...“Daily life in districts and schools requires educators to effectively navigate a sea of data: diagnostic and norm-referenced standardized assessment data, reading assessment data, state and local assessment data, in combination with other data related to instructional programs and demographic, attendance, and dropout trends. This new level of applied data use requires district and school administrators, teacher leaders, and classroom teachers to be data literate—that is able to use multiple types of assessment and other data to inform decisions that lead to higher student achievement.” (Fox, 2013). Victoria Bernhardt (2000 & 2003) also talks about the importance of intersecting multiple data categories. She says, "Not until you intersect all data categories at the school level and over time will you be able to answer questions that allow you to predict whether the actions, processes, and programs that you are operating will meet the needs of all students. By crossing all four data categories, you are taking into account who your students are, how they prefer to learn, which subgroups of students are achieving, and with which process students achieve." According to Bernhardt (2002 & 2003), there are four kinds of data (demographic, student learning, perceptions and school processes). Demographic data provide information on enrollment, attendance, grade level, ethnicity, gender, native language, etc. Student learning data provide information in terms of standardized test...
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...Preparing A School Improvement Plan In the 1990’s the author was introduced to the school improvement plan of his school by being called into the principal’s office along with two other teachers and asked to read over and sign the document written by the principal. A quick reading through the document satisfied us that it was in English and had complete sentences, even if we did not fully appreciate every single acronym that was included. The author and another teacher made the mistake of asking for an explanation of all the acronyms, to which the principal responded positively and gave us the dubious distinction of preparing the document for the following year. One question turned a document generated by several hours of work by the principal into a team of two. Fifteen years later the team consists of sixteen individuals, including teachers, an administrator, a counselor, a district leader, and a parent. In addition, parents and community members are called to review the school plan with team members prior to its release to the public. The school improvement plan is required by several federal and state mandates such as Title One (ESEA, 1965), the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB, 2001), and the Texas Education Agency (TEA, 2011). These various mandates require that a school improvement plan is used by the school leadership in assuring the budgets from different federal and state agencies are properly planned out and accounted for. Since planning is necessary to ensure...
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...School Improvement Team: Problem to Address Rene Rodea Grand Canyon University EDA-577 Data Driven Decisions for School Improvement May 14, 2013 School Improvement Team: Problem to Address The Plan-Do-Study-Act method has certainly become a way to implement change and set procedures for improving student success. The plan component has allowed our team to develop a series of questions that address our student concerns. The tool that is used to improve STAAR testing scores consists of benchmark scores, teacher and student feedback. The step is to provide surveys and review data to achieve desired results. The initial cycle will be implemented during benchmark TAKS testing. The plan is to involve all staff members in a committee process to improve STAAR testing results. This will require all staff members to get involved in the selection of objectives, goals, and collaborative decision-making process. The goal is to increase STAAR testing scores by developing a collaborative team to utilize innovative ways to motivate students and improve student success. These procedures will increase the role of community members in becoming a key component in improving STAAR testing results and improve student learning by selecting and rating qualified teachers. Our campus will also establish a site-based committee to provide key information and implement a plan with outlined procedures to improve student learning. The steps required to execute our plan will hold open discussions...
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...EDA 5191 Leadership in Education: School Improvement Theory and Practice Leadership in Education: School Improvement Theory and Practice class was a wonderful class that focused on sustaining success, culture, and community within a school. The class enclosed Failure is Not an Option, by Alan Blankstein. As I worked through the book chapters within each module the mission, vision, values and goal of a school came to be the heart of the school. The book was constructive as to deal with principles that included achievement, collaboration, data, family and community involvement, and sustainability. The assignment of the Education Leadership Platform was the most relieving thoughts of myself as an instructional leader. This undertaking...
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...Improvements in School Nutrition David Johnson Strayer University ENG 115 November 7, 2012 Improvements in School Nutrition Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years and has become a major issue in our nation. The obesity dilemma affects boys and girls of all ages, races, and ethnicities in the United States. Recent changes to school breakfast and lunch programs have been implemented to improve overall health and nutritional value. These changes are designed to incorporate healthier eating habits, accommodate more participants in a more cost effective way, and provide easier accessibility to the program. Nutrition experts agree that if the nation wants to make progress on the obesity crisis among children, what they eat in school for breakfast and lunch has to be addressed. The percentage of obese children aged 6 to 11 years in the U.S. increased from 7 percent to 20 percent from 1980-2008. In 2011 that number increased to 33 percent. These facts indicate a strong need to make changes to the school lunch program. Studies show that more than half of the calories students eat in a day are consumed at school during breakfast and lunch periods. Affordability is just as important as nutritional value. When making changes to these programs, it is imperative that we take into consideration the number of students who receive free and reduced-price meals as well as students who do not. Children who receive free or reduced-price...
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...university of the philippines open university Lopez, quezon The School Improvement Plan of Maulawin National High School towards the Attainment of its Mission and Vision Statement –An example of OD in the 21st century A Term Paper Submitted to Professor Rufo N. Bueza In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement in Organizational Development and Leadership Effectiveness (MEM 643) Andrew C. Imperial October, 2013 ABSTRACT Every public school in the Philippines is mandated to have a three-year School Improvement Plan (SIP). It is a document which embodies what a school wants to achieve and the manner with which to achieve it. Mission and Vision, which the SIP contains, are one of the essential parts of the SIP. School Vision will provide the direction and leadership toward collaborative actions, steer the administration, teachers and the stakeholders to act in one course, serve as guide with the critical point such as dreams, goals and aspiration of the institution while the School Mission is something that describe the path that the school chooses to take to become what it wants to be as expressed in the vision statement. This term paper describes the issue on the process on school improvement planning that includes an instrument by which the community can hold a certain school accountable for student performance. The goal of every school improvement plan should be to reach every student. In order to accomplish this, school administrators and staff must focus on student learning and...
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...1 Chapter 1 NATIONAL SURVEY OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF SELECTED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS REGARDING THE QUALITY AND CONDITION, MAINTENANCE, AND IMPROVEMENT AND RENOVATION OF EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES Introduction The quality and condition of existing public school facilities have been a topic of growing concern among educators across the country. Each year, the cost of maintenance, and improvement and renovation needed to maintain public schools continues to increase (Earthman, 1994). National studies conducted during the last fifteen years clearly indicate rising costs. In 1983, a random survey of school administrators in thirty-three states and the District of Columbia was undertaken by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). This study was also supported by the Council of Great City Schools and the National School Boards Association (NSBA). A previous study was completed twenty-three years earlier in 1960 by AASA. The 1983 report revealed that at least $25 billion would be needed to address facility maintenance, and improvement and renovation needs, not including funds needed for new construction (AASA, 1983). The study reported “ . . . schools throughout the nation, particularly those in the older inner cities, have deferred billions of dollars of repairs” (p. 13). Six years later (1989), the Educational Writers Association (EWA) published its study, Wolves at the Schoolhouse Door. This study analyzed information received from twenty-eight state departments...
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...Running head: STRATEGIC DIRECTION—HOME DEPOT Strategic Direction—Home Depot Keller Graduate School of Management J. Lambrou, Professor Strategic Direction Introduction What is Strategic Direction? This means taking your company in a direction related to what’s happening in the dynamic environment of what the business provides (be it in a services, manufacturing, technological, or financial area). (Olsen, 2007) Therefore, the strategy and direction the company take are defined by what established and unique value propositions the company has when compared to competitors; operations executed to provide different and tailored value to customers; clearly identifies any tradeoffs and clarifies what not to do; focuses on activities that fit together and reinforce each other; and is continually driven for improvement within the organization and while moving it toward its defined vision. I use The Home Depot (Home Depot here-out) for this paper as I have a part-time job with them. Strategy Home Depot’s simple and straightforward strategy is to ensure it diversifies its operations by having several businesses competing in the different product markets of home improvement. (Home Depot, 2008) The Home Depot has positioned itself within the industry based on a strategy of cost leadership. This operating strategy allows the company to earn above-average profitability by dictating prices from suppliers lowering input costs and minimizing distribution transactions eliminating...
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...summary of your proposal for grant funding. Habitat for Humanity will use the grant monies for expanding our training/workshop and simulation room and replacing the old and outdating office equipment and furniture. We would purchase a new All-in-one printer, copier, scanner and fax machine that is needed for marketing and training. We will also purchase tables, chairs, dry eraser boards, a projector and ten (10) new computers, which will all be using during training classes. The training and workshops are for our volunteers and selected Lake County families. We will conduct classes on home repair, budgeting, banking, credit, savings, home maintenance, community involvement, energy efficiency, homeownership, and children’s success in school program for low-income homeowners in Lake County. The volunteers will also be trained on basic wiring, plumbing, masonry work and drying walling by professionals. Habitat for Humanity has utilized the non-profit’s existing construction and support services staff to grow the program, by adding an efficient process for home repair to the ongoing mission of building new affordable, energy-efficient homes for low and moderate income families. 8. What is the specific geographical area that will be served by this project? And what are the demographics of the population you expect to serve? (Be sure to include, Race, Age, Gender, etc.) The monies from the grant will service all low income families of Lake County Indiana. We will service...
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...you to one of these two retail giants. The home improvement industry has evolved from small regional and locally owned hardware stores to these superstores. The top two in the industry are Home Depot and Lowe’s. Each has their eye on moving into international markets, each has superstores in all 50 states and each has evolved along different paths to reach their current positions. According to Fortune 500 Home Depot, Inc. is ranked at #25 and the second largest retailer in the US after Wal-Mart. Home Depot Inc. has its corporate headquarters in Atlanta Georgia. What began in 1979 as two 60,000-foot stores that resembled warehouses has grown to about 2,200 stores across North America, Puerto Rico, and China. Home Depot Inc. is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange as NYSE:HD. At the end of 2008 Home Depot Inc. employed 331,000 people. Home Depot sales recorded and posted in 2009 are $71,288.0 mil. Home Depot Inc. is the number one home improvement retailer with Lowe’s coming in second place with sales posted in 2009 at $48, 230.0 mil.. Founded in 1946 Lowe’s went from a small hardware store to the ninth largest retailer in the US. Lowe’s went public in 1961 and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange as NYSE:LOW in 1979. According to Fortune 500 Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is ranked at #47. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. are headquartered in Mooresville North Carolina. Lowe’s competes with Home Depot, Inc. (home improvement) and Sears (appliances) they are second to both...
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...Lowe’s Home Improvement By Noe Rodriguez MKTG 305-07 American Intercontinental University Online September 23, 2012 Abstract The paper contains information regarding Lowe’s home improvement. The 4 Ps of marketing that Lowe’s uses at this time are also included in this paper; Lowe’s is considered an oligopoly as the second home improvement store in the nation, explanation on how it has dealt with Home Depot and other stores is part of this paper. Lowe’s Home Improvement Introduction Lowe’s is a great company in the fortune 500 which serves home improvement and, has been around for 60 years; it was founded in 1946 and it is considered today the largest home improvement retailer globally. Lowe’s has 1,745 stores within the USA, Mexico and Canada; it ranks number 54 in the Fortune 500 list, it also is a contributor to the consumer by contributing over $32 million dollar to different schools. (Lowe’s.com) Countries Lowe’s operates in the USA, Canada, Mexico and Australia; the expansion to Canada began in 2007 where Lowe’s open a store in Hamilton, Ontario; then in 2008 proceeded to enter the market of Monterrey, Mexico, and is building 150 stores in Australia. In the USA alone it has 1,710 stores. 4Ps of Marketing Lowe’s There are market types which are to be considered important and they are competition, monopolistic competition, monopoly, and oligopoly, because Lowe’s is constantly in competition with...
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...Arthur Blank, and how they are responsible for one of the biggest entrepreneur successes in recent history. This novel shows, first hand, how they became leaders within the home improvement industry. This was no easy task, but these two had experience. Bernie’s parents immigrated to America, and he grew up in a poor neighborhood, Newark, New Jersey. He dreamed of working in medicine, but could not afford the kickback he needed to pay Harvard Medical School to circumnavigate the quota they had at the time for people of Jewish ancestry. Bernie soon graduated from Rutgers, Newark, and worked as an intern in a pharmaceutical company. One day a customer came in that forever changed his life. Bernie was introduced to the world of discount stores when he met a man named Danny Kessler. A few years later Bernie worked alongside Arthur blank within one of the most successful home improvement chains at the time, Handy Dan’s Home improvement center. Bernie became the President and CEO, and Arthur was the vice president of finance. They were eventually fired, and faced legal trouble due to a false accusation. It was at this time that they decided to open up their own home improvement store, one that captured their own core values. They had high hopes of a store that far surpassed Handy Dan’s Home improvement center. The idea was to build a store more than twice the size of Handy Dan, and they had dreams of tripling their amount of sales. The store was to have a high breadth and...
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...Building Better Home Improvement Experiences 2012 ANNUAL REPORT Building Better Home Improvement Experiences Learn more by visiting our online Annual Report at www.Lowes.com/2012annual or scan the QR code with your smartphone. Shareholder Letter Great customer experiences start with our associates, whether they interact with customers face-to-face or work tirelessly behind the scenes to simplify the complex business of home improvement. And together, Lowe’s associates are building better home improvement experiences. We’ve laid the foundation to transform our core business over the past two years, and we will continue our efforts in 2013 and beyond. We expect to generate compelling returns for shareholders as we further align our people, processes and financial resources to provide better home improvement experiences. 2012 PERFORMANCE We delivered solid performance in 2012. Comparable store sales grew 1.4% and total sales grew 0.6% to $50.5 billion. Net earnings increased by 6.5% to $2.0 billion and diluted earnings per share increased 18.2% to $1.69. Operating cash flows, along with the net issuance of $1.4 billion of long-term debt, were used to acquire $1.2 billion in fixed assets and return $5.1 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Robert A. Niblock Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer OUR PROGRESS Our transformation is centered on the customer. In the inspiration phase of a project, customers realize...
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...Mission “To provide business and residential customers a repair and maintenance service that is professional and reliable.” Vision “To become the preferred handy-man service providers in the twin cities within the next 3 years” The Need/Description/Value proposition Due to the changes in our social structure and economic-need fulfillment taking precedence, people are trying to juggle maintaining a balance between home and excruciatingly demanding careers. With these dynamics, home-repair tends to be neglected more often than it used to be because of the sheer amount of time and attention it requires. The need now is for timely services that are provided as requested and executed perfectly, reducing the physiological costs of the customer. Customer security is another issue that requires attention in these tumultuous times and a focus needs to be paid on getting the job done right the first time considering the demanding nature of lives today. “The Fix-Its” set out to do just that. Our customers will not have to loom around, catering to the demands of “Mr.Handy-Man” and can instead focus on other important issues that require their attention. Work will be efficiently broken down to maximize time utility and will be executed by highly skilled and professional individuals. Security-needs fulfillment will be insured by providing bio-data on the assigned handyman along with a sealed envelope that will be handed over by the professional upon arrival which will contain the...
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...reported that in the 1st quarter in 2011 same store sales went down to 0.6% * New York times indicated that in 2011 4th quarter same store sales went up to 5.7% Opportunities * In 2013 spring season they plan on hiring more people, more than 80,000 according to cnn money website. * With this added on plan, home depot expects to not only supply jobs but develop great workers who will hopefully increase profit for the spring THREATS * Their competitor lowes Business strategy * Pricing strategy to create values to the customer, do not repeat promotions from previous years GENERAL ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS * EconomicNature and direction of the economy in which a firm competes or may compete. * Economic recession- home improvement industry categorized as recession proof product * Housing market * Increased restrictions on credit availability-big ticket items financed * demographicpopulation’s size, age structure, geographic distribution, ethnic mix and income distribution * women-new Martha steward line * 20-30 yr old- establishing “first” home * Aging group- less likely to purchase new homes and instead renovate their homes. Diy motto * Political/legalcompeting for attention,...
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