How a Title I High School Became High Performing

Format

Poster Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

Henry County Schools / Valdosta State University

Second Presenter's Institution

Valdosta State University

Third Presenter's Institution

Valdosta State University

Fourth Presenter's Institution

Valdosta State University

Fifth Presenter's Institution

Valdosta State University

Location

Poster Session (Harborside)

Strand #1

Academic Achievement & School Leadership

Relevance

This proposal is based on findings from an exhaustive doctoral dissertation study to determine how an identified Title I High School principal was able close the achievement gap and meet criteria for a High Performing High School. The findings from his study will be shared to include the barriers the Title I principal encountered and the effective strategies used to promote learning for all students. The presentation focuses on all aspects of leading a high school in challenging times to include academics, leadership, and success for all students.

Brief Program Description

How did a Title I high school principal turn an identified Title I high school around resulting in the school becoming high performing? What barriers did the principal encounter in his journey and what strategies were used to significantly improve the Title I school?

Summary

This proposal is based on a significant study conducted focusing on how a new Title I high school principal turned around an identified Title I high school. The findings of this study are based on a dissertation focusing on the needs and possibilities of Title I high schools. The findings from this study have important implications for Title I schools and persons supporting Title I schools to improve. What does a high performing Title I high school look like? What are the organizational characteristics of the school? Are the relationships between school leaders, teachers and students different? What role did the Title I high school teachers play in the school wide improvement in performance? What leadership roles did the teachers serve promoting improvement? How did the school significantly improve the Title I high school’s graduation rate and reduce the school’s drop out rate? The programs and practices used at the identified school will be shared. Which programs and practices were worth the invest in terms of time and energy? What effective school leadership practices did the Title I principal use? What barriers did the Title I high school principal encounter? What strategies were used to overcome these barriers? This presentation will present the findings of the study. Conference participants will learn from the successful story of one principal and how leadership in Title I high schools can sincerely make a difference. Both barriers and effective strategies will be highlighted and shared. The presenters will be available to answer questions and provide insights based on the study.

Evidence

This proposal is based on a study conducted in the field at a high performing Title I school.

Biographical Sketch

Andrew W. Cooper is an assistant principal at Luella High School in Henry County, Georgia. Mr. Cooper has conducted field research on Title I high schools and school leadership related to dissertation work through Valdosta State University. He has served in public education at secondary schools for over 19 years as a teacher, coach, graduation coach, 9th grade transition coordinator, and assistant principal.

Ronny Green, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at Valdosta State University. His school site experiences include serving as a guidance counselor, school administrator and school principal. He was recognized as an Outstanding Principal by the Florida Department of Education. He served for five years with the State of Florida coordinating leadership development for the State of Florida via the Florida Council on Educational Management. He has served for years as a mentor to new principals and principals at failing schools. His book Natural Forces: How to Significantly Increase Student Achievement in the Third Millennium focuses on systems thinking and leadership development and has sold in the thousands. His latest book is titled On Tour focusing on STEM and curriculum art integration, STEAM.

Rudo Tsemunhu, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at Valdosta State University. She has international school site experience that includes serving as a, school principal in Zimbabwe and program coordinator for an educational initiative in Boston, MA.

Dr. Bill Truby is an Associate Professor at Valdosta State University in the Department of Educational Leadership. He is a retired K-12 professional educator with 43 years of experience: teacher, coach, assistant principal, associate principal, principal, athletic director, head master, adjunct professor and school system superintendent. He has lead start-up schools and low-achieving schools and districts to higher levels of success and new standards of excellence. He has garnered professional awards in his positions of high school principal and superintendent. He has been a sought-after speaker throughout his career on a variety of topics, especially those dealing with leadership, motivation, and ethics. In addition to his work at VSU, Bill is a consultant with Georgia Leadership Associates and a member of the Christian outreach ministry, known as Future Now.


Dr. Kathy Nobles is the Bureau Chief for Standards and Instructional Support in the Florida Department of Education. She has experience as a classroom teacher, school media specialist, school principal, and school district administrator. Other experiences include adjunct professor at Valdosta State University, a regional data coach and the state data captain in the Race To The Top project in the School Improvement office of the Florida Department of Education, and four years with the Panhandle Area Educational Consortium (PAEC) as a consultant providing professional development and technical assistance to districts in the panhandle region of Florida.

Keyword Descriptors

Title I, academic success, leadership, school improvement, achievement gap, teacher leadership, student success, learning for all, drop out rate, equity

Presentation Year

2019

Start Date

3-5-2019 4:00 PM

End Date

3-5-2019 5:30 PM

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Mar 5th, 4:00 PM Mar 5th, 5:30 PM

How a Title I High School Became High Performing

Poster Session (Harborside)

How did a Title I high school principal turn an identified Title I high school around resulting in the school becoming high performing? What barriers did the principal encounter in his journey and what strategies were used to significantly improve the Title I school?