Jim Shetter Ed.

Leadership 637 Final Paper

I found this course to be both inspiring and challenging at the same time, leading me to a whole new level of awareness about myself. The structure of this class was well done with a nice balance between lecture, discussion, group participation, individual participation, and projects. Very well planned and organized, I felt that it was a great learning environment. I saw the major theme of the class was having us as a cohort group actively using the Kouzes and Posner 5 Leadership practices. For instance, the use of other leaders modeling the way each day by engaging us with the quote of the day. I thought this was a great way to get us to focus on what we believed in by having examples to use and reflect on in developing our leadership philosophy. I enjoyed the use of a piggy back style to develop feedback on our philosophies as it really got me to take a deeper look at my beliefs. Also, the use of the group activities to inspire a shared vision by looking at the big picture was great. These activities taught me the importance of speaking with conviction about what I believed in and how I felt each case should be solved. I recognized this as a way that we would enable each other in cooperative learning groups and form a group consensus as we listened to different points of view. I definitely saw where we were learning how to challenge the process and focus on what is the best for the student in each activity or project. As we were looking at the budget process, I learned that we have to remember its not all about the funds, bu t about what we

can do to help the teachers and students in our buildings. This was a fun activity and taught us to trust ourselves and teachers and vice versa, really remembering that it is important as a leader for your staff to trust you. I think this class really helped each of us know ourselves better, our strengths and weaknesses, and what impact we have on others. For instance, I saw myself as being one who would encourage the heart of my cohort on a personal level and group level. I guess this was the coach in me. In football, I found that if I made more people happy, they would work harder for me on the football field as a player, coach, and as a team. This is me, I care about others and I try to make sure that I value others. I think that when you appreciate others and you are humble but confident, people will be more willing to follow your lead and share your values. The school atmosphere is so important and I learned that shared values are a major factor for school as well as personal development. Another thing I will take from this course is the realization that I am a distributive leader and I always have been. This leadership style has been around forever in sports when looking at coaches as leader. As a coach youre the King in your position and its important to make sure that you are valued in your position. One way I would achieve this is by engaging others in the process. Giving them leadership roles as assistant coaches, booster parents, key roles as players, they would feel a sense of importance that would result in better performance as they felt like an important part of something. It was great to learn that something Ive done for years as a coach is really type of leadership style. I think that being this type of leader will be an

important quality for me to use as an effective principal in the future. Ive been lucky in my life to have had great coaches as examples of the success of this leadership style. I would have to say the most inspiring part of this course for me was the guest speakers, including you Dr. Laster. I found myself telling my wife stories about another way I saw Marty and this class impact my life at the end of each day. Not that I am looking for brownie points for praising the instructor, it is simply the truth. I know that my life is going to change after I finish this program, and I see you Marty as the source of all of it. As I expressed on my day of Closure, my focus was on the importance of the relationships and networks we have in life. Through your leadership, this class taught me the development and the value of a cohort system, which as future leaders we now will have this new network with each other for life. Before starting this program, I would say that I already had a positive network of people I have developed in my professional career for both friendship and resources as a teacher and a coach. Now, through you I can branch that out to include connections to such inspiring leaders as Carol Como and Commissioner Hanley. I got the feeling from both of these guest speakers that they were genuinely glad to be speaking in your class and they could read our respect for you and for them in our questions and discussions, which was energizing for us all. One thing I picked up on with Carol Como was her philosophy of success breeds success, which I felt was directly relating us as a cohort group to you as our leader. Her point of this program being the best, and you as a successful leader breeding new successful leaders, I thought that was great, I looked at it as an honor to you and your program. As a result, I feel honored to be part of this program and this incredible opportunity. Also, it was noticeable that both Mrs. Como and Commissioner Hanley touched on the same focus of your lessons regarding the importance of

having a vision, doing it your way, remembering what is important to your community, and keeping your focus on student engagement and student needs. All valuable points I will take with me in my future endeavors. In looking at my progression in this program and in my profession, I see that again Im working towards modeling the way this next school year. My personal agenda to work to help native students is a major focus to me as an educational leader. To be a voice for the ones that cant do it for themselves. My School Improvement Plan is certainly a result of this class that I will take with me and implement into my professional life immediately. With this SIP directly related to my own heritage, I have a strong connection to this goal to develop a qualitative program focusing on boosting self esteem and a cultural belief system in a class with an I can do it attitude. The main goal is for this to lead to confidence in Wasilla High Schools Native students that will help them to identify and set goals, and then give them the assistance and guidance they need to follow their path. This is a unique SIP because I dont believe that this is a course that many educators would feel a desire to challenge. My focus is on the success of these students; my objective is small, but big. I just want them to believe in themselves and give them the ability and assistance to find their niche. As I summarize my course insight, there is so much I could say I learned, but mainly what I come away with is the skills to change my focus from teacher to potential principal, from an educator affecting students, to a principal leading an entire school. Although I have experience in dealing with students, principals, parents, booster clubs, and community members, the mind frame in using this experience in a position as a principal is a whole new

level as a leader. The understanding of the budget process and the importance of that to the students and the schools success, the understanding of your effect as a principal on teachers relating to the teachers effect on the students and the need for consistency, and even realizing the need to treat staff how you want to be treated, all such valuable lessons in leadership that will be so important professionally. I will never forget learning that there is no right answers, just what works for you, as this is something I can really relate to. Before this course, I thought I had a pretty good idea of how to lead since I had done it so often before in football. What I learned is that there is always more to learn, and with this program I am acquiring a whole new level of leadership skills, and I look forward to implementing them in my future. Thank you. Jim Shetter