Strong instructional leaders ensure that quality teaching is taking place at their school sites. In order to accomplish this task, accurate analysis of data must be conducted to inform decision making (Robinson, 2011, pp. 9 & 94). An example of how trend data can be utilized to make sound instructional decisions to increase student achievement is highlighted in the following case study of Weatherbee Elementary School. By examining relevant school dynamics and demographics, as well as significant trend data and its implications, strategies can be put in place to improve instruction and increase student achievement (Hallinger, 2003).
Analysis of Data Effective principals in low-performing schools understand that leadership is a multi-faceted process in which context informs and guides decision making (Hallinger, 2003). In order to make sound, data-driven decisions, instructional leaders must not only understand the data, but the relevant situations
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In the 2017-2018 school year, WBE is in Differentiated Accountability (DA) status for the second year in a row, which means that students must show an increase in student achievement on state assessments or the school may face punitive consequences (Cosner & Jones, 2016; Finnigan, 2010; Mette & Scribner, 2014; Orr, Berg, Shore, & Meier, 2008). In this high-pressure climate, there has also been much teacher turn-over; of thirty-seven classroom teachers, eleven are new to WBE in 2017-2018 with varying levels of teaching experience. The same was true in the 2016-2017 school year. With teachers being “the single most influential component of an effective school” (Marzano, 2007), the need to recruit and retain effective teachers is recognized by WBE leadership as evidenced in the School Improvement Plan (SIP) (Florida Department of Education: CIMS,