The case is intended for use as a culminating experience in courses, seminars or workshops that deal with organizational behaviour and the change process. It expounds on the key steps in any systemic change process involving one school’s journey with change as it sets priorities and strategies, the problems encountered, where the support and assistance came from, as well as the differences that were made to improving learning opportunities for everyone. A brief synopsis of change studies, theories and practices informing change are presented to assist professors and graduate students in leadership preparation programs. This case study encourages a great deal of small and large group work participation and discussion. Professors and students of educational administration/leadership can use this case to supplement analysis and discussion related to organizational culture, educational change and change theory, school improvement, effective communication, motivation, morale, and leadership. Graduate students and professors who are interested in understanding change theory and how it looks in practice would benefit from an analysis of this case study.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Chin, R.
, & Benne, K.D. (1969). General strategies for effective changes in human systems. In W.G. Bennis, K.D. Benne, & R. Chin (Eds.), The planning of change (2nd ed.). New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
2.
Christensen, G. (1994). The role of the principal in transforming accelerated schools. Unpublished doctoral dissertation.
3.
Comer, J.P.
(1980). School power. New York: Simon & Schuster.
4.
Conley, D.
(1997). Roadmap to restructuring: Charting the course in American education. Eugene, OR: University of Oregon (ERIC Clearinghouse on Educational Management).
5.
Crandall, D.
, et al. (1982). People, politics, and practices: Examining the chain of school improvement. Andover, MA: The Network.
6.
Evans, R.
(2001). The human side of school change: Reform, resistance, and the real-life problems of innovation. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
7.
Fullan, M.
(1993). Change forces: Probing the depths of educational reform. London: Palmer Press.
8.
Fullan, M.
(1997). Constructive change for complex times. In A. Hargreaves (ed.), Positive change for school success (ASCD 1997 Yearbook). Alexandria, V A: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
9.
Fullan, M.
(2001). Leading in a culture of change. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
10.
Fullan, M.
(2003). The moral imperative of school leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
11.
Fullan, M.
, Miles, M., & Taylor, B. (1978). Organizational development in schools. Theory into Practice, 46 (4).
12.
Fullan, M.
, Kilcher, C.A., & Lee, L. (1995). Lessons learned in the Manitoba School Improvement Program. Toronto: Walter and Duncan Gordon Charitable Foundation.
13.
Glickman, C.D.
(1993). Renewing America's schools: A guide for school-based action. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
14.
Glickman, C.D.
, Allen, L., & Lunsford, B. (1994). Factors affecting school change. Journal of Staff Development, 15(3), 38-41.
15.
Green, R. L.
(2001). Practicing the art of leadership: A problem-based approach to implementing the ISLLC standards. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
16.
Gutherie, J. W.
, & Saunders, T. (2001). Who will lead the public schools?Education Supplement, The New York Times (January 7, 2001).
17.
Hall, G.
, & Hord, S. (1984). A framework for analyzing what change facilitators do: The intervention taxonomy. Knowledge: Creation, Diffusion, Utilization, 5(3): 275-307.
18.
Hall, G.
, & Hord, S. (1987). Change in schools: Facilitating the process. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
19.
Hopkins, D.
, Aniscow, M., & West, M. (1994). School improvement in an era of change. London: Cassell.
20.
Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium
(1996). Standards for school leaders. Washington, D.C: Council of Chief State School Officers.
21.
Kilcher, C.A.
(1992). Learning to be a change facilitator. In C. Livingston & S. Castle (eds.), Teacher leadership. Washington, D.C.: National Education Association.
22.
Leithwood, K.
(1995). School restructuring in British Columbia: Summarizing the results of a four-year study. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association.
23.
Lewin, K.
(1951). Field theory in social sciences. New York: Harper and Rowe.
24.
Lieberman, A.
, Darling-Hammond, & Zuckerman, D. (1991). Early lessons in restructuring schools. New York: National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools, and Teaching.
25.
Lieberman, A.
, & McLaughlin, M. (1992). Networks for educational change: Powerful and problematic. Phi Delta Kappan, 73(9), 673-677.
26.
Louis, K.S.
, & Miles, M. (1990). Improving the urban high school: What works and why. New York: Longman.
27.
Meyer, A.
, Brooks, G., & Goes, J. (1990). Environmental jolts and industry revolution: Organizational responses to discontinuous change. Strategic Management Journal, 11, 93-110.
28.
Mortimer, P.
, Sammons, P., Stoll, L., Lewis, D., & Ecob, R. (1988). School matters: The junior year. Somerset: Open Books.
29.
Murphy, J.
(1991). Restructuring school: Capturing and assessing the phenomena. New York: Teachers College Press.
30.
Newmann, F.
, & Wehlage, G. (1995). Successful school restructuring. Madison, WI: Center on Organization and Restructuring of Schools.
31.
Normore, A.H. (1997). Peacock Elementary School: A changing school in labrador. An unpublished Masters thesis, Universite Laval, Quebec.
32.
Rossi, R.
, & Stringfield, S. (1995). What must we do for students placed at risk. Phi Delta Kappan, 77(1), 73-76.
33.
Sammons, P.
, Hillman, I., & Mortimore, P. (1995). Key characteristics of effectiveness: A review of school effectiveness research. London, UK: Institute of Education and Office for Standards in Education.
34.
Schmidt, W.
, & Finnigan, J. (1992). The race for the finish line: America’s quest for total quality. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
35.
Sizer, T.
(1992). Horace's school: Redesigning the American high school. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
36.
Teddie, C.
, & Stringfield, S. (1993). Schools make a difference: Lessons learned from a 10-year student of school effects. New York: Teachers College Press.
37.
Wagner, T.
(1994). How schools change: Lessons learned from three communities. Boston: Beacon Press.
38.
Walker, N.
(1999). Principals: Alive on the edge of chaos (An interview with Michael Fullan). The Ontario Principals Council Register: Magazine for Ontario’s Principals and Vice-Principals, 1 (6).
39.
Walker, N.
(2000). The conversation: A seat at management’s table. The Ontario Principals Council Register: Magazine for Ontario’s Principals and Vice-Principals, 2 (5).
