Action Research Plan

ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT

CAMPUS MISSION STATEMENT

1. SETTING THE FOUNDATION –

Through collaboration with campus administrators it has been discovered that the current campus mission statement does not umbrella all current grade levels.  With the transitioning of grade levels across the district, our current campus mission statement does not allow for the success of academic excellence of a state mandated testing grade level.

2. ANALYZING DATA – Use surveys that will allow for teacher input on the importance of changing/not changing the current campus mission statement.  Campus mission statements from other local school districts will be used in aiding the process.

Findings from surveys might include:

All current grade levels are not being covered under the campus mission statement.

There are revisions that can be made to include all current grade levels within the campus.

Teachers may feel that the current statement does not need to be changed.

3. DEVELOPING DEEPER UNDERSTANDING – As research is being processed, issues in phrasing and incorporating many opinions into one universal statement may arise.  For example, when I was writing my initial action research statement, it came to my attention that a campus statement needs to address more than academic success, but also the fact that we are molding the future community leaders and workers.

4. ENGAGE IN SELF-REFLECTION – As a team creating the new statement, it is important for us to answer the following questions:

Does the statement that the Campus Action Team creates actually universal enough to address the campus as a whole?

Is the statement specific enough so that every faculty and staff member knows their role in implementation and follow through?

5. EXPLORING PROGRAMMATIC PATTERNS – By meeting with faculty and staff before and after the action research, their goals and input are being thoroughly included and implemented into the new mission statement.  By involving all parties in the process of creating a mission statement, each party will know his/her role in implementing the statement.  With each party knowing their role, there is a great likelihood of success.

6. DETERMINING DIRECTION –

A. Are you clear on what you are attempting to solve (your research questions)?  Yes.  It is my goal to work with my fellow staff members to create a new mission statement for our campus.  Currently, we are working under the guidelines of a statement that was established before our district reorganized campus grade levels.  The original statement does not accurately reflect the goals and outcomes that we currently strive to achieve.

B. Have you adequately addressed the skills and resources questions?   Ultimately, the goal is to create a new statement.  After meeting with campus administrators, I am fully aware that the current statement does not align with the goals of our campus.

C. Have you established a collaborative approach to the issue?  My approach includes collaboration with the faculty and staff at my campus, along with members of the CAT (Campus Advisory Team), which includes staff, parents, and community members. 

D. Are your timelines realistic? The timelines that I have established seem to be realistic because they are based upon regularly scheduled meeting times.

E. Do you have a reasonable plan to monitor the project? I feel that the project will be monitored very well, as I serve as a member of the CAT team and I will be responsible for leading in this effort to change the current mission statement.

F. Do you have a reasonable plan for determining the level of success – how do you evaluate if the plan is effective? By receiving feedback from everyone involved in the change and by meeting regularly with the CAT, I hope to monitor the effectiveness of the new statement.

G. How will you revise and improve the plan based on monitoring and evaluation? After meeting and taking feedback into consideration, the CAT can meet to determine whether the needs and desires for campus goals are being adequately addressed.  If it is determined that the new goal is not being as effective as hoped for, we can take a few steps back in the process and adjust accordingly.

7. TAKING ACTION FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

There is a committee formed that will be working to create a new campus mission statement.  As a committee we will work to achieve all goals and guidelines set forth in the action plan.  A formative evaluation will be done through surveys and teacher input forms that will show whether or not the implementation of the new mission statement is effective.  Upon implementing the new mission statement, the committee will meet to address concerns and information will be relayed to faculty and staff.

8. SUSTAIN IMPROVEMENT

Upon implementing the new mission statement, pros and cons will be considered.  Improved learning and campus environment will show positive reflections toward the new goal.  If this is not the case, revisions will/can be made through the Campus Action Team and campus staff.