Running head: REFLECTIONS

Leadership Competency Reflections

Allison Burt
University of St. Thomas

Competency 001: The principal knows how to shape campus culture by facilitating the

REFLECTIONS

development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is

shared and supported by the school community.
During the course of my internship, I was able to facilitate many faculty meetings. I
learned that the responsibility of an administrator is often fashioned by the collection of a
districts research and records for the academic facilities. Facilitating data collection meetings for
testing grades 3-5, reminded me that at risk facilities are most fruitful when they have leadership
that can use the evaluated data, support curriculum matters, student and community engagement
and school success. It is important to connect and help educators through education news,
insights, and intervention, which can lead to academic and social progression for both students
and teachers.
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.
With technology resources on the rise, it is important to set clear school-wide standards
on the causes and effects of not adhering to the acceptable use policy. During the course of my
internships, our students received 1:1 I-pads. The leadership team had to develop a plan that
supported using the technology I a way that only enforces the academic standard, for both
educators, students and parents. This way all parties would be clear about the expectations and
consequences. I learned that enforcement helps everyone understand the goals of education and
the responsibilities of our resources. If this solution, to maintain consistency, works, the students
and staff will have a synonymous and succinct definition of acceptable use for all tech tools. The
leadership team should make every effort to make sure school personnel, students and parents
understand the policy. Referring to the handbook will make both students and parents aware of

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how First Amendment infractions are defined and possible consequences. This will eliminate
surprise or those who say they are unaware of policy.
Competency 003: The principal knows how to act with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical
and legal manner.
As a leader on my campus, it is my responsibility to ensure that each student, classroom
environment and the overall learning facility is supported both academically and socially. I must
lead through only ethical motives, and I should hold myself and the elected ethics committee to
the standard that the pupils are the primary principle for every decision we make (You Tube,
2013). My internship taught me the importance of remaining neutral and prescriptive. As the
administrator, I should make decisions on a continuum that uses authority to express opinions
and make recommendations without scrutinizing my colleagues or the students. I should develop
an ethical reasoning framework that all decision-making stems from.
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.
Through my projects I learned to prioritize the essential needs of my school and its
students, I was encouraged to understand how to delegate, dump, or do the task that keep the
long hours at bay and the priorities at the forefront. Administrators must be consistent with their
time management framework. This eliminates an unnecessary ebb and flow where decision
making and quality education is concerned. Data analysis and research based practices are the
best way to manipulate changes and to enhance the facilities ability to run effectively.

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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.
My internship allowed me to coordinate activities that corresponded to A No Place for
Hate anti-bullying program. I am of the opinion that To reduce bullying, it is important to
change the climate of the school and the social norms with regard to bullying (Hazelden
Foundation, 2015). I conducted a faculty meeting that ensured all school personnel were aware
of the program and would deliver the appropriate information to their students. There was extra
emphasis on students need to have a clear definition of what constitutes bullying, and that the
norm, with regards to bullying, that bullying is uncool and not tolerated was to encourage a
more positive school climate. Bullying prevention efforts were coordinated by the leadership
team and a student advisory committee. The efforts would ensure each student has an advocate
by regular monitoring of bullying on the campus, meeting regularly to digest data from school
observations and surveys, plan bullying prevention rules, policies, and activities; motivate staff,
students, and parents; and ensure that the efforts continue over time (Hazelden Foundation,
2015).
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.
In efforts to learn how to properly evaluate and appraise, I was able to shadow my
assistant principal on most 2nd and 3rd grade evaluations. She taught me that a proper leader must

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make judgments about the value of ideas or materials. Diagnostic conferences are essential
in setting guidelines and the overall expectation between the educator and the administrator.
Although my assistant principal labels it as the most stressful and troublesome part of her many
responsibilities, she admits she attempts to make the process more bearable for both her and the
educator by keeping conversation collaborative and concise.
Competency 007: The principal knows how to apply organizational, decision-making, and
problem-solving skills to ensure an effective learning environment.
I am of the opinion that data meetings are essential. Data meetings that support earnest
data analysis allow administrators to problem solve through credible evidence, gained by
interpretation, interventions and assessments, to meet academic expectations. Throughout my
internship, I was allowed to conduct biweekly grade-level meetings in junction with the
leadership team to support would collaborative communication. The structure was defined via an
assigned agenda, on five areas, defining the problem, analyzing the problem, set a goal that
supports a fruitful outcome, plan the intervention and evaluate the intervention (Kelley, 2012).
Following my internship, I will assign two, 1-hour, grade-level, data meetings per nine weeks.
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.
Being proficient in education technology and managing the proper ways it can be used to
enhance your learning environment. The are many important societal guidelines and ethical uses
in regards to digital learning that an educator should be aware of. Education is a lifelong process
therefore anytime anywhere access to it is the need; in addition, education should meet the
needs of variety of learners and therefore education technology is important in meeting this

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need. As an administrator, I would access the professional developments that many districts and
campuses offer to aid in meeting education technology goals.
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 I reflect on the totality of my internship journey, I realize that by definition, an
individuals professional outlet is an activity that should project their passion and investment.
Education has become such an integral part of my livelihood and administration is the next layer
to my educational pursuits. I view its many facets as magnetic, and I would really enjoy the
opportunity to become an assistant principal. Teaching students, at the primary grade level, has
been a delightful and ripening stepping stone to the administrative outlets I intend to pursue. My
love for serving students has ignited a desire to rise above the sense of duty in the classroom,
break new ground and dig deeper into educational architecture and administrative processes that
help mold the young minds of children and structure of the necessary academic environment

References
Hazelden Foundation. (2015). Violence Prevention Works. Retrieved June 20, 2015, from
http://www.violencepreventionworks.org/public/bullying_tips_for_administrators.page
Kelley, A. (2012). Five Critical Components to Effective Data Meetings. Retrieved June 13,
2015 from: http://ndeconference.education.ne.gov/Documents/pdf
You Tube. (Sept. 9, 2013). Make Ethical Decisions As A Principal In The School. Retrieved
June 28, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MeM4CDpGKY