The School Improvement Team as it then existed had been receiving training on Site-Based Decision Making through the Maryland State Department of Education. In addition, the focus of the School Improvement Team was instructional and there was a feeling of being overwhelmed with the task of trying to handle the student behavior problems that had surfaced along with instructional issues. In the fall of 1992, an article appeared in Educational Leadership on Systems Thinking. It helped to shape some of our thoughts as did some introductory training in Total Quality Management attended by 5 or 6 staff members. And certainly not last, many of the Wi Hi staff signed the newly introduced Renaissance placard pledging themselves to excellence in education.
People support what they help create.
Teachers like everyone else are naturally territorial. It seemed as though the pieces were falling into place so that a new school culture could be created. Individuals would show concern and respect for each other. There would be freedom to try different approaches. Failure would no longer be feared but instead respected as an effort to improve.