Carol A.

Swanson
Hamline University
Competency 2: Organizational Management

2. Organizational Management
a. Demonstrate an understanding of organizational systems
b. Define process for gathering, analyzing, managing data to plan and make decisions for programs
c. Schedule personal and organizational work establishing procedures to regulate, delegate and empower
d. Demonstrate the ability to analyze need and allocate personnel and material resources
e. Develop and manage budgets and maintaining accurate fiscal records
f. Develop an understanding of facilities development, planning and management
g. Understand and use technology as a management tool

A principal must demonstrate effective organizational management skills in order to lead

an effective school. To be effective at Organizational Management, a principal must be able to

see the system as a whole and understand how each part is integral to the whole. There are many

skills that need to be honed to lead in a highly functioning organization. My work as an advocate

for Focus and Priority schools has given me the advantage to see how many principals make

their decisions in the role of leader in their school.

As an advocate for five schools, my role is to assist school leaders in school

improvement. Our organization offers professional development, leadership training, coaching

training, PLC training, standards alignment, math and reading specialists, ELD specialists and

SpEd Specialists. It is imperative to have clear communication with my colleagues in order to

know what they can and cannot do for a school. I must also understand how implementation

works and how to use Implementation Science to ensure proper operations within the school.

I must build trusting relationships both with my school leaders, the teachers at the

school, as well as my colleagues from the Center of Excellence. I must effectively communicate

my role and how I can help the school move forward. I must understand school systems and

budget restrictions in every school that I work in. I must assess how the organization is already

working, while helping the school assess themselves for making good future decisions based on
Carol A. Swanson
Hamline University
Competency 2: Organizational Management

the needs assessment. The needs assessment is the specific driver for school improvement, but it

is also dependent on the school budget as well as district and state mandates.

Leading schools through a comprehensive needs assessment takes into account both

quantifiable data, as well as qualitative data, like stakeholder perception surveys. The needs

assessment must be based on the individual schools needs, as well as assisting the school

leadership team to work through the stages of implementation to best ensure a positive result.

I have also been fortunate in my work to be on several hiring committees. I have been

able to assist with initial application processes, as well as multiple interviewing processes at the

school level, at the Center of Excellence level and at the Minnesota Department of Education

level.

My work also ensures that I understand how to document and track my own work, as

well as the work of my schools. I must record every action that I perform for work on File

Maker Pro, as well as maintain records for my monthly work expenses. I am also responsible for

assessing schools in leadership and their school improvement processes. These assessments

contribute to the MN Department of Educations Worlds Best Workforce implementation and

planning for statewide support for schools.