Annie Bradford ED 510 Vision and Administration Culture/Climate Marion High School Marion High School sits in the

town of Marion. The town itself is very small, just three-square miles. I wouldnt describe Marion as a suburb of Cedar Rapids but the two towns are closely connected. The building was built in 1841. It serves grades 912 and there are about 650 students at the high school. The student to teacher ratio is 17:1 and the average class size is 21. The special education students make up 12% of the student population. Marion High School, Home of the Indians, has a principal, associate principal, and an athletic director who are all considered administration in our building. During the 2011-2012 school year there was a shift in administration. The principal became the Assistant to the Superintendent/Director of Special Education and the previous Assistant Principal became the new principal in December. This created an opening in the area of assistant principal. The team hired within district by selecting one of the science teachers at the high school to become the Assistant Principal. Marion High School staff and students embraced the change and have really supported the new principal as he works on changing the climate. The new principal is very supportive of special education and I have heard him say many times, We are here to teach kids. People have gone through the Marion Schools and who have children who go to Marion schools are very supportive of the District and its ability to serve their childrens needs. It is not uncommon for families to make a point of moving back into the Marion District due to their belief that it provides an excellent education for children. Faculty to Faculty At Marion High School, the faculty are all departmentalized. However, a block schedule means that teachers work with students for longer periods. They each have prep but it is rare that all teachers in the same department would have the same prep time for collaboration. This makes it difficult for departments to meet and discuss student issues and curriculum. As a department, Special Ed meets once a month for departmental discussions. Throughout our building there is a great sense of community among the staff. I was new to the school last year and really felt welcomed immediately by all the people at Marion High School. It is a warm and inviting place. There is a sense of team throughout the school and others are always willing to step up if another teacher needs a class covered or needs assistance with things that come along in the school day and school year. The staff lounge is a place that is always busy with chatter and treats. The main office is very much a hub of the school. Rarely do you go by the office and not see a teacher in the office collaborating with the secretaries or the administration. Faculty to Student

Marion High School has recently adopted a Mentor Program. Each staff member has a mentor meeting on the first school day of each week for 25 minutes. The staff each has a group of 12-15 same grade level students. During these sessions, we go through curriculum that was set up by the mentor research group within our school. It is really a great program. I have had the opportunity to take a group of sophomores this year due to the Science teacher becoming our Assistant principal. I will be these students mentor for the rest of their years at the High School. We discuss things like discrimination, pride, achievement, and many other hot topics. We also have the liberty of adjusting our plans if things arise within our groups of mentees or within the school. You can tell just by walking the halls that the students and staff have a mutual respect for each other. There are not a lot of office referrals nor is there a lot of negative talk about students or students talking negatively about staff. Student to Student I unfortunately do not have a lot of interaction with the general education population. I do, however, manage my students throughout the day as I assist in the student led coffee shop, The Daily Grind. From what I have observed in the halls, at school events, at the coffee shop, and sporting events, the student body is fairly well established. There appears to be clicks and yet they are all respectful of another. One thing that I know is that these kids for the most part have gone to school together for a very long time. The class size is small enough that they all seem to know each other and even if they do not have regular interactions they seem to be able to work for achievement in a common facility. There are a few students who I would say struggle to fit in. There is a group in particular that I see in the office frequently. I also see the names of these students on the In-School Suspension list as well. I definitely enjoy being a teacher in my current environment. But as I reflect upon my future as an administrator, there are things that I would like to see changed. The biggest hurdle I see in my school is accepting differences and providing a safe harbor for each and every student that walks the halls at Marion High School. Change happens within a schools community and culture. It is time to provide the tools for accepting change and helping each and every child at Marion High School reach their full potential.

Physical Environment

Ability and Achievement -All classrooms are outfitted with projectors -There are AP courses offered at the school -High achieving students are offered recognition at many levels -The guidance office is helpful and resourceful when it comes to offering new courses -Student pictures and honors for athletics and the arts are displayed throughout the commons areas -Website highlights student work and student related announcements -Credits and attendance policy clearly stated -Cheating and plagiarism policy clear stated -Graduation requirements are set forth -Alternative High School available -Marion Learning Center available to students who need

Efficacy and Effort -New Science wing added last year with all the latest technology and large, clean, new, and equipped classrooms -Brand new fitness center added last year with the help of a grant -Policies and The Marion Way posters posted in every single classroom -Each teacher has a personal laptop and there is a policy in place for contacting the needs to know individuals regarding school cancelations and adjustments in the school schedules -Website updated regularly -Open Door Policy -Frequent contact with parents, students, and necessary stakeholders -Honors Programs -Curriculum Alignment with the Iowa Core -Academic eligibility standards for Athletics

Power and Control -Security cameras were installed last year for all day student/staff monitoring -All staff is required to park in the back parking lot so that all doors but the front of the building can be locked during school hours. -Regular fire, tornado, and safety drills -Teachers are required to do a daily walk of the halls during their prep times to keep students out of the halls and others out of the reach of the students. -Space is adequate for teachers and staff -No book bags allowed in classrooms -Mentor program -Grading and Powerschool -School Vision -School Culture -AntiBulling/Harassment Policy -Hazing Policy -Saturday Restitution policy

Policy, Practices, and Procedures

it -Post Secondary Enrollment available -Inclusive classrooms offered in some departments by portions of the staff

Relationships

-Clearly stated Discipline and Behavior Policy -Teachers do well working together for a common vision and purpose -Few classes available in the area of electives that are appropriate for students with high needs -Diverse staff -Job postings are -Staff has variety of vague and styles of teaching application and abilities areas process is not as -The Marion Way advanced as policy about surrounding treating others districts studied and posted -Review process is throughout the very light hearted school district and there is little -Lack of accountability innerdepartment among some staff planning time members -Many common -Open Door policy areas for students by the to gather and are administration still supervised -Special education -Students with students run a disabilities are not popular school commonly store accepted amongst -The Daily Grind, peers the student led -There has been coffee shop within what I would the school is used classify as a as a tool for special serious violation of education and privacy at our regular education school that student involved a student interactions with needs and I -Some staff do not would even feel that adapting

as a disciplinary action -Cell Phone policy stating cell phones are not to be used but before and after school or during passing times

-New administration shift this year. Principal who started the year became Assistant to the Superintendent and the Director of Special Education -Previous Assistant now is our Principal and a former Science teacher is our Assistant Principal -Each department has a Department Head -Lots of leaders who hold spots on Leadership teams throughout the school -Teachers have trouble accepting responsibilities for accommodations, modifications, and adaptations -Staff controversy about including

classify it as bullying -Sometimes students with needs are seen used as a reference for jokes and are not seen as part of the culture

and modifying curriculum for students with needs is fair to the general education population

students with special needs who have adaptations and modifications in the class ranks