EDAD 8135 A02: Organizational Culture

EDAD 8135 - Building Organizational Culture and Community Partnerships

Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section A02, CRN 42542,

Credit hours: 3

Course Meeting Times

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Instructor

Monyka Price

Email: msprice@ysu.edu

Public Instructor Information

Dr. Monyka Spencer Price
Professional Qualifications: Doctorate, Education Leadership, Youngstown State University
Superintendent Licensure, Cleveland State University
Master’s, Education Administration and Principal Licensure (Kindergarten to Ninth Grade) Ursuline College
Master’s, Early Childhood Education and Licensure (Prekindergarten to Third Grade) Ursuline College
Bachelor’s, General Studies and Sociology, Kent State University
Instructor Email: msprice@ysu.edu
Office: Beeghly College of Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (BCLASSE), Youngstown State University, 1 Tressel Way, Youngstown, OH 44555
Remote: By Appointment and Weekly Optional Sessions
Office Phone:  330-941-3251

Private Instructor Information

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Course Description

8135. Building Organizational Culture and Community Partnerships. Building Organizational Culture and Community Partnerships is designed in accordance with the National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) District Level Program Standards, Standard 5. Candidates in this educational leadership preparation course will learn to apply new knowledge and skills to engage families, communities, and related business partnerships to meet student and community cultural and environmental needs. An examination of the school and community culture will contribute to the essential objectives of the course. 3 s.h.

Course Readings

Group Title Author ISBN
Required See below Various

Module 1 Reading and Videos:

Review the follow site(s) and look over the information for the topic we are focusing on this week.

 
 
 

Ohio Family and Children First. (2021) Family-School Engagement Guide. You can review more information on their website. https://www.panoramaed.com/blog/family-engagement-comprehensive-guide

Ohio Family Engagement Center 

Site Accessed at https://ohiofamiliesengage.osu.edu/ 

Website Reference

Module 2 Reading and Videos:

Read the following to help you respond to discussion question(s) and to complete your assignment(s).

Reflections from Partnership for Resilience Leadership and Staff

Retrieved from: https://edredesign.org/files/edredesign/files/reflections_from_partnership_for_resilience_leadership_and_staff.mp4

Ohio School Boards Community Relations and Engagement

Retrieved from: https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/community-relations-community-engagement  

Community Engagement

Retrieved from: https://dae.utk.edu/communityengagement/about/what-is-community-engagement/

Benefits of Community Engagement for Universities and Colleges

Retrieved from: https://www.socialpinpoint.com/benefits-of-community-engagement-for-universities-and-colleges/

 Community Engagement in Healthcare

Retrieved from: https://communitycatalyst.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/inspire-final-report-070124.pdf

Module 3 Reading and Videos:

Read the following and respond to discussion question(s) and complete your assignment(s).

Research-Based Community Collaboration Resources 

Cultivating Relationships with School Districts' Resources

Cultivating Relationships Design Strategies

Cultivating Relationships with Community Resources 

Module 4 Reading and Videos:

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Pages

https://iste.org/

ISTE Standard 3: Knowledge Constructor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5Xw81aSNDw

Module 5 Reading and Videos:

Readings

Read the following resources (and previous resources cited), to help you complete your assignment(s).

US Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology. (2017). Re-Imagining the Role of Technology in Education. https://tech.ed.gov/files/2017/01/NETP17.pdf Role of Technology in Education

REALIZING THE PROMISE: How can education technology improve learning for all?

Ganimian, A, Vegas, E, and Hess, F. (2023). https://www.brookings.edu/essay/realizing-the-promise-how-can-education-technology-improve-learning-for-all/

Svitak, A. (2012). 5 Ways to Empower Students. Giving them a voice in their own education. Retrieve from: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/empower-students-adora-svitak

Forbes (2018). 10 Ways Educators Can Make Classrooms More Innovative. Retrieve from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robynshulman/2018/11/19/10-ways-educators-can-make-classrooms-more-innovative/?sh=3fda6c607f87

Mascarenaz, K. (2018). 5 Ingredients To Create A Culture of Innovation in Your District . Retrieve from: https://www.edelements.com/blog/5-ingredients-to-create-a-culture-of-innovation-in-your-district 

Mascarenaz, K. (2018). Ten Tips for Creating a Culture of Innovation in Schools and Districts. Retrieve from: https://www.edelements.com/blog/ten-tips-for-creating-a-culture-of-innovation 

Technology in Education

AI and Education

Technology Reinventing Education

ISTE Technology  

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) empowers educators and students by adopting the ISTE Standards, focusing on integrating technology like AI, digital literacy, and computational thinking into curricula. These standards, designed for 2025, prioritize using technology to enhance, rather than just learn about, tools, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and student-centered learning. 

Key Initiatives for Enhancing Learning with Technology:

  • 2025 Learning Standards for Technology: These standards focus on seven core strands, including Empowered Learner, Digital Citizen, and Computational Thinker. They emphasize student-centered learning over just learning tools.
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration: Schools are encouraged to adopt AI tools, allowing students to personalize learning, such as interacting with chatbots for subjects like science. The state is also developing model policies for AI use in K-12.
  • Educator Empowerment: Teachers are encouraged to act as facilitators, using data to guide instruction and providing alternative methods for students to demonstrate competency. Technology is used to streamline tasks like creating lesson plans and quizzes.
  • Digital Citizenship and Literacy: The framework ensures students can navigate digital environments safely and critically.
  • Virtual and Blended Learning Support: Resources for teachers include tools for online, blended learning, and supporting English Language Learners (ELLs). 

These efforts aim to create a more engaging, personalized, and efficient learning environment. 

Ohio's Learning Standards for Technology

Ohio Department of Education (.gov)

Module 6 Reading and Videos:

Review the following to help you complete your assignment(s).

How Do You Include Your Community in Creating Your Vision for Personalized Learning?

Peterson, S. (2018). Retrieve from: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-08-22-how-do-you-include-your-community-in-creating-your-vision-for-personalized-learning

 5 Steps to Better School/Community Collaboration. Simple ideas for creating a stronger network

O’Keefe, B. (2011). Retrieve from: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/school-community-collaboration-brendan-okeefe

Build a Shared Vision

A communication plan must be more than a list of tools; it must be a strategic document that maps audiences to desired behaviors.

  • Communications in Schools: A Planning Guide (SchoolStatus)
  • Key Focus: A step-by-step guide to setting goals, identifying barriers to dialogue, and auditing existing tools to ensure time-sensitive information reaches all families.
  • Mastering School Communication in the Digital Age (Apptegy)
  • Key Focus: Best practices for "The 7 Cs" of communication (Clear, Concise, Concrete, etc.) and strategies for using SMS, apps, and web presence effectively for multilingual families.
  • Developing a Communication Plan Checklist (IES / US Dept of Ed)
  • Key Focus: A practitioner’s toolkit for matching the right platform to the right message—distinguishing when to use storytelling videos vs. infographic process results
  • Putting Collective Impact into Context (Wallace Foundation)
  • Key Focus: An authoritative look at cross-sector collaboration in education. It explores how to bridge the gap between school-centric strategies and a wider range of community services.
  • Innovative Approaches to Family and Community Engagement (Harvard GSE)
  • Key Focus: Discusses "Sharing Power" and affirms that engagement is essential for reducing chronic absenteeism and increasing student learning outcomes.
 
 
 

NYC DOE. (nd) Retrieve from: https://parentcoordinatornyc.connectwithkids.com/files/2015/02/Best-Practice-Creating-a-Collaborative-Vision.pdf

School-Community Learning Partnerships: Essential to Expanded Learning Success

Little, P. (2020). Retrieve from: https://www.expandinglearning.org/expandingminds/article/school-community-learning-partnerships-essential-expanded-learning-success

 
 
 

Anderson-Butcher, D., Lawson, H. A., Bean, J., Flaspohler, P., Boone, B., & Kwiatkowski, A. (2008). Community collaboration to improve schools: Introducing a new model from Ohio. Children & Schools30(3), 161-172. 

Case Study: Building a Vision for All Students in Marysville, Ohio

Kuhlmann, J. (2017). Retrieve from: https://knowledgeworks.org/resources/case-study-marysville-district/

Collaborating to transform and improve education systems: A playbook for family-school engagement 

Rebecca Winthrop, Adam Barton, Mahsa Ershadi, and Lauren Ziegler . (2023). https://www.brookings.edu/essay/collaborating-to-transform-and-improve-education-systems-a-playbook-for-family-school-engagement/

Please see the additional resources and links in the Reading and Media segment of this module.

Module 7 Reading and Videos:

Resources

Review the follow site(s) and look over the information for the topic we are focusing on this week.

Optional Additional Resources

Section 7. Working Together for Healthier Communities: A Framework for Collaboration Among Community Partnerships, Support Organizations, and Funders

Stephen B.Fawcett; Vincent T. Francisco; Adrienne Paine-Andrews; Jerry Schultz

DESIGNING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO EXPAND STUDENT LEARNING: A TOOLKIT

CEI (2023) coloradoedinitiative.org

 
 
 

Community capacity building: a collaborative approach to designing a training and education model

 
 
 

Closing the Gap Between School & Community Partnerships

Marion County Commission on Youth, Inc. (2021)

 
 
 

Community School White Paper - IEL and NASP 

 
 
 

 7 Steps to Building School to Industry Partnerships  (Reading and Video on Page)

Kathy Baron (2010) . Read more on Community Partnerships on Edutopia's page 

What Are Community Schools? (Reading and Video on Page)

National Education Association (2023) 

Website References:

The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.  

Additional Course Materials

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Course Learning Outcomes/Objectives/Goals

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How to Succeed in This Course

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Attendance Expectations

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Late Work Submission Policy

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Additional Course Expectations

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Artificial Intelligence Policy Statement

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Assignments/Assessments

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Grading and Grading Scale

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University Policies

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Schedule of Topics and Assignments

Week of Reading(s) Proposed Topic Due/To Prepare for Class
8/24 Please see all video links and readings, as outlined in the modules and in additional information. Module 1 District Engagement of All Families Project Module 1 Sunday, August 30, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Discussion: Initial post Due August 26, 2026 Final posts Due August 30, 2026
8/31 Please see all video links and readings, as outlined in the modules and in additional information. Module 2 District Family, Community Member, and Partner Communications Plan Project Module 2 Sunday, September 6, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Discussion: Initial post Due September 2, 2026 Final posts Due September 6, 2026
9/7 Please see all video links and readings, as outlined in the modules and in additional information. Module 3 Researched-Based Community Collaboration Investigation Project Module 3 Sunday, September 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Discussion: Initial post Due September 9, 2026 Final posts Due September 13, 2026
9/14 Please see all video links and readings, as outlined in the modules and in additional information. Module 4 Digital Citizenship Audit (or Report) Project Module 4 Sunday, Sepember 20, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Discussion: Initial post Due September 16, 2026 Final posts Due September 20, 2026
9/21 Please see all video links and readings, as outlined in the modules and in additional information. Module 5 Creating, Advocating for, and Communicating District Cultures that Empower Teachers, Instructors, and Students’ Use of Technology to Enhance Students' Learning Project Module 5 Sunday, September 27, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Discussion: Initial post Due September 23, 2026 Final posts Due September 27, 2026
9/28 Please see all video links and readings, as outlined in the modules and in additional information. Module 6 Critical Task Assignment School District and Community Evaluation (Including Technology Leadership) Project and Vision, Goals, and Communications Plan Project Module 6 Critical Task Assignment Due Sunday, October 4, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
10/5 Please see all video links and readings, as outlined in the modules and in additional information Module 7 Discussion and NELP STANDARD 5 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM Module 7 Discussion Friday, October 9, 2026, 11:59 p.m. and NELP Exam Due October 9, 2026, 11:59 p.m.

The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.