge Versus National Security: The Case of Androscoggin High School

Doscher, S. P. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

As instructional leaders, principals often make curriculum decisions that balance their community's need for knowledge with the nation's need for knowledge workers. Across the country, school administrators are searching for funding and effective means of infusing more technology, foreign language learning, and global perspectives instruction into the curriculum. Government and business leaders tout such skills as being critical to 21st century economic growth and, in the post—9/11 world, national security. In this case, a high school principal, having attempted to address community and national needs, stands accused of having caused a serious security threat.

The Athlete and the Grade Change

Robinson, T. I., Skinner, T. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

This case study focuses on the moral and ethical issues surrounding changing an athlete's grade to make him eligible to play in a championship game. Jerome, a senior attending Woodrow Wilson High School, earned a D in his typing class, which made him ineligible to play in the basketball championship games. The principal and basketball coach made the decision to change Jerome's grade so he could play, and the team would have a better chance of winning. When Mrs. Walton learned of the grade change, she felt betrayed by the principal's actions.

Oh, We've Got Trouble! Right Here in Ravenna City: It Starts With "G," and Has an "S," and Ends in "A" (With Apologies to Meredith Wilson)

Tooms, A., Lugg, C. A. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

Currently in his second year as assistant principal, Jack Andrews is facing conflicting pressures of leadership related to his perception of career mobility and the tensions caused by a pervasively heterosexist, sexist, and homophobic culture in his school. This case raises questions regarding the purpose of school in terms of social justice, equality and liability, and curriculum outside of the lessons geared toward standardized testing. In addition, this case provokes reflection on the relationship between community values and the politics related to leadership and career mobility.

Silence Is Not Golden

Geroux, K., Sherman, W. H. — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:32:18 PST

A case developed for courses in leadership education—particularly for those centered in social justice and ethical leadership—is described. Students test their own assumptions about "difference" and are called on to make leadership responses that are grounded in ethical frameworks. This case highlights tensions that surround lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students in increasingly diverse school settings. The story is revealed through the eyes of a principal who must turn a negative response to a Gay—Straight Alliance event to one that fosters school and community discussion on inclusiveness and demonstrates the power of advocacy.

Combined Policies and Ideologies in an American International School

Ramalho, E. M. — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:50:58 PST

Immersed in host countries around the globe, American international schools serve about a quarter of a million Americans. These schools can often be perceived as representatives of U.S. schools in the international setting. This study has a twofold purpose: to introduce students to the philosophy, policies, and practices of American schools overseas and to provide ethical considerations in the diffusion and implementation of policies that influence teaching and learning practices.

James Madison High: A School at the Crossroads

Stroup, J. T., Salmonowicz, M. J., Broom, C. C. — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:50:58 PST

This case tells the story of James Madison High School, which became the epicenter of a debate over the future reorganization and control of large secondary schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The LAUSD, recently taken over by the newly elected mayor, was fighting for control of this 3,000-student high school with a charter school company. Both entities offered plans for restructuring James Madison, which amid this larger debate was dealing with racial tension and poor academic performance. Students must analyze the political climate and determine how the school's new principal should approach the situation and what actions should be taken.

Administrative Challenge or Ethical Dilemma? Responding Justly When a Student With a Disability Engages in a Violent or Disruptive Act

Faircloth, S. C., Ritter, S. T., Wilson, F. R. — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:50:58 PST

This case study involves an 8-year-old American Indian student with a disability, who was videotaped assaulting another student as they exited the school bus. Although acts of school violence are common on campuses across the nation, this incident is particularly complex, given the disability status of the student committing this act. This case provides an opportunity for both practicing and aspiring school leaders to explore a number of administrative and ethical dilemmas related to the discipline of students with disabilities and other special educational needs, utilizing a framework grounded in principles of social justice and equity.

Forsaking Honor or For the Sake of Honor: A Case Study of Lee-Allen University

Jaeger, A. J., Thornton, C. H. — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:50:58 PST

A basketball player at a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and religiously affiliated school cheats in a course and receives an "F." Under the school's academic policy, a failing grade for academic dishonesty should not be expunged from the student's record, but the university's president approves a grade change for the star athlete. This case examines the actions of a university president, Board of Trustees, faculty members, and other administrators in this controversial situation. The case was developed for an organization theory course in a higher education administration program but is also instructive on leadership and governance, accountability, and academic integrity.