Creating pathways of change - One school begins the journey

Citation
C. Crissman et al., Creating pathways of change - One school begins the journey, URBAN EDUC, 35(1), 2000, pp. 104-120
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Education
Journal title
URBAN EDUCATION
ISSN journal
00420859 → ACNP
Volume
35
Issue
1
Year of publication
2000
Pages
104 - 120
Database
ISI
SICI code
0042-0859(200003)35:1<104:CPOC-O>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
In this article, the authors explore community members' perceptions of chan ge at an elementary school during the 1st year of implementing the Accelera ted Schools Project. After conducting 23 interviews with a representative s ample of the school community three themes emerged: creating a school ident ity, experiencing a community of mind, and developing a sense of human agen cy. Despite critics who say that organizational reform efforts rarely influ ence instructional practices. First Way Elementary may have defied the odds , based on participants' perceptions, by making instruction their primary f ocus within the context of creating a new school organizational structure. The discussion focuses on how the school community made this happen in such a short period of time and the challenges they face as they continue to ma ke changes.