Southaven Elementary School Case Study

“The highly effective principal is an Envisioner. An individual who is motivated by a sense of calling and purpose, focused on what schools can be, and guided by a mission that has the best interests of all students at its core.” (Trump, p. 43) When I read that quote, I was saddened for my school, the place where my heart has lived for nine years. Christy Johnston, as principal of Southaven Elementary School, has the potential to be a phenomenal leader, and the school has the capacity to be great! She graduated with her Specialist in Educational Leadership through this program at The University of Mississippi. She is smart, savvy, highly intelligent, and currently leading the lowest performing kindergarten through fifth grade school in Desoto County. Lots of excuses are being made as to why student are low performing, such as demographics, high number of transient students, large population of English Language Learners (ELL), as well as a low socioeconomic status. The majority of Southaven Elementary teachers and support staff are battling the adoption of a negative mindset
We have adopted the mission statement for our district, but she has not developed a statement that articulates the focus of our school. She has put a strong emphasis on literacy this year, but measurable, obtainable, and directional goals for achieving literacy growth growth are absent. Reflection, reexamination, and adjustment of goals is taking place by assistant principals and teachers. With hard work and commitment, Southaven Elementary has the potential to be a high achieving school in five to ten years, but I am not sure what Mrs. Johnston anticipates for our future. I think she wants to achieve and transform Southaven Elementary School, but does not know how, or has not articulated an action plan for