What's your Action, Jackson?

If you want to know what’s happening at a school, why not ask the principal? That doesn't sound like rocket science, right? You wouldn't ask an artist how to cure a cold or a doctor how to fix a car. For many years, the field of education was devoted to following the advice on "experts" who conducted research about how schools "should work". But, what did they know? Were they in the classrooms when little Johnny clowned around? Were they in your classroom as students sat lifelessly not understanding anything that you were saying? Then why would you listen to “experts” who had little experience in what the real classroom looked like?

If you need something to change, why not go to the expert in that setting? Administrators can gauge what the problems of their school are, based on recommendations, conduct their research, and implement a plan of action in order to see improvements. As we know, when one problem is fixed another arises, and so the cyclical process begins. Although problems might continue to arise, the administrator is better prepared and is proactive, rather than reactive (Dana, 2009, p. 14).

 Action research can be beneficial to administrators as they collaborate with leadership teams to reflect on their administrative practices in order to improve the quality of their school community. They can assess what needs to happen and create plans in order to address those issues.