Case Study: Plan of Action

Imamu Minnis
EDU689: Ethics and Leadership Capacity
Dr. Brett James
April 9, 2018
 Dilemma Description
Case Study 11.3 New Bullying for the 21st Century: Cyber-Bullying in the Middle

Facts
• Student was Cyberbullied
• Father complained to the Principal
• Principal was unable to help because bullying did not take place on campus
• Student continues to be harassed, father contemplates lawsuit

Characters

Sam Dr. Jack Web Edward Walsh

Middle School Student Principal Sam's Father
 Ethical Dilemma
Dr. Jack Web
Principal

• The incident did not take place on school property

Dr. Jack Web • The cyber bully is using an anonymous pseudonym
Principal
• There are no guidelines to handle this type of situation
• Laws of privacy must be violated in order to find cyber bully
 Ethical Dilemma
Sam
Middle School Student
• False rumors are being spread ruining his reputation
• His safety may be in danger since the identity of cyberbully is unknown
Sam • His grades are suffering
Middle School Student
• He may drop out of school due to humiliation
• The school leaders failed to protect him
 Ethical Dilemma
Mr. Edward Walsh
Sam's Father
• His son is being denied any form of justice
Edward Walsh • Confidential information about his son is now public domain
Sam's Father • Sam will be verbally harassed and may consider dropping out
• Poor grades will have a negative effect on Sam's academic future
 Ethical Leadership Lenses
The Ethic of Care
"The ethic of care is important not only to scholars but also to educational leaders
who are often asked to make moral decisions" (Poliner-Stefkovich, 2016).

• It is not a system of principles but a mode of responsiveness

• We have an obligation to prevent harm from others
• Caring should not be based on reciprocity
• Schools first job is to care for our children
• Emotions and reasoning are intertwined when making decisions
• Since each moral dilemma is different it is difficult to know how to care
appropriately
 Ethical Leadership Lenses
The Ethic of Justice
"If we take human rights seriously at all, then women and men are equally
persons and have equal human rights" (Holmes, 1994).

• Respect for fair treatment of individuals

• Justice is a moral principle
• Is there a law, right or policy that relates to this case?
• Equal sovereignty of the people
• May sometimes overlap with the Ethic of Critique
 Plan of Action
Legal Issues
Who may be involved:
• School Counselor
Schools should seek legal consult beyond the regular
• Principal school attorney
• Police
• Attorney
• Superintendent
• Internet Service Provider
• Student
• Parents
 Plan of Action
Data-Driven Decision Making
 Plan of Action
Leadership Components
 Plan of Action
Communication of Decision
"Change will require staff to 'unlearn' existing practices, struggle with the uncertainty and frustration
about 'getting it right', and monitor, adjust, and refine performance to achieve the greatest effect"
(Zmuda et al., 2004)
 References
Benn, D. P., & Benn, P. (1997). Ethics. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.proxy-
library.ashford.edu
Daresh, J. C., & Daresh, B. N. (2013). How to interview, hire, & retain high-quality new teachers.
Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
Holmes, A. F. (1994). Ethics : approaching moral decisions. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-
proquest-com.proxy-library.ashford.edu
Poliner Shapiro, J., Stefkovich, J. (2016). Ethical leadership and decision making in education:
Applying theoretical perspectives to complex dilemmas (4th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.

Sorenson, R. D., & Goldsmith, L. M. (2013). The principal’s guide to school budgeting (2nd ed.).
Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Zmuda, A., Kuklis, R., & Kline, E. (2004). Transforming schools : creating a culture of continuous
improvement. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.proxy-library.ashford.edu