I have a question for the the great thinkers of the AFP

B. Starts with the parents.

I don't know how great a thinker I am...but I do believe it does start with the community and their expectations. I believe most school systems think they are hiring good teachers, implementing the best curriculum, etc.  But until the students are in the schools and their educational progress is gauged, there can be no evaluation of the 'greatness' of the school.  If the school is failing in the first couple of years to meet the expectations of the community (and state), changes are made for improvement.  I don't believe that the community itself improves, though it will draw in more residents with greater expectations for their childrens education. Then in turn, it keeps the system attempting to meet the demand.

Thinking of Anderson, there are many parents who have the expectations, but they are drowning in their own problems....financial etc....they just want the school to teach their children, and few have the time to challenge the teachers and administration when it comes to why their children don't seem to be meeting the potential that they show to them.

I think there is way too much apathy on the part of the teachers, (not necessarily administration) and community.   We are living in a local society of defeat at the moment.  Until the economy does a complete 180.....it's going to remain.   Financial affluence does effect the amount of effort put into excelling.

Not a great thinker, but it's hard to resist putting my 2 cents in. LOL

As for your question: It's what they call a tangled hierarchy.  Each one helps to develop the other, and they are interdependent.

It all begins with values, imo, and the expectations which surround them. It isn't effective to have a high value for education, but a low expectation of accomplishment.  The challenge is that these qualities seem to be intangibles or at best, difficult to measure. They are the matrix, however, for the development of the system.  The rich nutrients, if you will.

First as individuals and then secondarily as a board, you need to assess (1) your values, and (2) your expectations.  Be frank and honest with yourselves.  This is where you must start.  Make whatever adjustments you need to raise both values and expectations, wherever they seem to fall short. From there, you do the same thing with your top administrators.

There will be a trickle down effect from there into the staff.  If CC is sensing apathy amongst the teachers, you might discover they are mirroring what they sense from their superiors in terms of expectation.

The other half of the equation is the community.  This will present your most interesting challenge and you must be very careful of your attitudes and expectations here.  I cannot emphasize that enough. Outreach is needed.  What institutions have the best outreach into the community? I'm guessing it's churches and large employers.  Can you initiate a comprehensive program which will engage these groups and help them to engage their respective members?  Is there someone who's done these kinds of things whose wisdom you can tap?  The educational community seems rife with great turnaround stories.  Can you reach any of these people and ask for a hand?

I go with people moved into the system turning an average school system into a better one. I am no way a great thinker, I just try to learn from experience and I pay attention to what goes on around me. In my opinion there are no easy fixes for this town or school system. We didn't get in this shape over night and it will take time to fix it as well. When this town was on top there were a lot of hard working and very intelligent people here. I remember one time my older brother getting sent home from school because he wore a plain white haines t-shirt to school. Look how far we have come. Now we have to have a dress code because people will not follow the rules. When I was in school my father all ways told me stay out of trouble or it will be worse on you when you get home. If I wanted to be in extra curricular activities I had to get my grades and follow the code of conduct. Either  you did or you didn't, it was your choice. Which ever way you chose, you had consequences for that choice. Now if you don't want to follow the rules the parents feel like the school, or who ever is picking on their kid. Anderson is in a bad way right now and it is going to take some very dedicated people to right the ship. It is not about what can be done for me anymore, it now effects whole communities. The world has changed many times and it is changing quickly again. Either people adapt and change with it or we will be left behind.

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Very interesting comments... 

If they faced the same problems ACS does their graduation rate wouldn't be twice as high and 54% of the students wouldn't be on free lunch.

And who here thinks at least 1/2 of the callers on smith's show are staged callers?

I got a question how come Muncie has a 78.9% graduation rate and we have a 54% graduation rate and they have a bigger percentage of kids on free lunch than we do?

Also staged callers or not, I personally do not know, interesting to see who on here is listening.