Individual Student(s) Wondering

Nancy Fichtman Dana, author of Leading With Passion And Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher, informs that one major wondering of school leaders is what she refers to as individual student(s). The examples Dana describes in regard to individual student(s) served as particularly interesting to me. These examples sparked great excitement within me, as they were ideas that were new to me, and I believe could prove beneficial to the specific campus at which I serve. One example Dana details in her works, is a principal who collaboratively led action research on alternative behavioral management plans in order to decrease student tardiness, increase student attendance, and ultimately increase the chances of students succeeding as learners. Different means of discipline, rather than the traditional in-school or out-of-school suspension were discussed. Ideas such as a Friday afternoon school or Saturday school in place of suspension were depicted as ways to keep students in the classroom. The idea of inviting parents to attend Saturday school with the student, which lessened the hours that the student was required to attend the school to make up missed work due to unexcused absences, was also mentioned. I think this is a brilliant idea. Not only does this keep the students in the classroom learning, it also provided an opportunity to involve parents. Action research in the area of individual student(s) is important because it is led primarily to support student learning. It provides opportunities to teachers, principals, community members, parents and even students to make a difference in the lives of other students. This area Dana depicts as a major wondering for school leaders, definitely serves as a major wondering to me. What more important aspect of the school community or the school improvement process is there than addressing the academic and social needs of students that we serve? I believe that all school stakeholders in some form or fashion benefit from action research in the area of individual student(s), but the primarily benefiter is the students, which is what I feel is the way it ought to be.