Family Matters: The Role of Relatedness in the School Change Process

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: Educational Change SIG Poster Session

Abstract

This paper addresses the role of relatedness in organizational change of several schools designated as Schools of Innovation and engaging in innovative practices. Deeply understanding leverageable aspects of the change process, such as relatedness, is critical to successful organization change. What role does relatedness play in school innovation? No research was found regarding the role of relatedness in the school change process told from the narrative perspective for each subgroup in this study. In focus group interviews, the role of relatedness emerged as part of their journey to designation. Participants in Schools of Innovation revealed that, to them, creating an environment supportive of strong relationships and a family-like sense of relatedness was perceived as crucial to their successful change process.

Authors

• Karee E. Dunn, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

• Denise Tobin Airola, University of Arkansas

• Sandra Gaye Bowman, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

• Crystal Beshears, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville