My Realities

The barriers that exist within my current school's context varies. I don't feel that the high school is moving in the right direction due to apathy and defeatism. My high school has not performed well academically and teachers are not willing to change their ways. Many times they stir up issues with the principal that are tangential to teaching and learning. Evaluation and assessment is not refined to meet the needs of the students that the school serves. The school district is also in fiscal emergency which creates a host of other problems and issues that thwart progress.

I have learned a great deal from this blogging activity. I look forward to being able to respond to my peers responses and comments. This is a great way to gain insight and pose questions freely about topics that matter to me.

Buildings and Facilities Usage

Sunnyside High School is a state of the art facility that is being paid for through a bond issue by the community it serves. In terms of maintenance, the custodial staff does extremely well in keeping it clean. In addition to the custodians, teachers and students do a great job of helping to keep the building clean. Also, though the building is new, there is a preventive maintenance plan in place for all machinery and building structure.
Sunnyside High School is one of the "capstones" for the community. It opens its doors for community meetings, adult education classes, and recreational use after school hours. When visitors enter the building they get a sense of what the community is about. They see pictures of resent graduates and the colleges they attend. They observe murals of the diverse students that the school serves.

Governance

In terms of school governance, the building principal is in charge of the high school. However, this does not mean that there aren't other leaders in the school that contribute to its successful operation. The assistant principals as well as department heads help out significantly pertaining to teaching and learning. The principal at the high school empowers not only the administrative team but teachers as well when making decisions for the school. There are weekly meetings that serve to inform the staff of current issues as well as success story's. The principal also takes the time to share effective strategies that were observed during a teacher's lesson and has them explain that strategy to the group. As a result of the collegiality that exists at the school, teachers feel appreciated as professionals. They have a great level of respect for their building administrator because he empowers them and helps them to grow professionally.

Personnel

Most of Sunnyside's faculty members live within the school district. Some have even attended the higher education institutions within the community. The district utilizes teacher-driven professional development as well as Professional Learning Communities. Educators within this school district are competent, compassionate, and committed to education. Teaching and learning are central aspects of the daily operation of their schools. Therefore, teacher's that utilize "best-practices" are praised and rewarded constantly. Staff morale is very high and everyone takes a personal and professional interest in each other at each school. Collegiality is the norm when making decisions that are best for students.

Finances and Resources

The Sunnyside Unified School District is supported monetarily by the community it serves. Levy's and bond initiatives are supported with great pride as a result of student social/academic achievement and the involvement of the community in the school. Ultimately, the Superintendent or Business Manager is responsible for allocating funds appropriately and responsibly. However, weigh-in from the community as to how funds are going to be allocated for education and facilities are certainly welcomed. The Sunnyside School District is fiscally solvent and transparent to the community it serves. This enables community members to trust what the district needs are when levy's and bond issues present themselves.