My reflection for EDLD 5399 week 1
Reflection: I feel that I have strengths and weaknesses in all of the ten competencies. The courses in our superintendent cohort have really opened my eyes to what I do and do not know about the educational system concerning the central office administration duties. In order to become a better principal and possibly a superintendent, I will have to continue to be a student of the educational process. Domain 1 is about leadership of the educational community. In Competency 1 I feel the area that I am strongest in is being a model and promote high standard of conduct and interact with district staff, students, school board, and community in professional and ethical manner. I feel that the areas I need to most improve on will be to continue to learn and keep up-to-date with laws, policy and procedures that are always changing or being interpreted according to legislation or public perception. In Competency 2 I feel the area that I am strongest in is to establish and support a district culture that promotes learning, high expectations, and academic rigor for self, students, and staff. I feel that the area I need to most improve on will be to maintain awareness of emerging issues and trends affecting public education and communicate their significance to the local educational community. In Competency 3 I feel the area that I am weakest in is to analyze community and district structures and identify major opinion leaders and their relationships to district goals and programs. I have to learn how to implement effective strategies for systematically communicating with and gathering input from all stakeholders in the district. I feel that the area I am strongest, but continually must improve on is communication. Remembering the importance of public education in a free democratic society, or it falls. In Competency 4, I feel the area that I am strongest in is to provide leadership in defining superintendent-board roles and establishing mutual expectations, and communicate and work effectively with board members in varied contexts, including problem-solving and decision-making contexts. I feel that the area I need to most improve on will be to access and work with local, state, and national political systems and organizations to elicit input on critical educational issues.
In Domain 2, Instructional Leadership begins with Competency 5. I see my major strength in ensuring that staff members have a working knowledge of the accountability system and are monitoring its components to increase student performance. Curriculum is my weakest area. I am always trying to find what will work for students and teachers before the “pendulum” swings back the other way. Education is an ever changing organism. In Competency 6 my major strength is encouraging staff and students, families/develop and use appropriate change processes. I have to continue to improve in several of these competencies such as, implement research-based theories, ongoing study of best practices and interpretation of data. Competency 7 includes several areas that I feel confident in such as developing professional development plans, facilitate adult learning, and staff evaluation models. I am good at supporting the organizational health and climate by implementing necessary strategies to improve the performance of all staff members.
Domain 3 - Administrative Leadership is where I find that I have to grow every year, even if I feel it is a strength. In Competency 8 I would need some more training on school budget. I have looked into central office positions that control large parts of the district budget. Using state resources and others like TexasISD.com are super important for doing it correctly. Honesty and integrity are two of my best assets. I know that who I surround myself with is super important in this part of education. In Competency 9 the area that needs most improvement for me is renovation and construction/or bond issues. I have the knowledge and experience for the emergency planning and responding to crises and applying procedures to ensuring the effective operation and maintenance of facilities. I feel very competent in this area. Competency 10 indicates that superintendents know how to apply organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills to comply with federal and state requirements and facilitate positive change in varied contexts. I feel I have a lot of help in implementing appropriate leadership skills and processes because of the “network” of colleagues in my Lamar cohort, along with other educators that I have been blessed with over the past thirty years in education.
This lesson really made me look at what direction and vision a superintendent must have when making daily decisions. They will always affect kids, teachers, communities and our world.
