M.Ed.
Specialization: K-12 Public Schools
· You have been appointed the new principal of a unit school (K-12). The superintendent informs you that the previous principal exercised an authoritarian, bureaucratic, “top down” management style in operating the school, which created a negative climate and low faculty morale. The superintendent tells you that he wants a major change to a participatory decision-making style in the management of the school.
· (A) Describe the procedures you would utilize during your first year as principal to promote collaborative decision-making and to improve the low faculty morale in this school.
· (B) Discuss some ways that you will attempt to demonstrate to the superintendent that the climate and morale has been improved during your first year as principal.
· Many authorities suggest that school principals should function as instructional leaders. Describe your concept of an instructional leader? What knowledge would be essential in order to be an instructional leader? Give your ideas about how an instructional leader would work with teachers to improve instruction.
· You are being interviewed for a principalship position. Give your responses to the following interview questions:
· (A) What would you do as a principal to increase the level of community support for your local school?
· (B) How would you attempt to motivate parents to take responsibility for the academic success of their children?
· As a school administrator, you are responsible for the educational program that goes on in your school. In order to do so, you must know the law as to what you can do to discipline students. Discuss the rights of students with at least one major court case to justify your position. Topics to include, but not limited to, in your discussion are: due process; student publications; free speech and expression; search and seizure; discipline for ‘regular’ students and special education students; drug testing.
· Many people are critical of the public school education system. Some would like to change the organizational structure. Changes in Tennessee include an appointed director of schools rather than an elected superintendent, an elected board of education, and principals having performance contracts developed by the director of schools. Discuss the effects of each of these three changes on the local school system’s operations in the future.
· The Tennessee State Board of Education has recently created a two-track system for the high school curriculum. One program gives emphasis to preparing students to enter college, while the second curriculum prepared students for further technical/vocational training or for the ‘world of work’. The general education curriculum is eliminated as a high school program. What is your reaction to this change in curricular programs in Tennessee high schools? Is it your belief that this change will lead to better educated and prepared high school graduates? Why or why not?
· Any organization without effective leadership is in trouble. Explain the difference between a manager and a leader in reference to the role of a K-12 principal. Discuss why each role is important in a school. Discuss at least three traits of an effective school leader.
· Throughout its history the educational system in the United States has been greatly influenced by external affairs. Describe at least three examples of this phenomenon and discuss each of their results on American education.
· Understanding school law is essential if one is to be a successful, effective school administrator. Cite four court decisions that have impacted schools in the United States and discuss each of their influences on school administrators.
· Leaders in all fields including education should utilize the results of research when making important decisions.
(A) Demonstrate your knowledge of research by: defining and giving examples of the following: Primary source, secondary source, qualitative research, and quantitative research.
(B) Give the purpose and an example of the following types of research: Basic, Applied, Evaluation, and Action.
· Assume that you are a first year principal at a K-12 school that serves approximately 900 students. You were appointed to the position about two months before the school year begins. List and elaborate on the many tasks that you must undertake to ensure that teachers, students, support staff, and parents of students will experience a successful school year. Include your conception of what constitutes a successful school year.
· Understanding school law is an important area for an individual who aspires to be an effective, knowledgeable school administrator. Describe the six (6) court decisions that you feel will have the most influence on the daily responsibilities of a school administrator.
· Public education in America has been shaped by many individuals; however, in each century there have been one or two people who have played inordinately, significant roles in determining the direction public education would take in this country. Such individuals might be viewed as the giants in American education. For each of the three centuries (the eighteenth century, the nineteenth century, and the twentieth century), select one individual and discuss his/her impact on American education. Cite specific examples of the results of their efforts.
· Throughout the history of this great country, here has been an extraordinary amount of controversy over “church and state”. Beginning with Thomas Jefferson’s famous statement of “the wall of separation between church and state,” give a legal history of religion in the public schools. Cite authoritative cases when possible.
· In 1983, the National Commission on Excellence published its finding in A Nation at Risk. Since that time, according to Thompson, Wood, and Honeyman, there have been more than 30 major reports by various organizations that have issued a calling for fundamental reform in the nation’s schools. Assess and evaluate the educational reform movement from your perspective. Cite changes and reforms that you perceive as positive and discuss mandates and changes that you believe may have weakened the educational process and establishment. Where do you see the reform movement leading during the next few years? Include the Education Improvement Act of 1992 in your discussion.
· Explain some of the unique characteristics of the American Society. How do you see these characteristics influencing the schools of America?
· Should the content of courses offered in a public school reflect the majority opinion of the community served? Develop a rationale to support your answer.
· In recent years the role of elementary and secondary schools in our society has changed: for example, the increase in the number of after-school programs and the emphasis on preparation for post high school education. Select five major social trends/issues today that will continue to change elementary and secondary education into the 21st Century.
· School law and school finance are at the very heart of school administration.
(A) Describe the 8-10 major court decisions that you think will have the most important impact on school administrative jobs in the future. (It is not necessary to give names of cases.)
(B) Describe the role of state and county governments in the financing of public education in Tennessee.
· As principal, you will have a specific leadership style. Describe the key purposes, functions, and tasks of a principal in today’s schools. Please contrast “leadership” to administration.
· What specific steps would you take to create change in your school? Please describe in detail.
· In recent years many school boards have decentralized policy and decision making and allowed greater freedom to each school principal, faculty, and community representatives (site based decision making). What advantages do you see in giving local school personnel more autonomy in making decisions for their school? What possibilities for problems do you see? Describe what types of decisions and responsibilities should be decentralized and what should continue to be a system-wide responsibility.
· Many authorities suggest that school principals should function as “instructional leaders”. Describe your conception of an “instructional leader”. What knowledge do you believe would be essential in order to be an ‘instructional leader?” Give your ideas about how an “instructional leader” would work with teachers to improve instruction.
· School administrators are increasingly being asked to supervise and evaluate classroom instruction more closely. Describe the assumptions, processes, and procedures of how you think classroom teachers should be supervised and evaluated.
· You are being interviewed for a principalship position. Give your response to the following interview questions:
A. As principal, part of your job will entail evaluating the existing curriculum of the school and then implementing needed curricular improvements. Briefly, how would you go about these tasks?
B. What kind of faculty development (In-service, professional growth, etc.) programs would you develop for the faculty of your school?
· Education is:
· A state responsibility
· A local function
· Federal Interest
This belief has guided administrators for many years. Does it remain valid? If it is no longer valid,
why? What social, political and economic factors effect this basic belief? Keeping these questions in mind, and extending yourself further, develop a complete commentary relative to this belief.
· Any view of the local county school district in Middle Tennessee includes:
· The superintendent (director)
· The school board
· The county commission
Thoroughly explain the relationships between these three units as they exist today. Then advance and support possible changes in these relationships that might serve to improve the organization and control, thus, the effectiveness of the county school district.