Serafin Vences

University of St. Thomas

Dr. Laird
Fall 2015
Competencies Reflections
Competency 001: The principal knows how to shape campus culture by facilitating the
development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is
shared and supported by the school community.
My understanding of campus culture comes from my studies during my first semester of
school. When I learned how important the supervision of a school is towards progress. I
immediately started to investigate my campus vision. I observed my principals activities and
analyzed how she involved the community with the schools vision. During staff developments
the Principal shared the schools vison to the staff. I understand that the schools vision is
important to a campus in order to be run successfully.
Competency 002: The principal knows how to communicate and collaborate with all
members of the school community, respond to diverse interests and needs, and mobilize
resources to promote student success.
Collaboration is an important aspect towards student success. As a teacher, I already try
my best to accommodate diverse interests and needs. However, I have learned that as an
administrator I have to be able to communicate and collaborate with everyone that is part of the
school community. Through my administration internship experience I was able to interact with
teachers, other administrators and parents in a positive manner in order to enhance student
success.
Competency 003: The principal knows how to act with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical
and legal manner.

I strongly believe this is one of the most important competencies. As an administrator I

understand that I will be a positive role model for my students and my staff. During my
internship I learned that everyone is watching what you do and how you handle certain
situations. During my law class I learned that I have to know my right and the rights of my staff.
Being professional is the key to avoid negative situations.
Competency 004: The principal knows how to facilitate the design and implementation of
curricula and strategic plans that enhance teaching and learning; ensure alignment of
curriculum, instruction, resources, and assessment; and promote the use of varied
assessments to measure student performance.
As a teacher, competency four is a ongoing process that requires many personnel coming
together to make sure teaching and learning is taking place in the classroom. With my experience
as an Intern administrator, it is important to make sure instruction is laughed with state standards.
Planning as a team (teacher, administrators, instructional coaches, and paraprofessionals) will
help provide best instruction for students. Observing administrators during planning helped with
understanding their role when it comes to instruction taking place in the building.
Competency 005: The principal knows how to advocate, nurture, and sustain an
instructional program and a campus culture that are conducive to student learning and
staff professional growth.
I remember reading somewhere that a leader should help members from his team become
leaders as well. During my internship, I learned that staff development is important to help staff
develop the skills they need in order to help reach the supervision. Observing my administrators
develop trainings and conduct trainings has helped me understand the importance of providing
the right training according to your staff needs. It is important to survey and analyze data that
helps determine what the staff weaknesses are. This helps develop teacher skills and help build
progress.

Competency 006: The principal knows how to implement a staff evaluation and
development system to improve the performance of all staff members, select and implement
appropriate models for supervision and staff development, and apply the legal
requirements for personnel management.
This is one of my favorite competencies. Even before I took the PDAS certification class,
I remember understanding that staff evaluation was an administrators opinion of performance.
When I was a paraprofessional I remember not being satisfied about my yearly evaluation. The
principal told me that I had to start somewhere and that I had to set goals in order to improve my
performance. After taking the PDAS certification class, I understand know that there is a rubric
that I have to follow when I evaluate my staff as an administrator. I understand that they have
rights that I need to respect as well. I understand that when it comes to legal decision making, I
have to follow the right steps in order to solve a situation appropriately.
Competency 007: The principal knows how to apply organizational, decision-making, and
problem-solving skills to ensure an effective learning environment.
I love waking up in the morning and going to work. The environment provided at my job
makes me enjoy going to work. Providing an effective learning environment is important for a
school. A comfortable learning environment ensures students safety and makes the surrounding
environment a place where learning can take place. During my internship I got a great experience
understanding what it takes to make sure a proper environment takes place. Working along my
principal, he made me understand how a behavior matrix sets the proper environment where
learning can take place. Safe, Civil, and Productive thats the Maverick Way! It is driven in
our brains every day. The staff has expectations along with the students. Safe, Civil, and
Productive has different meaning for everyone in the building. However, when everyone follows
their expectation the environment provided is perfect for learning. High expectations and
consistency is something that will help students and staff members feel safe.

Competency 008: The principal knows how to apply principles of effective leadership and
management in relation to campus budgeting, personnel, resource utilization, financial
management, and technology use.
Understanding how to analyze the AEIS report helped me understand how administrators
determine where assets need to be used. Conferencing with administrators and financial clerks
helped me understand how important it is budget the schools assets appropriately. At my school
the principal is the person that gives the final approval for any purchases for any department. As
a principal I have to understand that I have to have a system in place that will make my school
successful. Spending money, especially Title I money, has to have a purpose and be used in the
manner that is helping the school work towards the supervision.
Competency 009: The principal knows how to apply principles of leadership and
management to the campus physical plant and support systems to ensure a safe and
effective learning environment.
As a teacher, I never understood why the administrators would make us take down certain
decorations from our walls or move them lower. Then I met the fire Marshall and how certain
things in the building help ensure student safety. I understand that as a principal I have to ensure
that crises drills are in place to help with student safety. As a principal I will develop a crisis
team that will meet on a regular basis to make sure that our students and staff members are safe.
As a principal, I will practice crisis drills to ensure that the staff and students understand the
proper procedures.