Standard One
Principals/assistant principals will create conditions that result in strategically re-imaging the school’s vision, mission, and goals in the 21st century. Understanding that schools ideally prepare students for an unseen but not altogether unpredictable future, the leader creates a climate of inquiry that challenges the school community to continually re-purpose itself by building on its core values and beliefs about its preferred future and then developing a pathway to reach it.
Element Ia. School Vision, Mission and Strategic Goals: The school’s identity, in part, is derived from the vision, mission, values, beliefs and goals of the school, the processes used to establish these attributes, and the ways they are embodied in the life of the school community.
Washington County Early College High School staff worked together to create a vision and mission statement. I co-facilitated this process during a staff meeting with the teachers. By co-facilitating this PLC, I learned the importance of creating a vision and mission with the teachers so they will buy into the vision and own it. I also learned the importance of planning for meetings.
Element Ib. Leading Change: The principal/assistant principal articulates a vision, and implementation strategies, for improvements and changes which result in improved achievement for all students.
My problem of practice consisted of introducing the Gradual Release of Responsibility framework to staff to assist teachers with becoming more intentional about their pedagogical practices. By introducing this framework to the teachers, I learned the importance of planning an engaging professional development. I also learned that as a leader I must hold teachers accountable and inform the teachers.
Element Ic. School Improvement Plan: The school improvement plan provides the structure for the vision, values, goals and changes necessary for improved achievement for all students.
The Early College staff reviewed the Indistar indicators and noted artifacts they have that would support the indicator. I co-facilitated this process along with the coordinator; a school improvement plan will be created based on these indicators. By participating in this, I learned how to start the process of creating a school improvement plan. I also learned how to narrow involve staff in selecting the focus indicators.
Element Id. Distributive Leadership: The principal/assistant principal creates and utilizes processes to distribute leadership and decision making throughout the school.
I asked one of the teachers to assist with breakfast in my absence; she was more than willing and started to complete the task regularly. I can honestly say that distributive leadership is something I struggle with; however, after asking one of the teachers to complete a task I learned that teachers want to help and are very willing. As a leader, I must remember to utilize the strengths of my teachers.