Monifa B. McKnight's Doctor of Education Dissertation: EXAMINING THE SELF-EFFICACY BELIEFS AND LEADERSHIP PRACTICES OF MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS WITH HIGH SUCCESS RATES OF MINORITY STUDENTS IN ALGEBRA I

ABSTRACT

Title of Document: EXAMINING THE SELF-EFFICACY BELIEFS AND LEADERSHIP PRACTICES OF MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS WITH HIGH SUCCESS RATES OF MINORITY STUDENTS IN ALGEBRA I 

 Monifa B. McKnight, Doctor of Education 2014

This qualitative case study examined the self-efficacy beliefs of three middle school principals who had high enrollment and successful completion rates of minority students in Algebra I. With current tracking systems impacting minority student enrollment in rigorous courses, particularly in the area of mathematics, there is a need to explore and analyze the beliefs and practices of successful principals to ensure academic success for minority students in the subject of mathematics, particularly in middle school. To conduct this study, I analyzed transcripts from semi-structured interviews. The findings from this study reinforced the notion that self-efficacy beliefs were largely influenced by mastery experiences and vicarious experiences. The findings from this case study contributed additional knowledge about principal self-efficacy and the need for leadership development programs to help leaders define their own self-efficacy practices as it relates to closing the achievement gap. Examining the self-efficacy beliefs of successful middle school principals who have high minority student success in Algebra supports a compelling way to learn about how school leaders are addressing ways to close the achievement gap between African American and Latino students in comparison to their Asian and White peers. This study has practice implications for school systems interested in building the capacity for principal leadership development programs focused on leaders building a durable sense of self-efficacy to lead middle schools for change. Closing the achievement gap in helping all students to graduate college-ready requires a renewed focus on leadership during the middle school years.

Advisory Committee: 

Dr. Carol Sheffey Parham, Chair Dr. Helene Cohen Dr. Robert Croninger Dr. Dennis M. Kivlighan Dr. Nelson McLeod 

https://drum.lib.umd.edu/bitstream/handle/1903/15718/McKnight_umd_0117E_15399.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Reteach and Relearn - for HS Administrators - FERPA Primer Refresher

Reteach, relearn, and reinforce is not just for students.  Sometimes principals need to be retaught basic laws that they (should) know from all that administrator training taxpayer sponsor for MCPS staff members.  We all have different learning styles.

Nelson McLeod at Richard Montgomery HS must need a lot of reteaching and reinforcing.  He still insists on breaking federal student privacy laws by posting student's personal identifiable information - in this case who owes money to the school - by ID numbers, so its time for the annual reminder concerning the obligations wall. 

Here are two pictures sent to me this evening:

Redacted list of Student ID numbers as seen on bulletin board at Richard Montgomery High School 6/14/11

Once again, to reinforce the original concept that apparently was not learned, here is my short primer on FERPA and the Obligation Wall.

Given that this is a widespread and recurring problem in MCPS - maybe Dr. McLeod's actions can be considered within the "egregious" category.  We'll ask the federal Department of Education to withhold funding for Richard Montgomery.

I wonder if Dr. Starr noticed the violation when he was at Richard Montgomery tonight.  If we are really lucky, Dr. Starr should be able to address this stiuation immediately - perhaps he can give Dr. McLeod a personal lesson over coffee.

For those of you who would like to know more about educational privacy rights, here is the short version of FERPA.



The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is the federal privacy act equivalent for educational records. All schools that receive federal funding are subject to FERPA. FERPA is a personal right - that is, the cause of action may only be brought by the individual whose rights have been violated. For example, only a student or parent of a student named on the "obligations wall" (at Richard Montgomery, Blake, or Whitman) or public HSA remedial list (Blair) is entitled to file a complaint with the US Department of Education. If my child's rights aren't violated, sorry, no right to complain.


Remedies are mostly corrective - the objectives are get the school or school system to fix their policies and procedures. However, the regulations do permit the Department of Education to withhold funding for egregious cases - see 34 CFR 99.61 et seq.

As a lawyer involved in freedom of information and privacy act issues, most people I know outside of MCPS who deal with records subject to the privacy act or educational research and testing work very diligently to comply with the various requirements of the applicable privacy laws and regulations. MCPS is rather cavalier in its interpretations - but then again, that seems consistent with MCPS believing that most laws and policies are meant for others. I know I've spoken with my kids schools about having volunteers helping out with mailing interims, but didn't get very far, since the school claimed the volunteers were working just like school staff. How fascinating. I've only had one instance that I know about where my child's name was on the "obligations wall," and at that point I was more concerned about whether she could purchase a homecoming ticket than I was about filing a FERPA complaint.

So - given that this is a recurring problem in MCPS - maybe this posting has risen to the level of an "egregious" case and ask the federal Department of Education to withhold funding for Richard Montgomery.



More on FERPA is on the Department of Education's website:http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html
See the original post at:  Short Primer on FERPA and "Obligations Wall"

MoCo's Version of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

School fees are alive and well in Montgomery County Public Schools.

Look no further than Richard Montgomery, one of the gems in the school system, home to the very successful International Baccalaureate Program.

Seniors are once again charged a graduation "fee" for the privilege of attending the school.

What's in the fee?  Who knows.  Why does the fee increase after winter break?

Don't ask. Here is a link to the school's webpage with the fees. 

SeniorFee_RMHS


Notice something missing? Who is in charge? No letterhead, no signature, just drop a check off before winter break to save a penalty.

This fee is illegal, plain and simple. The state of Maryland guarantees a free public education for students.

Does the fee include something reasonable like a cap/gown? Maybe, but maybe not. Can't the students borrow a robe from a sibling? At Richard Montgomery, all the students wear black robes, tassels cost $5.

But - unless a parent is willing to challenge this fee or any of the myriad other illegal fees charged to students across the county through the judicial system, the practice continues. Students at Richard Montgomery, as other schools across the county, will be subject to repeated instances of educational extortion.

Kudos to Judge Virginia Phillips who showed extraordinary courage today in striking down the military version of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."