Case Study:

Plan of Action
William Howell
EDU689: Personal Ethics & Leadership Capacity
Instructor: Shane Duncanson
April 1, 2019
Dilemma Description

 Case Study 8.5 - When Fundraising and School Policy Collide

The school is in a dilemma in which they have a waiting list and now they have
an opening for a student. They offered the opening to a child with special
needs who will most likely accept the opening. But they have someone who
donates to the school who feels as if their grandchild should be able to skip to
the top of the waiting list and get the opening. So the school is trying to
decided do they follow policy and give the opening to the child with special
needs or should they give it to the donors grandchild so they can keep that
form of funding.
Stakeholders Viewpoints

 The Small School

Center policy is to offer “youngsters
from ethnically diverse backgrounds,
special needs children, and those
who do not come from English-
speaking homes priority when
determining the potential admission
of a given child” (Poliner Shapiro, &
Stefkovich, 2016).
Stakeholders Viewpoints

 Mr. Simmons
Is upset that the donors were not
notified of a potential program
opening.
Has donated millions of dollars to the
center and feels that his grandson
should have preferential treatment
because of this.
If his grandson does not get the
program opening he will no longer
support the program understanding
that it will hurt the school in turn.
Stakeholders Viewpoints

 Caleb and family

Caleb has been offered the
opening. His family has
accepted the opening as soon
as it is available. There is no other
option for them.
Ethical Lenses- Ethic of Care
Lens
 Care ethics is known as ethics of
the heart, loyalty, and trust
(Poliner Shapiro, and Stefkovich,
2016) and of rules.
 Embraces diversity and meeting
the needs of students with its
focus on nurturing (Poliner
Shapiro, and Stefkovich, 2016).
Ethical Lenses- Justice Lens

 Ethic of Justice focuses on

peoples rights, equity, equality,
and laws. (Poliner Shapiro, and
Stefkovich, 2016).

 Justice ethics “is characterized by

incrementalism, faith in the legal
system, and hope for progress”
(Delgado, 1995).
Plan of Action- Legal Issues
Involved
 Mr. Simmons Could Create:
Community Disputes
Notify licensing
 Maintain written log
Complaints against facility
Complaints will be investigated
Plan of Action- Data-Driven
Decision Making
 Collected data provides evidence
of preschool effectiveness for
special needs children advocating
for Caleb’s enrollment.

 Data Collected for Evidence:

National Statistics
Portfolios and Child outcomes
Anecdotal notes
Work samples
Direct observation/Classroom
activities
Plan of Action- Leadership
Components
 Remember Vision
 Emotional Intelligence
 Managing Uncertainty and
Choices with Decisions
 Trust Intuition
Plan of Action- Communication of
Decision
 Develop a communication plan
 Schedule meeting
 Be ready emotionally
 Prepare for the reaction
References

 Delgado, R. (1995). Critical Race Theory: The cutting edge. Philadelphia,

PA: Temple University Press.
 Kase, L. (2010). Great leaders are great decision-makers.
 Noddings, N. (1992). The Challenge to Care in Schools: An alternative
approach to education. New York: Teachers College Press.
 Poliner Shapiro, J., Stefkovich, J. (2016). Ethical leadership and decision
making in education: Applying theoretical perspectives to complex
dilemmas (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.