Effective Change at School and District Level

Effective Change at School and District Level

            The key issues I am currently facing in regards to trying to improve the science program at my school is lack of funding.  Lack of funding seems to be a huge issue in every school district, but how money is dispersed throughout school systems is something I still don’t understand.  I teach eighth grade science, and I am the only eighth grade teacher at my school that does not have a lab atmosphere.  I had to basically beg to my principal last year to even receive basic tables for my students instead of desks.  We do not have very many lab supplies, and we have been told by our book keeper that we are not allowed to ask for lab fees and she places extremely strict buying policies on our allocated funds to use in our own classrooms.  I often feel like I am having to fight against my own colleagues to be able to provide the best learning environment for my students.  It is also quite aggravating to visit other schools in my district that have amazing lab classrooms with lab tables, sinks, working computers, and up-to-date technology while I am struggling to even be able to buy supplies for my students.

            With all of these complications that happen each school year and the increase in TN on student performance, test scores, and teacher effect data I have become much more outspoken to my administration about how to better the learning environment for my students in the science classroom.  My students deserve the exact same opportunities as the other students receive in the county, and this equality is currently not happening.  I hope that with me becoming more outspoken and more of an advocate for my students that there will be some form of improvement in science education at my school.