Competencies
Competency |
Narrative |
Communication – Effectively listens to others; clearly and effectively presents and understands information orally and in writing; acquires, organizes, analyzes, interprets, maintains information needed to achieve school or team 21st century objectives. |
Communication is major importance in education. As a leader, I would communicate with staff via email and text message when necessary. Teachers were expected to respond, “Got it” or “Receive” to emails as they received them. I also created an open door policy for teachers to come and talk to me as needed. |
Change Management – Effectively engages staff and community in the change process in a manner that ensures their support of the change and its successful implementation. |
At the Early College, students were shuttled from the high school to the Early College. The process was new for staff and students and to ensure there was some support I volunteered to go to the high school to assist with the process. |
Conflict Management – Anticipates or seeks to resolve confrontations, disagreements, or complaints in a constructive manner. |
I sent an email to all staff members concerning an issue with the thermostat settings. I also met with the teachers to ensure they understood expectations and listened to additional concerns. |
Creative Thinking – Engages in and fosters an environment for others to engage in innovative thinking. |
I participated in our weekly PLCs and staff meetings, during the meetings we discussed data and focused on ways to improve practices to ensure student success. |
Customer Focus – Understands the students as customers of the work of schooling and the servant nature of leadership and acts accordingly. |
I created a google form for students to complete daily to ensure their lunch was ordered; as students entered the building late, I would often complete their lunch order for them. |
Delegation – Effectively assigns work tasks to others in ways that provide learning experiences for them and in ways that ensure the efficient operation of the school. |
I assigned staff tasks based on their strengths. Some of the task consisted of the following: creating a testing schedule, planning field experiences for students, school culture activities, make up testing, and breakfast duty. |
Dialogue/Inquiry – Is skilled in creating a risk free environment for engaging people in conversations that explore issues, challenges or bad relationships that are hindering school performance. |
I held one on one PLCs with teachers; we would discuss data, challenges and next steps. Often times we discussed how the administration team could best support them with the next steps identified. |
Emotional Intelligence – Is able to manage oneself through self-awareness and self-management and is able to manage relationships through empathy, social awareness and relationship management. This competency is critical to building strong, transparent, trusting relationships throughout the school community. |
During my residency, I was able to create relationships with staff, students, and parents. Teachers and students were very comfortable talking to me a sharing information with me not only about school, but also about their family. I also noted triggers during my residency, to help me better handle situations that would often cause me to react. I also participated in the true colors activity; this activity helped me to become more self-aware of my personality and how it may impact my interactions with others. |
Environmental Awareness – Becomes aware and remains informed of external and internal trends, interests and issues with potential impacts on school policies, practices, procedures and positions. |
Washington County experienced some inclement weather that required students to leave school early. I created an early release schedule to ensure that the day would run smoothly for staff and students. |
Global Perspective – Understands the competitive nature of the new global economy and is clear about the knowledge and skills students will need to be successful in this economy. |
NELA has afforded me many opportunities to travel and learn about leadership. I traveled to Singapore with my NELA cohort. There I was able to interact with the leaders from across the globe as well as meet with the minister of education for Singapore schools. |
Judgment – Effectively reaching logical conclusions and making high quality decisions based on available information. Giving priority and caution to significant issues. Analyzing and interpreting complex information. |
As a principal resident, I was responsible for 9th grade discipline issues. I would have to make decisions after properly investigating issues. In addition, when the coordinator was out of the building I would use my best judgment to make decisions concerning the school. |
Organizational Ability – Effectively plans and schedules one’s own and the work of others so that resources are used appropriately, such as scheduling the flow of activities and establishing procedures to monitor projects. |
While completing my residency, I learn quickly that organization would be a major key for success. I utilized a planner and google calendar to help me organize my days and ensure that I met deadlines. |
Personal Ethics and Values – Consistently exhibits high standards in the areas of honesty, integrity, fairness, stewardship, trust, respect, and confidentiality. |
I created positive and trusting relationships with teachers and students at the Early College. Often teachers would share personal information with me and all information remained confidential. The Early College did not have a counselor; often students would share confidential information with me as well. |
Personal Responsibility for Performance – Proactively and continuously improves performance by focusing on needed areas of improvement and enhancement of strengths; actively seeks and effectively applies feedback from others; takes full responsibility for one’s own achievements. |
Weekly, I submitted learning logs to my cohort director, mentor and coach. My logs included brief narratives on each element of the principal standards, a reflections and a lesson that I learned from the week. As feedback was given, I made the necessary changes to positively influence my leadership. |
Responsiveness – Does not leave issues, inquiries or requirements for information go unattended. Creates a clearly delineated structure for responding to requests/situations in an expedient manner. |
I utilized google calendar to ensure that all task were completed in a timely manner. In addition, if teachers asked something of me that could not be handled immediately, I asked that they would send an email and allow me at least 48 hours to research or complete the task. |
Results Orientation – Effectively assumes responsibility. Recognizes when a decision is required. Takes prompt action as issues emerge. Resolves short-term issues while balancing them against long-term goals. |
The science teacher resigned a couple of months after the beginning of school. I assisted the long-term substitute with planning lessons and activities. I also assisted the teacher with reviewing and analyzing data to ensure that we were meeting the needs of the students. |
Sensitivity – Effectively perceives the needs and concerns of others; deals tactfully with others in emotionally stressful situations or in conflict. Knowing what information to communicate and to whom. Relating to people of varying ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. |
After interacting with the students at the Early College, I was able to build relationships with the students and quickly learn that some of our students needed to see a counselor. I reached out to the assistant superintendent to ensure that we would soon hire a counselor and inquire about services for the students in need. |
Systems Thinking – Understands the interrelationships and impacts of school and district influences, systems and external stakeholders, and applies that understanding to advancing the achievement of the school or team. |
I attended several board meetings and trainings offered at the district level. I used information obtained from the meetings as a topic of discussion at staff meetings and in conversation with the staff. |
Technology – Effectively utilizes the latest technologies to continuously improve the management of the school and enhance student instruction. |
While serving at my residency, I created a team drive for direct communication with the staff; all meeting minutes, agendas and weekly bulletins are posted to this folder. Teachers are also able to upload lesson plans and artifacts as needed to the folder. I also assisted teachers with the implementation of Canvas throughout the school. |
Time Management – Effectively uses available time to complete work tasks and activities that lead to the achievement of desired work or school results. Runs effective meetings. |
I utilized google calendar to manage my time; invites were sent when meetings were scheduled as well as to individuals that requested a meeting. I also used google calendar to remind me when assignments were due, for every event added to the calendar, I scheduled an alert to remind me of upcoming events. |
Visionary – Encourages Imagineering by creating an environment and structure to capture stakeholder dreams of what the school could become for all the students. |
I created a data protocol for all teachers at the Early College; the data protocol was used to track and monitor student data. Data from the data protocol was used in PLC meetings to ensure that all students receive the assistance needed. |