Geraldine A. Ryan, M. Ed.EDL-726 – Section 32Dr. Mary Calderone

SET THE STAGE Anytown SD avoided furloughing teachers; we were

not able to avoid substantial changes at the intermediate school.

Anytown Intermediate School has the smallest class sizes compared to the other six buildings.

In order to reduce the district’s deficit a reduction in teachers and an increase in class size had to occur.

Previously the intermediate school supported approximately 800 students in sixth and seventh grade with four teams of teachers at each grade level.

SET THE STAGE This configuration had provided the students

and staff a luxury not often found; small class sizes, on the average, classes had 17 to 20 students.

The budget demands have forced the district to reduce the number of teams at Anytown Intermediate School.

In September, the middle school teams will be reduced from four to three at each grade level.

SENSE OF URGENCY

Budget crisis forces district to realign

staffing structure at the Intermediate School

This information was communicated to the district staff and community for months. The superintendent met with Anytown staff

answering questions about the budget and how it would impact them. The superintendent was ‘transparent’ with this information. He

discussed enrollment at Anytown and the balance needed to satisfy the budget. Consequently, people were more prepared to handle the

inevitable changes.

Anytown’ Intermediate's Staff has been reduced by 12 teachers. Class

sizes will be increased to adjust to the smaller staff.

GUIDING TEAMSuperintendent

PrincipalVice-Principal

At the building level only the Principal and Vice Principal are

developing Arcola’s new schedule and then it is presented to the department coordinators. There is no room for discussion

or input from the staff.

Team Should include all

administrators and

representatives from within the building

VISIONArcola

will have 12 less

teachers

Change must be

fully implement

ed by Septembe

r

Class sizes will

increase by 6

students

One less team at

each grade level

Teachers will be

teaching subjects for the

first time

Expectations do not

change

Anytown Intermediate School will educate the

same number of students, providing the same level of quality education with less staff. The student experience will not

change.

The effect of class size is well

documented in research. Some

research indicates that student achievement

increases with smaller class size

(Konstantopoulos, S., 2011).

The effect of class size is well

documented in research. Some

research indicates that student achievement

increases with smaller class size

(Konstantopoulos, S., 2011).

Smaller class size has

resulted in positive effects

on students’ achievement in

early grades (Konstantopoulos,

2011).

Smaller class size has

resulted in positive effects

on students’ achievement in

early grades (Konstantopoulos,

2011).

Communicate for Understanding and Buy

InThe

communication is delivered to staff to inform

them of changes that have been

made

There has not been any formal or direct communication

between the supervisor of sped and the building principal, The VP has communicated some

information.

There is no opportunity to present feed back or voice

concerns about special education student needs.

Individuals, Department Chairs,

Departments and the faculty and staff as a

whole have been included in some form with communication.

Empower Others to Act

Provide opportunities for

staff to have input in the process and include them in the

decision making process

Self Reflection on the part of the

Administration to determine if current process is being as

successful as it could be

The opportunity to act in an effective manner that would support this building change has not been provided nor welcomed when given.

No furloughs at the district

Teachers will support each

otherTeachers who are in a new

subject will be provided with a

Mentor

The building schedule will be completed and

students will have schedules for September

Anytown Intermediate school was an appropriate

choice for this change

No furloughs at the district

Produce Short – Term Wins

No furloughs at the district

Revisit current strategies for effectiveness

Create opportunities to share thoughts on building schedule and the impact on special education students

Support teachers when changes in the schedule

directly impact the ability to deliver special education supports and services

Don’t Let Up

Continue to work with Anytown’s

Administration with sustaining this

change

Create a New Culture

A new culture is developing at

Anytown

Continue to move forward with the plan, adjusting as

needed

Provide Staff training in the area of Differentiated

Instruction

Set up a team to review the success of the new

schedule, for suggestions on improvements and

changes for the following year.

Create a New Culture

Meet with departments through out the year to hear first hand how the

change is effecting them

MISSED STEPS………….

Sense of Urgency—Clearly stated and communicated to district staff with a focus on Anytown’s staff.

Guiding Team—the Superintendent. Building Principal and Vice-Principal make a good guiding team to begin the process

More staff involvement at the building level

Change Vision and Strategy—The vision is clear and shared. The Strategy to achieve the goal is not clearly stated or communicated to those that it will effect the most.

Communicate for Understanding and Buy In.—All staff at Anytown understand the need for the change and accept that things will be changed.

Without a clear vision and strategy to the change it becomes difficult to accept without ‘push back’.

MISSED STEPS………… Empower Others to Act—Not currently being

encouraged Produce Short-Term Wins- Can be defined as; no

furloughs, teachers support each other, teachers who have a need for a mentor will be provided with one.

Don’t Let Up-Continue to strive to complete the change process with as much communication from this point on.

Create a New Culture-Continue to meet with each department through out the school year, in order to become more visible, provided opportunities for staff to get to know the administration.

CONSEQUENCES OF THE CHANGE

Larger Class sizes can decrease achievement

Increase student behaviorIncreased Differentiate InstructionCo-Teaching teams will be changed

Graded Teams will be shifted Changing Role of the Instructional

Assistant

SUGGESTED CHANGES IN ANYTOWN’S PROCESS

Improve Communication Include a representative from each

department of the school in regular meetings to review the changes being made to the building schedule Include custodial and cafeteria workers.

Ask the representatives to report back to their departments

Schedule time to meet with the departments plan for time for questions

REFERENCES

Konstantopoulos, S., (2011). How Consistent Are Class

Size Effects? Evaluation Review, 35(1) pp.

71- 92. doi: 10.1177/0193841X11399847 Kotter, J. (2005). Our iceberg is melting: Changing and

succeeding

under any conditions. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.