Description of Standard
Standard I focuses on the visionary leadership of a school administrator. A visionary leader promotes the success of all students by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by all participating members of the school community.
Importance of Standard I
Standard I is a necessary component in order for a school to function, and more importantly, to be successful. Without a vision, a school does not have direction and thus fails to properly educate and prepare its students for the world at large.
The vision of the school is what should drive the decisions made not only by the administrator, but the teachers, parents, and other involved members of the learning community. It is imperative that all stakeholders believe in the schools’ vision, otherwise it is useless and serves no purpose.
Self-Evaluation
In regards to my competency of Standard I at this present time I believe that I am most competent in my visionary leadership skills. Looking forward has always been one of my strengths. I like to look at the big picture, which requires a person to look forward at possible outcomes, but I also like to analyze the tiny details that go into creating the big picture. More importantly, I like to be realistic about the big picture (which is a bit paradoxical I realize, but nonetheless important).
Additionally, I have always been a planner. I like to have a schedule and not only do I like to have a schedule I like to have a back-up schedule. Therefore, when things go wrong I’m still ready to charge forward instead of having to stop, look around, or even backtrack. However, I realize that sometimes things just happen and sometimes, no matter how well you’ve planned, you still might end up paddle-less in your lifeboat.
As an administrator I believe that these attributes will serve me well, as it is important that a visionary leader can look at and value the importance of the big picture along with the tiny details. An administrator also needs to be able to map out a plan for achieving a goal. I realize that there are still things that I can learn about mapping out a plan for success, such as the process of developing an implementation plan and the consensus building that is involved in this planning process. I understand the importance of consensus building with stakeholders, but have not had much opportunity to practice and therefore I realize that this is an area that I will need to focus on. Overall I feel confident in my ability to develop a plan for success because whatever I don’t know how to do, I know where to go to find the help I need.
Description of Standard
Standard II focuses on the instructional leadership of a school administrator. An instructional leader promotes the success of all students by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional development.
Importance of Standard II
Standard II is extremely important, as it has to do with the actual process of teaching and learning. Standard II is essentially the meat and potatoes of a full course meal. It has the most direct influence on the students, as it is the fundamental purpose of schooling.
This standard focuses on improving the educability of all teachers through various mediums such as professional development, curriculum practices and decisions, as well as high expectations for performance by self, staff, and students. Additionally, Standard II expresses the need for developing and continuing life-long learning by all individuals in the school community.
Self-Evaluation
In regards to my competency of Standard II at this present time I believe that this is the standard in which I am most competent. This standard is probably the easiest for teachers pursuing administrative licensure since it has to do with instruction, good instruction.
I regard myself as a good teacher of students and although teaching adults has its differences for the most part it is still teaching. Through my experiences of leading professional development sessions I have become more confident in my abilities to teach teachers. At first I was weary of my ability to manage adults, specifically teachers, in the role of principal teacher. However, because of my knowledge of teaching and my respect of all teachers, they are more receptive to learning about what I know that will help them in the classroom.
Regardless of my current level of competence, I realize that I still have a lot to learn as education, both theory and practice, is always changing. As such, it is important that I continue to value and practice life-long learning.
Description of Standard
Standard III focuses on the organizational leadership of a school administrator. Indicating that a school administrator promotes the success of all students by ensuring management of the organization, operations, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment.
Importance of Standard III
The importance of Standard III can be compared to the first day of class in which you receive your syllabus and your processes and procedures. These processes and procedures help lay the groundwork for how the class will function. If you as the teacher have these processes and procedures in place from the very beginning and remain consistent with their application then you should expect to have fewer procedural problems.
This same concept applies to the operation of a school only on a larger scale because now you are not just concerned with students, but with every facet of running a school. These organizational responsibilities are intricately woven throughout the other standards and just as those other standards rely on the organizational leadership, the organizational leadership must also rely on the other standards.
Self-Evaluation
In regards to my competence of Standard III in relation to my current level of understanding and development as a school leader I believe that I have a strong awareness of the demands of this standard. I am naturally a very organized person so I believe that this quality will assist me in becoming proficient in my competency of this standard.
As I am not yet a principal it is difficult to self-assess my competency in regards to performance, but in regards to knowledge and disposition I believe that organizational leadership will be my strength. I see this standard as very demanding and as such it is important that I have a good support staff that I may rely on to help fulfill the requirements of this standard.
When the time comes that I am a principal, I know that this will be a priority standard since a lot of the other standards rely on the effective organization of the school as a premise before moving ahead to meet the expectations of some of the other standards.
All in all, I would have to say that I am more competent in regards to this standard than I am confident. But I believe that the confidence will come with time.
Description of Standard
Standard IV focuses on the collaborative leadership of a school administrator. The administrator takes on the roll of educational leader by promoting the success of all students by collaborating with families and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources.
Importance of Standard IV
Standard IV is all about building relationships. Good relationships inside and outside of the school are necessary for providing a safe school environment where students feel comfortable learning. While this standard appears to focus on collaboration with the community outside of the school it also stresses the importance of collaboration within the community on the inside of the school. Allowing for collaboration within the school improves the school environment because it opens the lines of communication.
However, this standard also focuses on the importance of developing a good relationship with the community outside of the school. Maintaining a positive relationship with members of the community can reap many financial benefits in the way of goods, services, and money. A community that supports its school will undoubtedly improve the overall educational experiences of the students.
Self-Evaluation
In regards to my competency of Standard IV I would have to say that I have a good grasp of what is needed to fulfill the obligations of this standard. I understand what collaborative leadership is and what it demands of me. As a teacher I collaborate very well on a small scale. As a teacher I understand the importance of allowing teachers the opportunity to collaborate with one another. As a practicing collaborative leader I understand the difficulty of making those opportunities happen.
Despite my confidence of providing effective collaborative leadership within the school, I’m not completely confident in my abilities to collaborate on a much grander scale outside of the school. I know that in time I will learn what it really means to collaborate with a community, but if I were to take on the role of principal today I don’t believe that I would perform proficiently to meet the expectations of this standard. But that wouldn’t keep me from trying.
Description of Standard
Standard V focuses on the ethical leadership of a school administrator. An ethical principal promotes the success of all students by acting with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner.
Importance of Standard V
Standard V is necessary to ensure that all students have access to an equal, equitable, and adequate education. As a principal your first priority is the success of the students. All students. Therefore with every decision that a principal makes they must consider all perspectives so as to ensure that the choice they are making serves the best interest of the students.
However, ethical leadership goes beyond making good decisions for the students. It also extends to the fair treatment of the teachers, support staff, and various other members of the learning community. As such, it is imperative that the principal value the integrity of each human.
Most importantly, an ethical leader is fair, consistent, and has a broad view of the world. An ethical leader is one who has with-it-ness, much like a great teacher. An ethical leader is one who others would consider to be non-judgmental, does not pigeon hole people, and considers the integrity of the student and staff in his/her decision making process.
Self-Evaluation
In regards to my competency of Standard V, I believe that I have always been an ethical person, or at least ethical is something that I have always strived to be. However, there have been times when I have made decisions that I believed to be, at the moment, the correct and ethical decisions based on the evidence available at the time only to learn later that I had missed information. These kinds of decisions happen often to everyone, but the only thing that we can do is to try and carry out a decision with an element of integrity.
Honesty and transparency are essential in developing a foundation of trust. Without trust, there is only fear. If we are to consider Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, trust borders between basic and psychological needs, that must be met before individuals: students, teachers, administrators; can begin to grow and reach his or her potential through self-actualization. Of all the standards, this is the most vital and probably the most overlooked. With each passing day, I understand more and more the importance of integrity, fairness, and ethics.
Description of Standard
Standard VI focuses on the political leadership of a school administrator. A political leader promotes the success of all students by understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context.
Importance of Standard VI
Standard VI is a necessary component for leading a school with respect to the larger community. A school is somewhat of a community within a community, but the larger community that the school is tied to should not be neglected. It is important for principals to understand and utilize the resources available within the community so as to further the success of the students.
In addition, the political leader emphasizes the use and importance of communication among all stakeholders of the learning community. Communication is key in maintaining the educational focus of the school centered on student learning. As society is constantly changing and the economy fluctuates it is imperative that an administrator stays abreast of societal issues just as it is important for the administrator to keep policy makers aware of local issues.
Self-Evaluation
In regards to my competency of Standard VI understand the importance of political leadership and how it is intricately connected to the framework of education. I value communication and have always stressed the importance of maintaining communication among all parties involved in a particular endeavor. However, I have also come to understand the complexities of communication and that communication is a multi-layered concept. It is important for me to realize that just because I have addressed an issue does not mean that everyone understands or even comprehends in the same way as I.
Although I am adept at communication I know that it is important that I will need to constantly be aware of the changing policies in education. Typically, I try and stay knowledgeable about the changes, but as an administrator I believe that I need to have a deeper understanding of what the implications are for the new policies.
Of all of the standards I believe that this is my weakest area overall as I am not often politically involved. I am politically aware, but not involved and there is a distinct difference of which I believe is important. I believe that as an administrator it is necessary to be more than just politically aware as you have a responsibility to the students in your school to advocate for their opportunity to receive an appropriate education.