Educational Services

It takes years of practical, "in-the-trenches" experience to be effective within the educational community. This is where the MWH Group shines. Some of our key counselors have been employed in the educational field as teachers and administrators and have successfully dealt with all the significant issues facing this group. We can show you how to bring the disparate parties together, how to improve morale, and how to create innovative programs that will highlight your school to the community.

Student - Staff Relationships

A large, urban middle school in a major metropolitan area first administered the Staff Perception of School Program and Student Perception of School Program survey during the 1998-99 school year. There were a number of issues that demonstrated a need for attention. Realizing that it would be difficult to take on all of the issues at once, the School Leadership Team decided to address one area in the coming year. This area was relationships between students and staff.

The student version of the survey revealed that students did not respect the staff. The staff version of the survey indicated that staff did not feel respected. The School Leadership Team decided that concerns about respect could be addressed through a common definition of respect. The school's conflict resolution program facilitator recalled a situation in which a staff member reprimanded a student in the presence of others. Feeling embarrassed and disrespected, the student walked away. Immediately, the student was sent to the office for disciplinary action. When asked about this action during conflict resolution, the student stated that rather than disrespecting an adult his parents had counseled him to walk away. So, in fact, the behavior perceived by the staff member as disrespectful was intended to be a form of respect.

After further discussion, staff members expressed that many of their behavioral referrals revolved around the respect issue. Students also recognized that many of the student conflicts were the result of one or more parties feeling disrespected. Most often, it was simply a matter of the difference in the "meanings" carried by each party.

This prompted the School Leadership Team to initiate a program on "Respect" designed to increase awareness of the importance of respect and to have the school create a shared meaning of respect. This program lasted throughout the school year with events ranging from assemblies to small focus groups. When the surveys were administered again the following year, there was a significant change in the perceptions of all groups in the school about respect. Staff felt less disrespected, and students felt more respected and respectful.

This is just one example of how surveys can serve as a powerful tool to renew and align commitment from everyone to make change happen. The decisions cannot be made in a vacuum. The School Leadership Team structure allows school improvement to take place through collaboration and dialogue.