Introduction to the InternshipCunningham

Pages 80 - 84

Mentor/Mentee Problems to Avoid

Busy Work:Have you been exposed to or are you planning on spending time understanding the efficient and effective operation of the school?

Bells Filing SystemClocks Student Management SystemPA System Stamp and Mailing SystemBus and Parent Pick-up

Mentor/Mentee Problems to Avoid

Interactions:Are you maintaining the balance between having the needed meetings and interactions and being too needy with your mentor?

Try to be aware of what is on your mentor’s plate.

But be assertive and make sure you are getting exposure to the role of an administrator.

Mentor/Mentee Problems to Avoid

Unwilling to Share Duties:Trouble delegatingToo BusyNew Role to them as a mentorProtecting mentee from making mistakesFeel providing you with opportunities may challenge their effectivenessPoor Relationship

Solution: We may need to look at other admin to help as a mentor and provide opportunities

Mentor/Mentee Problems to Avoid

Culture of District and the Role of the Association:

This will be different in each district and in each building. You must honor this while making sure you are obtaining the experience that will benefit you as you move forward with your career.

Mentor/Mentee Problems to Avoid

Loose Lips:Conduct yourself as a professional.

Balance with log and experience. Let’s talk this through.

Planning ActivitiesCunningham

pages 90 - 115

Site (building) needs

Your previous experiences

Opportunity to experience genuine responsibility for leadership activities

Possible ActivitiesPage 94

Principal for a Day (late fall or spring)

Analyze test data (for another content area or a different grade level and lead a meeting with that group)

Be part of the Strategic Planning Process – “comprehensive planning process”

Activities - continued

Newsletter/Wiki, etc. (for the staff from the admin)

Lead a Book Talk

Budget Development (be part of the process – outside of your department)

Activities - continued

School Improvement Planning (be a lead in the process with the principal – pre and post meeting analysis)

Deliver a report to the Board of School Directors and/or a report to the faculty at a faculty meeting

Grant Writing

Activities - continued

Plan the January Staff Development Day activities (Most schools have PD on MLK day)

Create a “new” program (incentive program, PTO program, afterschool program, etc.)

Conduct interviews for substitute teachers

Activities - continued

Analyze Attendance and work with the home-school visitor or person who works with truancy.

Attend a truancy hearing at the DJ.

Attend a policy violation/expulsion hearing at the Board level.

Activities - continued

Attend a workshop/conference outside the district.

Supervision – parallel observations (not for evaluation)

Conduct an afterschool workshop for the teachers on (technology, data, book talk, etc.)

Activities - continued

Analyze a curriculum outside of your content area. (i.e. Math – analyze Science) Do you know the other subject areas? You will need to if you are observing all the teachers in the building.

Participate in curriculum writing – outside of your subject/content area

Activities - continued

Attend a GIEP meeting

Analyze policies and compare them to “administrative procedures” (i.e. safety and emergency procedures)

Conduct a drill for an emergency (i.e. severe weather drill)

Activities - continued

Discuss the reports that are submitted from the building to the district and to PDE. (what are they and when are they due?)

Participate in an induction meeting for new teachers – or analyze the induction program used in your district

Athletics – what interactions does the principal have with the AD?

Activities - continued

Participate in the standardized testing process (inventory, security, documentation, etc.)

Analyze the process for RtII, BIP, FBA, etc. with your pupil services and guidance staff

Student Discipline (parallel, handle level 1, parent phone calls)

Activities - continued

Manage Textbook Inventory (as well as the cycle for replacing the textbooks in the building/district) - Research the digital textbook initiative at the IU

Purchase Order process

Assist in the development of the Master Schedule

Activities - continued

Process for “Free and Reduced” membership (how does this work?)

In-School Suspension (does it work?) What is the process for completing work? Can it be improved?

Performance Improvement Plan (do you know how it is implemented?)

Activities - continued

Grievance Process (do you know the process and timeline?)

School Community Relations (what is in place? Can it be improved?)

Community/Business Involvement (what partnerships are in place?)

Activities - continued

Volunteers and Parent Visitors (how are they monitored and what processes are in place?)

Children and Youth Referrals (how does this work in the building? Guidance, admin, how is it followed up?

Fundraising – what are the policies and procedures?

Student Council – what role and relationship does the principal have with the advisor and officers?

Activities - continued

New Students – How are they acclimated to the school? Student Buddies, video (how about new parents?) Can this be improved?

Organize and Possibly Facilitate a Parenting Skills Course

Diversity Awareness – Does your school do a good job with this? Working with student groups FCA – what is the process for hanging posters for activities?

Activities - continued

Assembly – organize an assembly (many topics are available – possibly a guest speaker, how about Veterans Day?)

Bullying and Harassment - Policy and Procedure review (run a student program)

Submit an article for publication – topic of your choice (Ed Leadership magazine)

Activities - continued

Administrators put in many hours before and after school. Take on the role of the administrator at an afterschool, evening, or weekend function.

[sports, music, socials, PTO,

This will benefit both of you.

Look for opportunities at both elementary and secondary levels.