Leslee Jones Bullock

2319 North Woods Court

Canton, MI 48188
lesleej123@gmail.com
313-318-3964

Angell Elementary
1608 S. University Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Principal: Gary Court
court@aaps.k12.mi.us

As the schools leader I have a vision of excellence for students, staff, and all invested stakeholders in
the community as a whole. I am committed to supporting and improving: a rich and diverse curriculum
while providing enrichment supports for areas of improvement, classroom culture models that focus on
supporting and empowering students academic and social and emotional development, succinct and
progressive professional development opportunities for teaching professionals, reciprocal family and
community based partnerships, and ongoing teacher growth and development mentorship. !

As Michigan schools continue to align their standards and curriculum with Common Core State
Standards, the richness and diversity of curriculum continues to deepen and develop. This is done with
overall diligence and care however, an individual schools needs may be more specific. As a teacher
leader, I have been able to help plan and develop enrichment supports that are specific to our schools
targets. Throughout school improvement planning Ive worked on heterogeneous teams looking for
specific teaching strands and common holes to target, across grade levels, to focus on school-wide
improvement. The outcome of this systematic planning has resulted in students needs being met. The
students receive extra teacher support (during and after school), new curriculum development, and
increased community based opportunities that support less dense curriculum (supported by an
enrichment coordinator). Specifically, I designed a handwriting curriculum for our schools use. The
curriculum created a common language for the building to use K-5, agreed upon time commitments per
grade level, and streamlined options for paper. Students have consistency throughout their school
experience and the preliminary results are showing progress with the goal of increased legibility. The
sum of all these efforts, over many years, has resulted in my current school being recognized as a
National Blue Ribbon School.!

Effective classroom management and structure are an essential component of a supportive and
encouraging learning environment. When students are in an encouraging learning environment
students learn that is it safe to try and fail and make mistakes. Students learn, from modeling, to
become more adept at thinking critically and supporting their thinking with reasoning, when given the
opportunity. A way that I have supported some of our youngest learners to take educational risks is by
simply taking attendance and asking them to prove how they know how many students are in
attendance. They have prior knowledge of total enrollment and newly acquired information about those
that are absent. Students feel comfortable to try and know they are only accountable for doing their
personal best. There are many strategies that they can use to arrive at the answer and they know that
inaccurate answers help lead us all to accurate ones. Students thought processes and personal
perspectives are validated and they do not lose self-esteem if their answer is wrong. In fact, their peers
learn how to affirm what is accurate in their thinking and add on what is needed for proof. Over the
years I have used a combination of methods to help foster this safe classroom learning environment
while building a strong sense of social and emotional well-being. Aspects of Schools Attuned,
Responsive Classroom & Love & Logic are visible in my current teaching.!

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Just as students receive differentiated lessons according to their needs, teaching professionals should
receive differentiated professional development opportunities to meet their needs. A district must train
professionals so that all have a general consensus of best practices. Individuals should then have
choices of how to deepen their understanding and application opportunities. One opportunity I created
for myself was to teach in other classrooms in my building. I was able to see longitudinally how
concepts are developed over the years. It helped me to focus on key vocabulary and strategies for
improved lesson design and delivery. I would like for teachers to have the opportunity to incorporate
peer to peer observations into their professional development time. Research shows that ongoing

collaboration among peers improves teaching practices. We can learn from our local experts when time
is allocated to collaborate. Peer to Peer observations allow the staff to learn more about themselves
through vulnerability, build trust and accountability, and widen the community of student ownership.
Reflective practice, specifically National Board Certification, is another opportunity that I would like
teachers to have available. I have worked at a local and state level to help incorporate a National Board
Certification Cohort model of professional development for Michigan schools, as research shows
students taught by a Nationally Certified Teacher achieve more.!

Making connections and building relationships are the core of who I am and I believe it is always a good
time to celebrate our young people and deepen connections. Celebrations can take many forms and I
have learned that being connected to a young persons interest is valuable in making meaning. With the
support of parents and community members I believe these valuable connections are made. Some
activities that have deepened the relationships among the school community (students, faculty, parents
and community members) that I have been involved in are: getting to know you school picnics, ice
cream socials, recess clubs of interest, talent shows, international night, family game nights, family
movie nights and school wide exercising. I am excited to incorporate school wide birthday celebrations,
school wide dances, pop-up youve been caught days, homework help nights, oratorical and essay
contests, and many more. !

In closing, I will continue to embrace teacher leaders who know their talents and wish share their gifts
for/with our students. I realize that the end goal for every educator may not be to retire from the
classroom. I will continue to support those with future endeavors in the role of mentor and/or advocate.
I have always and will continue to support professionals who wish to pursue other opportunities. We
want the brightest and best serving our students with their best whether it be serving as a teacher or in a
different capacity. !

Thank you for the opportunity to serve our students by leading the students, teachers and staff and the
community as a whole. !