Volume 1 - Issue 1 - DBU Journal for K-12 Educational Leadership - Page 27

Journal for K-12 Educational Leadership 25 for all students and the cost of disengaging classrooms and campuses is most profound for the at-risk child. Sadly, the longer students remain in school, the more disengaged they become. Educational leaders are faced with a rapidly mount - ing population of at-risk learners in the state and the nation. Immediate and decisive action is required to address deficits and gaps in performance, and to increase and expand prac- tices which provoke engagement. All students, and most especially at-risk children, should have teachers and school administrators committed to them, who will support and develop their strengths, and will engender excitement about their future. The fate of our society is inextricably connected to learning environments created for children, for those who one day will be expected to lead, to serve, and to contribute. References Aber, L., Morris, P., & Raver, C. (2012). Children, families and poverty definitions, trends, emerging science and implications for policy. Social Policy Report, 26(3), 1-28. Busteed, B. (2013, January 7). The school cliff: Student en - gagement drops with each school year. Retrieved from http://thegallupblog.gallup.com/2013/01/the-school- cliff-student-engagement.html Christenson, S. L., Reschly, A. L., & Wylie, C. (Eds.). (2012). Handbook of research on student engagement. New York, NY: Springer. Flores, S. M., Batalova, J., & Fix, M. (2012). The educational trajectories of English language learners in Texas. Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute. Gallup. (2014). Gallup report - State of America’s schools: The path to winning again in education. Retrieved from http://products.gallup.com/168380/state-education-re - port-main-page.aspx Green, S. (2014). Texas test scores are in: Poor students, ESL students are still struggling with STAAR more than peers. The Huntsville Item. Retrieved from http://www.itemonline.com/news/local_news/arti - cle_58c5255b-9110-58e2-99e560ad8227338a.html Hardiman, M. (2010, Spring). The brain targeted teaching model. Johns Hopkins University New Horizons for Learning. Retrieved from http://education.jhu.edu/PD/ newhorizons/Journals/spring2010/thebraintargeted - teachingmodel/ Johnson, L. (2012, December 4). Number of Texas children in poverty rises. Houston Public Media. Retrieved from http://app1.kuhf.org/articles/1354635039-Num - ber-Of-Texas-Children-In-Poverty-Rises.html Neild, R. C., Balfanz, R., & Herzog, L. (2007). An early warn - ing system. Education Leadership , 65(2), 28-33. Nichols, S. L., Glass, G. V, & Berliner, D. C. (2012). High- stakes testing and student achievement: Updated anal- yses with NAEP data. Education Policy Analysis Archives , 20(20) Retrieved from http://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/ view/1048 Potter, L. (2012, September 27). Dynamic demographics of Texas’ Hispanic population. Presentation at the His- panic Leadership Summit, Austin, TX. Retrieved from http://osd.state.tx.us/Resources/Presentations/ OSD/2012/2012_09_27_Hispanic_Leadership_Summit. pdf President and Fellows of Harvard College. (2000, January 20). Studies: ‘High stakes’ tests are counterproductive economically disadvantaged students. Retrieved from http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/2000/01.20/tests.html Reyes, A. (1997). School productivity: Teachers as resources. Or- lando, FL: University Council for Educational Admin- istration. Texas EducationAgency. (2013b). Snapshot 2013: School dis- trict profiles. Retrieved from http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/ perfreport/snapshot/2013/index.html About the Author Dr. Debbie Cano serves as an Adjunct Professor in the College of Education at Dallas Baptist University and Texas Woman’s University. Previous positions held include Director of Intervention and elementary principal in Denton ISD, and elementary and intermediate principalships in Aledo ISD and Keller ISD. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Dal- las Baptist University, a master’s degree from Midwestern State University, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership K-12 from Dallas Baptist University. She can be reached at drdebbiecano@outlook.com .