Action Research Plan

OUTCOMES ACTIVITIES RESOURCES/RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES TIME LINE Benchmarks/
ASSESSMENT Revisions to SIP/PIP based on monitoring and
Assess why teachers are reluctant to participate in professional growth development. Define the current history of professional development for Santa Fe High School.




Narrow down specific reasons why teachers are responding negatively to professional development activities.


Develop a more in-depth look at what teachers would like to see covered or discussed in professional development sessions.



Interview past two administrators to gather understanding of professional development history.


Administer a survey for teachers to give specific thoughts regarding professional development.



Schedule a series of round table discussions allowing teachers to brainstorm and discuss issues and challenges they need addressed.
I will interview the past two administrators to gather the history of professional growth development.






I will partner with Sara Ryan, assistant principal, to create a survey tool for teachers to complete.






Partner with several interested teachers to help conduct round table discussion. Complete by August 2010








Complete by September 2010








Complete by September 2010









Share the results from the survey with teachers and ask for feedback.






Create a survey with major issues cited in round table discussions to see if issues were correctly identified and reported. Include culture and climate goals for increasing teacher engagement.




Ascertain the current professional development program’s effectiveness in meeting the instructional growth needs of teachers. Determine the greatest challenges for student learning.








Identify current needs of teachers to be successful as instructors.




Gather the professional development plan for the past three years.


Utilize data from standardized testing, retention rates and AEIS reports to identify student learning needs.


Interview appraisers and review observations to gather teacher needs.



Locate the professional development goals in the Campus Improvement Plan. I will gather data from the school AIES reports, AYP reports to ascertain specific needs of students.











Jenny Davenport, Brent Kirkpatrick and Sara Ryan, campus appraisers, gather to discuss the common issues and needs of teachers on campus.


I will review the campus improvement plan to distinguish the purpose and goals for professional development. Complete by August 2010











Complete by October 2010







Complete by August 2010













Conduct a short observation over a span of two weeks including many teachers.


Create a connection between CIC expectations and instructional growth needs.
















Create a more streamlined approach to professional development training that stems from a collaborated purpose and focus.
Research and propose possible solutions for a more engaging professional development program that helps increase campus performance. Utilize tools provided by NSDC to brainstorm learning opportunities.






Create a team of teachers with the charge to investigate research and collaborate to create a vision for teacher learning.


Attend an NSDC conference to develop a vision for professional development to bring back to campus



Utilizing informal conversations, PDAS scores and appraiser interviews, select candidates for the new team. Dr. Thomas and the newly formed group of teacher leaders would attend the conference.










Dr. Thomas would be in the best position to utilize the information to create the team. Attend in February 2011










Complete by mid November












Once the team has developed a new plan with new training, give teachers a new survey to check for improvement.

Utilize campus scores to check for student improvement. Place new ideas and applications in the CIP as part of the school improvement. Align budget to support travel.




Include the process and procedures in the CIP for identifying campus leaders and rotating the team yearly.

Utilize Blogs #2

Blogs are a fantastic way for leaders to consistently reflect on action research. Leaders can also view other blogs of leaders to connect on issues facing their schools. Blogs provide leaders with an avenue to reflect a learn daily from other experts and leaders.

Action Research #1

I have learned quite a bit about action research this past week. It is a very empowering form of research that gives the principal the opportunity to utilize several means of information to create solutions and improvement for a specific school context. Instead of a principal just finding research created by professors for academic audiences, the principal becomes the expert. Instead of just applying research the principal takes the lead in posing questions and creating solutions that also benefit the leadership of the principal. As a principal accepts the role of being a life long learner, the idea of action research is full of exciting possibilities for learning and improvement.
As I have observed my principal in his leadership position, he cannot get to the lunchroom without encountering problems, issues and opportunities. No matter the job description, the principal is clearly a problem solver all day. Therefore, there is an expressed need have a framework to solve problems effectively in order for a school to improve. I can see action research being used daily. Gathering information, connecting with relevant information, reflecting on incoming messages all play a part in creating meaningful solutions for a school. When a principal has to make huge decisions impacting the direction of the school, becoming an expert on the issue is imperative. The Principal who takes the lead in creating teams, attending training and preparing teachers will create a stronger atmosphere of trust. Teachers will respect and follow a leader who has truly taken the time to understand every facit of the an issue.