ALPHA MIDDLE SCHOOL

ALPHA MIDDLE SCHOOL

Table of contents

Introduction4

Discussion5

Major problems7

Root causes7

Key players8

The Five dysfunctions of a team with reference to the Alpha middle school case8

Dysfunction 1: Absence of Trust8

Dysfunction 2: Fear of conflict9

Dysfunction 3: Lack of commitment9

Dysfunction 4: Avoidance of Accountability10

Dysfunction 5: Inattention to results10

Conclusion11

Action plan for improvement11

Accountability of the participants involved in the school must be ensured and there is a need to create an environment for mutual responsibility to support and students and foster change.12

References13

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of “complex issues of grade-level understanding” in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on “leadership in the middle school” and its relation with “sub-cultures in the middle school”. The research also analyzes many aspects of “leadership in the middle school” and tries to gauge its effect on “quality of education and other extracurricular activities”. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for “Building a school culture” and tries to describe the overall effect of “Leadership in the middle school” on “the development of the sub-culture of middle schools”.

Culture, Subcultures, and Teams at Alpha Middle School

Introduction

The case study “culture, sub-cultures, and Teams at Alpha middle school” is about the educational leadership. Alpha middle school is a prominent middle school of Centralia, with a population of more than 150,000 outside urban metropolis. The (ISD) independent school district of Centralia has been recognized nationally as one of the exemplary extracurricular and academic facility. (Barbour, 2005)The average population of the city is financially sound, when compared to other cities. The majority of the upper middle class children's have all the opportunities available to them with an abundance of opportunities for social activities, sports, travel. The students come from five distinct districts which comprise of people from diverse backgrounds ranging from upper middle class to the lower middle class. Although the majority of the population is economically sound, still there are families who are living paycheck to paycheck and sharing rental home with other families as well. Recently the crime rate has increased in the city and the activity of the gang members have increased. (Barbour, 2005)The parents of the students are mostly blue collar working families who are active participants of their children's social and educational activities. The total number of the student enrolled in the 6th grade is 980 and the ethnic distributions of the students are as under:

European Americans 49 %

Hispanic 26%

African Americans 15%

Asians 7%

Rest 2% are from distinct backgrounds including (Tongan, American Indians and Iranian)

Majority of the students in the schools are enrolled in distinct special education programs such as Gifted and talented, English language programs, and special education. The Alpha Middle school is facing high turnover of the faculty, due to different reasons which has resulted in the lack of experienced staff in the school with an average experience of eight years. The high turnover among the faculty has resulted in the emergence of the security concerns among the parents of the students regarding the quality of education in ...