The+Written+Paper

=The Background/History:=

High Expectations Central School District is a suburban drive thru community. High Expectations comprises of four elementary buildings, one middle school and one high school. Approximately 3900 students attend school each day. The median years teacher's experience for the district is 12 years.

In recent years, changes in leadership at central office and tight monetary constraints has resulted in turbulence including a change of leadership approach and style along with the restructuring of the central office flow chart. Two key central office positions were eliminated: the directors of elementary and secondary education. As part of the restructuring plan, principals in each of the four elementary buildings now lead different content areas. Role-based teacher leaders were reduced as part of the restructuring plan, eliminating three out of 6 positions from each building. Each principal now sets goals and expectations and does not always discuss curriculum issues with their colleague before mandating such things as summative assessments, analysis and reporting of such assessments.

Elementary teachers now complain about the demands and workload asked of them. The teacher’s union asked central office to listen to the teacher's complaints regarding the workload. The district agreed to form a committee to investigate discrepancies between expectations at the four elementary buildings. The impending discussions have caused a shift in each elementary school's culture. Teachers are not as willing to put forth the extra efforts needed to succeed and tend to work in isolation rather than collaborating with colleagues to inform decisions and practice.

The committee met several times and generated a comprehensive list of concerns from the elementary reading program, writing program, the math program, report cards, instructional time commitments, professional development, consistency and fidelity.