Highly effective interscholastic athletic programming for student athletes within a high school setting
Date
2016
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
This Executive Leadership Portfolio (ELP) addresses the need to build a highly effective interscholastic athletic program focused on student achievement. This ELP includes school improvement initiatives that strengthen interscholastic athletic programming. The plan consisted of the following improvement goals: 1) create a strategic plan to manage, guide, and lead the St. Georges’ interscholastic athletic program 2) implement an academic support program for interscholastic athletes at St. Georges 3) create a professional learning community of coaches more engaged in data- driven decision making.
To achieve these goals, a multi-pronged effort addressed issues that in the past have contributed to the mediocre state of St. Georges’ Athletics and will now bring changes to improve the athletic program and academic supports for student athletes. As a result of the improvement effort, the athletics department established a shared program vision and mission, a common language about best practice in the program, better academic support procedures for athletes, and a proposal and plan to enhance the athletic stadium facility. A committed, consistent, and daily effort to communicate to all stakeholders became the norm. Research based strategies were employed to strengthen our understanding of conditions and outcomes in the interscholastic athletics program. The athletics department is now discussing next steps for more informed decision-making about increasing academic support for student athletes with goal of increased student achievement.
This portfolio’s first two artifacts draw on literature and data analysis showingpositive relationships between student commitment, achievement measures, and participation in sports. Not only were the results informative and encouraging, this work greatly improved my knowledge of relevant literature and data analysis and has helped as I have undertaken efforts to be evidence-driven more generally in our interscholastic athletic program – a priority also reflected in other artifacts.
Collectively, the artifacts in this portfolio illustrate my leadership journey. I explored and led practices that enhanced the athletic experience of our coaches, players, and parents. Plans will be adjusted and enhanced so we continue to move forward and improve the interscholastic experience for students.