Following the Journey Map: A Phenomenological Case Study of the Transformative Change of an Elementary Lab School

Schools are faced with increasing pressures from declining test scores and outcry from the public to improve the educational system. Efforts to reform the system have varied widely and produced inconsistent results. One school took a different approach by embracing the reform efforts through a systematic change process, led by a transformational leader and guided by a “journey map” to navigate their progress. This study described the steps taken by a Title I elementary lab school as they moved from a failing status to highly successful. Comparisons against state data, aligned with codes emergent from interviews, revealed eight themes essential to effective school change.