narrative reflections on the leadership standards

8/2/2019 Narrative Reflections on the Leadership Standards

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Narrative Reflections on the Leadership Standards

1.Instructional LeadershipThe two evidences that support the instructional leadership standard are 1) Impactgrades having in making curricular decisions, and 2) Implementing New Practices.These two reports support this standard because instructional leaders consistently usedata to plan for instructional improvements. School grades are very controversial. Isholistic scoring better than letter grades? Parents and teachers have continued to givetheir opinions on this topic. In the future, I letter grades will still be an ongoing debateand I would be implementing new practices. These experiences will help me have theknowledge and the foundation that I would need in order to provide instructionalleadership. Through these, I have learned that grades are here to stay at least for awhile and I have also learned that principals will come across changes that they mightnot necessarily agree with but if it is mandated by state or federal, would have to makethe same effort in implementing these practices.

Grades

Both components are used to plan for instructional improvementBoth assess the curriculum needsBoth Demonstrates knowledge of student performanceBoth works to relate to state standards

writing

ReadingHolistic

Math

ScienceLetter

Grades


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Implementing New Practices

Through this exercise I learned that instructional leaders need to be flexible. Theyneed to be aware of the newest, latest research and use them. I will definitely use theknowledge from these experiences through professional developments andcollaboration. In the past as a classroom teacher, I have experienced grades and new

practices to be unimportant. As I go through this process, I have learned howimportant this is for all teachers and instructional leaders. These topics need to beaddressed and utilized as the school grows year by year. In my opinion, grades can betedious for teachers and it can take a negative approach but with the guidance of theadministrators, it can definitely be a way to create high expectations for all teachersand students.

New

Practices

Collaboration

SIP

Problem

Solving Skills

Monitor


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2.The learning EnvironmentThe two evidences I picked for Managing the Learning Environment Standards are 1)Case studies and 2) Children with disabilities: Whats after high school? The case

studies talks about issues that relate to the church vs. state and the disability law. ThePowerPoint Presentation on Children with disabilities offers the programs that PalmBeach County School District has in place for our students with disabilities after theyleave high school and go on to the workforce and college. These cases will help me inthe future since these laws are going to be a part of a leaders everyday operations.The students are the priority and I have to be able to provide for all students a safeschool environment. I have to encourage student learning and still conform to the legaland ethical standards. I learned the new laws that pertain to children with disabilities.I also learned the boundaries that will assist in decision making for diverseorganizations.

As a future leader, I have learned that the Florida School Law is a document that I willnot be able to live without. The knowledge of the learning environment will be anongoing process for me. The knowledge I learned from this experience will be very

useful especially when managing the student learning and instructional goals. In thepast, I have had ESE students in my classrooms and I have attended IEP meetings.During those meetings, we focus on so much goals and strategies but we often forgetthe child as the purpose of the meeting. It is important to remember the child first andthe opportunity for the students to grow while utilizing all the resources possible to helpthem succeed.

Learning

Environment

legal

stanards

ethical

standards

Business and

Communityresources

safe school


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3.Learning, Accountability and AssessmentThe two evidences I provided for the standards Learning, Accountability, and

Assessment are: 1) The importance of the Gold Report and 2) NorthGrade on the Rise.The Gold Report was a very useful tool for both evidences because the data was usefulin assessing school improvement. The Gold Report has shown me and will continue toshow me what to do when I am presented with data. As a learning team facilitator, Iam always working with data but now, Im more confident in using it to identifystrategies that will help in student achievement.

These evidences have helped me realize that as a high performing leader, I will need tobecome very familiar with all subject areas taught in my school. Every time that anassessment is given and results return, I would feel prepared to attack the data andcreate a plan of action. In the past, data was frightening to me. I took data personallyinstead of taking data as a tool to strategize my instruction. This is something that I will

truly incorporate in my school as a leader.

Data

Assess

Data

Identify

Strategies

Apply

Data

Access

Data


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4.Decision Making StrategiesThe evidences I used for Decision making standards were 1) Hiring a New Coach and 2)Demographic Data Comparison between St. Lucie County School District and Palm

Beach County School District. Through these evidences I have learned that a leaderneeds to use data in order to make informed decisions. I learned that problem solvingskills will vary depending on the type of decision that needs to be made.

I have learned that I need to work on differentiating problem solving and to not take

them personally. Once in a while, emotions can get in the way and this will not allowfor good decisions. I will be making daily decisions as a school leader for myself, for mystaff, for my students and the families. It will take a team to assist in accomplishingthese goals. Decision making is always hard for everyone because you feel that yourecommitting to something but when a team of people are there to help, its not so nervewrecking. Even though its hard to come up with a decision as a team, the differentthoughts and views and experiences that others have combined all together might bringthe most effective decision.

Strength Weaknesses

Opportunities Threats

Decision

Making


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5.TechnologyFor the technology standard, I used 1) Resources for ESOL Methodologies and 2)

Academic Achievement Plan. These two resources are great evidences to show how

technology is important in high performing leaders. Instructional leaders understandthat technology is an important part of enriching the curriculum, enriching theinstruction, and enriching assessments. Technology usage should be a big part of theeveryday routine.

Technology

I learned that being an instructional leader, I would need to know the technologycomponents just as good as or even better than the teachers, students and the staff. Iwill need to be able to model these technologies in order to support educational effortsthat the teachers and the students might have. In the classroom, I had the opportunityto acquire a laptop cart so each one of my students had a laptop to work with. Ithought it was a wonderful opportunity for the students to get intervention butcomputers and technology has a mind of its own. When relying on technology, I have

learned to have a backup plan just in case it decides to work against me. Technology isimportant, technology assists in professional developments as well, but whentechnology decides not to cooperate, I need to make sure that I have option B to fallback on.

Reserach

Management

CommunicationTeaching

Learning


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6.Human Resource and DevelopmentFor the Human Resource and Development Standards, I decided to use 1) an articlereview on Gender Differences and 2) Charter Schools: to give or not to give them their

wings. For this standard, I learned that I need to be a teacher for teachers. I feel thatI will have to demonstrate my knowledge in curriculum, supervising, in assisting themwith their personal and professional, skills as well as achieving organizational skills.

Human Resource

Through these evidences, I learned that I will need to work with people that might bevery different from me. I have to be a better listener, avoid assumptions and I have tobe open to what everyone has to offer. As an educational leader this standard will helpme in creating an ideal climate in my school. Climate is really important in every

school. As a visitor first walks in to that school, the climate is evident. The firstimpression sticks to students, visitors, district personnel and community members. Thiswill set the tone for my school. As a leader, all these responsibilities might seemoverwhelming since there are so many hats to wear but if one truly enjoys what he/shedoes, these will just come into play.

recruit

personnel

select

personnel

nurture

presonnel

retain

personnel

develop

mentors

design

profesional

growth


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7.Ethical LeadershipFor the Ethical Leadership standard, I chose 1) To fight or not to fight for clean air and2) hiring a new coach. These two evidences are great examples of decision makingbased on legal, moreal and ethical implications. Ethical Leadership is a standard thatIm still learning about since I just developed my own ethical statement. An ethicalstatement seems like an easy statement to follow but what people dont understandthat reading it and knowing it is not enough. Practicing and living by these words arewhat it takes to be a high performing leader.

Through these evidences, I have learned that I need to stand up for my educationalbeliefs. I am the voice behind my students. I value diversity, integrity and dignity and

in the future, I hope that these will set the tone for my schools positive culture. All theprotocols and laws that surround our schools are very important documents that wecant turn our backs from. High performing leaders need to be informed andknowledgeable about the laws and how they can affect our schools, staff, students andme. In this day and age where there are many law suits filed against the schooldistricts, a principal could only be proactive to help the learning environment.

Decisons

based on

Legalimplications

Decisions

based on

moralimplications

Decisions

based on

ethicalimplications

Ethical

Leader


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8.VisionThe evidences that I used for the Vision standards are 1) Charter Schools: to give ornot to give them their wings and 2) Learning Heights Elementary Schools. These two

evidences support the vision standards since both communicates how important theschools vision and mission is. Both evidences also show how the whole school,students and families can achieve these visions and live by the missions. Working onthese products, I have learned that sometimes, the goals are not going to happen asquickly as I would like for it to happen and sometimes it takes school years to see moreimprovement but I have to make sure that Im giving time and space for everyone toachieve these goals.

I learned that not only do I have to live by these goals and missions and visions andutilize them in my school, I would need to share these to the communities. When theysay it takes a village to raise a child, it really does take a village. Business leaders,community members, extended families need to know what the schools vision is

because all these components influence the school and its growth. Before I can createa vision, I need to get to know who Im serving. As a future leader, I could have avision that is attainable and that fits the needs of that particular school.

Community

Families

Students

Staff

School's vision


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9.Community and Stakeholder Partnership

The evidences I used for Community and Stakeholder Partnership standards are 1)Educating in a diverse society: One size does not fit all (a review of articles that relateto methods of teaching in a diverse society) and 2) Demographic Data Comparison. Ifeel that these products were important in this standard because it allows for schoolleaders to see their role and the relationship they have between the schools and thecommunity. Educating in a diverse society shows how partnerships, networks andbusinesses are all assisting in our students education. The demographic datacomparison gives examples of the resources that are currently being given for our manyfamilies and students.

I have learned that business partners are important. I also believe that a strongparental involvement really helps the school. Parents are the biggest voice thatinfluences other families of what they think about a certain school. In the future, I willbe very much involved in the SAC committee as this is a great place to hear and learnabout what our school is all about. Learning the area and the people that the schoolserve would also be very beneficial for leaders. This way, the families, businessleaders, and community members feel as if they are a part of the students education.I have to create a family oriented environment so when there are events in the school,families feel as if they belong there, business leaders know that they can support theschool and this is also a place for community members to get a glimpse of our future.

Community

members

Businesses

Families

Community and

StakeholderPartnership


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10. DiversityThe evidences that I used for diversity are 1) Children with disabilitieswhats afterhigh school and 2) Gender difference in the workforce. These two evidences fit the

diversity standard because both products show how an instructional leader interactswith diverse groups. When dealing with diverse individuals and groups, one must makesure that he/she understands the legal and ethical standards. Through these evidencesI have developed awareness on how to become a high performing leader. I learnedthat even though there are people labeled according to ethnicity, race, gender, anddisabilities, each one of these individuals have their own specific needs.

Diversity

As a leader, I learned that I will have to make sure that I have open communicationwith my staff especially in the new changes and legal standards when dealing withdiversity. Issues and changes that pertain to our students should not be heard throughthe grapevine. We as a staff need to be knowledgeable. As a student, I remember

singing with the chorus for the nursing homes, the mall, the restaurants, etc. I also did

the same with dance. It was fun to get out of school and perform but now as an adultI realize how important that is for the community. Our school involved ourselves in thecommunity and provided entertainment. We sang songs based on the differentholidays to honor the different members of the community. This is something that Imtruly excited to start utilizing as a high performing leader. I cannot wait to developways to improve my schools relationship with cultural, racial, special interests thatsurrounds us.

Special

interest

groups

Gender

Sensitivity

Racial and

ethnic

appreciation


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narrative reflections on the leadership standards

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