Thoughts designed to improve fluency on my inquiry project...

1. Examining the work: Setting the Foundation – I have determined to use an inquiry in order to provide a comprehensive four-year plan to assist students entering Rockwall High School (and other RISD students) who want to pursue a Performing Arts career. This plan should help not only the students who have this particular educational goal, but also should help our district to provide an exceptional curriculum in our Fine and Performing Arts Department.


2. Analyzing data – I will gather data from Texas colleges (and Oklahoma City University), from research sources like TMEA and Cedfa, from interviews with currently performing artists, and from brainstorming sessions with the RHS Performing Arts staff, counselors, and administrators. With the data, my colleagues and I will be able to determine our best path as we tweak our curriculum and make recommendations for our students to assist them in meeting their education goals.

3. Developing deeper understanding – I’m very excited to be able to convene the Performance Arts Staff, Counselors, and Principals into a focus group. These are all mature, seasoned professionals who have much to offer. Together we should be able to devise exceptional recommendations for our students.

4. Engaging in Self-Reflection – One topic of reflection I will undertake will be to maintain awareness that the goal is to benefit the students, not to impose my own ideas and preferences. I will continue to reflect upon the idea of servant leadership, the goal of proactive communication, and to receive new ideas as possible evidence of positive growth rather than as a threat to what has always been perceived as “the best”.

5. Exploring Programmatic Patterns – Before beginning to make interview calls, I will carefully plan the questions I want to ask, and will leave time in each interview to allow the person being interviewed to suggest ideas I haven’t thought to include. Before convening the focus group I will distribute the compiled notes and the list of interview questions so these professionals will have the opportunity to reflect on the topics before we begin to work together.

6. Determining direction – The focus group will be a very strong ensemble to evaluate the research data and formulate appropriate responses. This team will work collaboratively both within the meetings and in small groups between meetings.

7. Taking action for school improvement – I will use the action research template to help me maintain good organization and a timeline for action.

Sustaining improvement – One of my own goals is to continue to re-assess on a regular basis even after this particular project reaches its original conclusion. Just as curriculum should be regularly revisited, so also should the best practices for preparing our students for their lifework be continuously examined and improved.