Demonstration of Leadership Reflection:

During my time student teaching at both Ute Meadows Elementary School and Palmer
Ridge High school, I have had a number of opportunities to demonstrate leadership qualities
regarding confidentiality, ethical behavior, honesty, and respect. As these qualities were
expressed in the day-to-day work as a student teacher, I have included a number of ways in
which I meet each part of standard 5.b. below.
Emergent: Maintains confidentiality of student records as required by law, confidentiality
of student, family, and fellow teacher interactions, and confidentiality of student data;
demonstrates reliable and responsible behavior.
Ute Meadows:
At Ute Meadows, there were a number of things I was tasked to do that required
confidentiality and professional/responsible behavior. As every student in the school came
through the music classroom, I was made aware of a number of students who had special needs,
family troubles, or emotional/behavioral problems. In talking with my cooperating principal and
my cooperating psychologist, I was able to adapt my classroom to best help these students
without disclosing any information with other students in the class. For example, one student
who will remain nameless had trouble fitting in with the rest of the class. Either he was too shy
to participate, or he was hyperactive and acted as a distraction to other students. I was able to
speak with their teacher afterwards, and found out that they were in the process of further
individualizing his education to best suit his needs. I found that there were a couple of strategies
that I could use that would work best for them in the music class, without taking attention away
from the other students in class as well. I also had a one-on-one conversation with them. In this
conversation, we respectfully talked about classroom behavior expectations. I let him explain the
reasoning for their behavior and further let them talk to me about how they thought they should
fix them. During the next lesson, we were able to have a successful lesson without having to
address his behavior.
At Ute Meadows, I also had the responsibility of reporting an incident to the principal
and assistant principal. During one of my lessons, a student told me a story that concerned me to
the point that by law, I was required to report to the administration at the school. I first asked this
student to repeat their story to the school nurse that we were visiting, so that I could determine if
I was right to be worried. Following this, we reported this to the assistant principal. Fortunately,
nothing about this story turned out to be of any actual concern, but because I did not know this at
first, I fulfilled my duty in reporting the story/incident.
Palmer Ridge:
At Palmer Ridge, I have had the responsibility of maintaining attendance and grade book
records for students. These records contain a lot of confidentiality and I have been extremely
responsible with the information in them. I have also been a part of teacherparentstudent
emails regarding schoolwork and more that I have kept confidential.
Developing: Models ethical behavior, including honesty, integrity, and fair treatment and
respect for others.
Ute Meadows:
While student teaching at Ute Meadows Elementary, I did my absolute best to give every
student fair treatment, while showing honesty and integrity. Every time I needed student help to
demonstrate and activity or concept, I picked students because they were the best behaved in the
class (to encourage behavior and participation in everyone else), because they hadnt had a turn
that class period (or in a while), or simply based on who was closest to me. I followed these
guidelines because I didnt want to continuously pick students based on their performance in the
class. I wanted to give every student an opportunity to demonstrate for the class, no matter what
their ability was. I further showed fair treatment for special needs students and gave them equal
treatment in the classroom, while also being understanding and adapting to their abilities and the
way they learned.
Palmer Ridge:
Out of everything, integrity and honesty have been the most important aspects of my
teaching at Palmer Ridge High School. I think it is important to stay humble in my work, and
since the band students at PRHS are all talented and smart, I gave them the benefit of the doubt
when working with them. For example, during a rehearsal I was leading, students were having a
hard time following what I was saying and what it was that I wanted them to do. Instead of
blaming my students, I recognized that I was being unclear and was the problem of the rehearsal.
Following the rehearsal, I thanked students for being patient with me and further told them that I
am a student myself, learning from them. Not only did this allow me to connect with my
students, but it also established me as someone that has integrity and honesty in the classroom.
This meant that we could move on from the ineffective parts of a rehearsal instead arguing
whose fault it was. Students also now know how much I respect them, and I am sure they will
show me respect if I ever ask them to address and refine their own classroom responsibilities.

Proficient: Helps students understand the importance of ethical behavior as an individual

and member of society.
Ute Meadows:
At Ute Meadows, I had the responsibility of helping students understand ethical behavior.
During one of my lessons, I was to introduce the concept of ritardando. Per advice from my
cooperating teacher, I first introduced what ritardando sounded like: retard. I didnt ever speak
this word to my students, but I told them that while ritardando may sound like a word that is
inappropriate in the classroom, that they were not to speak it. I discussed that the implied word
was disrespectful to other students and that I expected them to be ethical in their behavior
regarding this musical concept. This was not a laughing matter. My students were extremely
respectful and receptive to what I was saying.
Palmer Ridge:
Band students at Palmer Ridge are extremely respectful and ethical in their behavior. I
have continuously modeled ethical behavior in my teaching and interactions with them. There
was once instance in which a student failed to communicate their repeated absences from class
and playing test appointments. Upon further inquiry, we found out that this student was having
personal conflicts that were making them unable to attend their responsibilities. After finding this
out, Mr. Eversole and I had a conversation with this student in which we were very
understanding of their predicament. However, we were also adamant that we couldnt make an
exception for them regarding their grade because they had not communicated these predicaments
to us. In one conversation, we modeled ethical behavior by showing understanding and
sympathy, but also helped them understand the importance of showing ethical behavior on their
part for the sake of their learning, and the learning of others in the ensemble.