School Reformer Personality Quiz

1. Who can do the most to lead school reform efforts?

Anyone but the federal government

Teachers

The local community as a whole

Parents who are provided a choice of where to enroll their child

Instructional leaders

2. Who/what has the biggest impact on a child's success in school?

Rigorous and well-aligned standards for teaching students

Community-based support services

School choice and high expectations for student achievement

A well-trained teaching workforce

I have my opinion but am more interested in hearing what you have to say.

3. What is the biggest obstacle to enacting successful school reforms?

A lack of focus on external factors (non-school factors)

A lack of school choice, which has led to a system mired in mediocrity

Overemphasizing high stakes assessments

The belief that more money can fix schools

That pesky federal government

4. What is the purpose of schooling?

Continued economic success

Academic attainment

It’s a national babysitting program… or is it something else?

Individual growth

Socialization and promoting democracy

5. What are your feelings on the Common Core State Standards?

While I support the standards, their success will depend on changes in teacher-student relationships.

High expectations will lead to higher student achievement.

Different standards are not going to solve the problems in our schools.

I think they have potential, but success will depend on well-trained teachers.

I’m coming around to them.

6. What does effective pedagogy look like?

Instructional practices that are closely aligned with high stakes assessments

Research-based methods that are supported by school leadership

A barn raising approach where the teacher acts as moderator and students support each other in the process

Student driven activities that relate school with the current reality of students’ lives

Teaching strategies focused on rigorous standards

7. What are the most effective levers to change a failing school's culture?

Strengthening the relationship between teachers, students, and standards

Empower teachers to take more active leadership roles and help middling teachers grow towards excellence

Support teacher and leadership development

Institute a high expectations, no excuse approach to learning

Bringing in external partners to help the school address the conditions in which the students live

8. What is the best model for turning around failing schools?

I approve of any model that focuses on school improvement without identifying increase revenues as the solution to all ailments.

A restart model where the school is closed and reopened by a charter management organization (CMO).

A transformation model where teacher and school leader effectiveness are developed along with improvements to instructional strategies and increased learning time

Close the school and consolidate students at higher preforming schools. Wait… does that sound right?

School closings should only be a last resort. Educational authorities must help schools solve their problems through professional development, targeted improvement programs, and specific interventions that will strengthen the school’s capacity to educate its students.

9. What is the best system for evaluating teachers?

No evaluations necessary. Just let teachers do what teachers do best and support them in the process.

Evaluations based on student surveys and mastery of standards.

No accurate or high quality teacher evaluation model can be achieved until it takes into account all factors affecting student achievement.

It should be based on student performance on high stakes, rigorous assessments.

Observations conducted by principals, instructional leaders, and high quality, experienced teachers.

10. What are your views on charter schools?

Charter schools are killing America.

Any method is acceptable as long as it is financially responsible.

Charter management organizations are the best! They are one of the key levers for raising student achievement.

Charter schools are an effective means of improving schooling, but they should work with districts instead of competing against them.

Charter schools can provide more freedom for schools to focus on the instructional core.

11. What is your race/ethnicity

White

Black or African American

Hispanic or Latino

Asian

Pacific Islander

Mixed

Other

Declined to state

12. Graduate School

HGSE

HKS

HBS

HLS

HMS

HDS

HSPH

GSAS

GSD

MIT

Tufts

Other

13. HGSE Program

Ed. M. – Arts in Education

Ed. M. – Education Policy and Management

Ed. M. – Higher Education

Ed. M. – Human Development and Psychology

Ed. M. – International Education Policy

Ed. M. – Language and Literacy

Ed. M. – Mind, Brain, and Education

Ed. M. – Prevention Science and Practice

Ed. M. – School Leadership

Ed. M. – Special Studies

Ed. M. – Teacher Education Program

Ed. M. – Technology, Innovation, and Education

Ed. L.D.

Ed. D.

Ph. D.

Not a HGSE student

14. What type of school did you attend for the majority of your K-12 education?

Public

Private

Parochial

Charter

Homeschool

Other

15. Give the K-12 schools you attended an average grade.

A

B

C

D

F

16. What sector was your last job in prior to graduate school?

Education

Business

Law

Non-profit

Government

Finance

Consulting

Healthcare

Social services

Other

17. In which role have you ever worked in a school?

As a teacher

As an administrator

Support staff

Never worked