Conclusion
For this case study, the Houston’s 2011 University of Texas Cooperative Urban Leadership Program focused on five areas of growth for Cullen Middle School: student achievement, teacher effectiveness, engaging internal and external stakeholders, and improving community perceptions. To learn more about these emerging themes, we conducted interviews with the faculty, staff, and community. We learned about Cullen’s successes and areas for growth, and we researched the Cullen community by reading articles, community history, and current school documents. We learned that the work of building and implementing effective systems is complex, and that meeting the needs and desires of different constituents requires engagement and investment of stakeholders.
Creating schools of excellence is a challenging endeavor that involves much more than commitment from just the people inside the building. It takes a relentless effort from all stakeholders, internal and external. In order to build sustainable models of excellence, school-wide and even community-wide systems need to be implemented. Students must always be at the forefront of planning as we adjust our efforts to meet their dynamic needs. Cullen, like any neighborhood school, must hold high expectations, continuously improve, and employ best practices to become an HISD School of Choice. The UTCULP Houston 2011 Cohort will always follow the success of Cullen Middle School with great interest.
Creating schools of excellence is a challenging endeavor that involves much more than commitment from just the people inside the building. It takes a relentless effort from all stakeholders, internal and external. In order to build sustainable models of excellence, school-wide and even community-wide systems need to be implemented. Students must always be at the forefront of planning as we adjust our efforts to meet their dynamic needs. Cullen, like any neighborhood school, must hold high expectations, continuously improve, and employ best practices to become an HISD School of Choice. The UTCULP Houston 2011 Cohort will always follow the success of Cullen Middle School with great interest.
