Mihal FINAL SUBMISSION Capstone
.docx
School
University of South Florida**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
THE 2252
Subject
Management
Date
Jan 13, 2025
Pages
10
Uploaded by SavvyOwl222
1Leadership Impact Plan PaperAdrienne MihalAmerican College of EducationELIN5091Dr. DonaldsonAugust 4, 2024
2Leadership Impact PaperDuring my time as an educator and administrator at my building, I had numerous opportunities for reflection. From the very beginning of my career as a self-contained special education teacher, I utilized constructive feedback from peers and administrators to build capacity as a teacher and refine my practice to meet the needs of my diverse classroom population. Continuous collaboration, open lines of communication and continued education are paramount for the development of novice teachers (Why Is Professional Development Important for Teachers?2024.) Due to my tenacity and grit, I was presented with the opportunity to lead in an administrative roll after 5 years with the district. Although I did not have the administrative degree per se, I did have a wealth of knowledge on my team that was supportive and willing to assist with leadership courses, ongoing special education development and a highly qualified mentor. Before became a full-time master’s student, I thought I had a decent understanding of how a leader should leverage their talents and expertise the lead the building, however, I was quickly humbled and knew this is exactly where I needed to be if I wanted to further my career as an administrator in a non-charter district. My leadership impact paper will provide insight into my journey and experiences as a former educator to confident leader.ReflectionEach principal or administrator has their own leadership style and personality. As a building leader, there are many positive leadership qualities necessary to lead in a manner that promotes a positive school culture and climate while ensuring scholar success. When I began this program, my interpretation of strong leadership was slightly different than post-graduation. Prior to the master’s experience, I believed the building principal to be the primary decision maker of all school wide initiatives. I was unaware of the principal leadership
3standards and how they serve as a guide for purposeful and intentional leadership. After this program I now have a better understanding of the standards, leadership styles and impact leadership has on student achievement, there are specific leadership qualities that are important to be successful.Clear, concise communication with all stakeholders is by far one of the greatest qualities a leader can possess. Early in my career as a teacher, I always made sure my students understood their instructions and/or tasks. I was diligent with providing multiple formats of instructions to meet their learning needs. The parents received the same accommodation as well. The open lines of communication allowed for transparency between all stakeholders which solidified a trusting relationship between all. Throughout my experience in this program, I realized that communication extends beyond phone calls and messages on digital platforms. Principals who analyze and reflect about the overall effectiveness of their current methods of communication are aligned and supportive of student achievement are regarded as being effective leaders as they are driven to unite the connection between all stakeholders Effective Communications / Guides for Managing Your School / Managing Your School / Home - Educational Leaders(2024.)Another leadership quality that I believe to be one of the most important to possess as a principal is the ability to lead in an ethical manner that promotes an equitable learning environment for all. Throughout my career, I always based my decisions on student and family needs, however, my decisions early on were primarily made because of analyzing the data from my classroom. Now that I am administrative, I realize ethical leadership is critical to ensuring a positive school culture and climate that supports students’ academic and social development. Since this program's completion, I have maximized my ability to make ethical decisions that will benefit the students, families, and the community. Since I have more understanding of ethics in
4leadership, I am intentional with decision making and lead my team with the mutual understanding that said decisions align with our school’s mission and vision and will impact students and stakeholders positively.GrowthAfter 6 years as a self-contained emotional disability teacher of record and 5 as our school’s Director of Student Services (DSS), I decided it was time to move forward with obtaining my master’s degree and obtaining official licensure as building principal. I decided to resume my academic journey in February of 2023. Although I had administrative experience managing my special educators and caseloads, I knew I would remain stagnant career wise if I decided to move to a non-charter district. I always rated well according to my end of year evaluations; however, my leadership qualities were developed through hands on experiences, but I still needed to further develop and/or refine my leadership abilities to lead on a much larger scale. Before completing this program, I felt confident with my ability to lead my department. This confidence is indicative of my strong understanding of special education law(s). Although I understood the laws pertaining to students with diverse needs, I did not realize that there are many other laws and policies that a building leader needs to understand when assuming the role as principal. Law and policy gave me a better understanding of the legal obligations and requirements schools must follow to ensure teachers are protected, but also provide the necessary and appropriate course of action for specific situations such as employee investigations and terminations. I also feel much more confident in addressing such situations knowing that I am not breaching any laws or policies. As a building principal, I intend to lead in an ethical manner, so a deeper understanding of laws and processes allows for ethical and moral decision making.
5I also believe I have grown tremendously with my ability to coach and mentor teachers. Before exposure to courses such as developing teachers, I have been able to refine my coaching skills to be more deliberate with improving teacher capacity while boosting student achievement. Prior to this program, my coaching abilities were mediocre compared to now. I now feel confident with sharing my expertise and knowledge of best-practice strategies. I also learned how to be consistent when developing coaching schedules and feedback sessions. My mentor, Mrs. Charlotte Jackson, has been my building principal for 10 years. She was my academic coach and is now my mentor for administrative duties. She is a servant and transformational leader who is supportive and detailed with job-related feedback. Throughout our time together, I have been given opportunities to lead initiatives like our intervention program, special education family nights, student rosters and scheduling. Mrs. Jackson and I have built a strong, trusting relationship over the decade. She is highly knowledgeable, but also craves to further that knowledge through continuing education which she and I participate in many outside professional development sessions together to not only streamline our craft as leaders, but to provide our stakeholders with the resources they need to be successful. Over this program and my career, Mrs. Jackson has been collaborative, supportive, nurturing, and consistent with her feedback and follow-ups. Her leadership abilities are what I strive to achieve as I officially enter the world of principal leadership.ApplicationThe implications of my leadership as a director of student services and a future building principal are that I am instrumental in trying to further my education beyond what was taught in teacher and administrative preparation programs. As a leader, it is imperative to stay current with best practices and how they apply to students today. Education is ever changing and it is our
6responsibility as leaders to seek out academic journals, professional development (PD) and modern equitable and culturally relevant curriculum that meets student needs. During my tenure as the director of student services, I was able to retain 80% of my staff. They have witnessed my tenacity to expand my knowledge of any new practices and now seek out strategies and PD on their own time. During our monthly meeting, I get excited when they are eager to share their findings and newly acquired knowledge. I do believe their efforts are a reflection of mine. They see my passion for learning and understand that in order to grow, you have to further what you know. Not only have they seen me seek out additional learning experiences, they also witnessed the completing of my administrative licensure. In fact, a few of my paras have declared interest in finding a teacher preparation program to help them advance their careers which will further impact student achievement. Overall, I do believe my leadership competencies have made a difference in my personal life as now I can expand my job search beyond a certified teacher in a non-charter district. With my newly acquired master’s degree, I am now able to teach undergraduate courses. I look forward to the opportunity to share my knowledge with aspiring teachers while preparing them to deliver impactful instruction. In terms of my professional life, I believe the implications of my leadership have positively impacted my department and my leadership team. I am getting a lot of opportunities to take on more leadership tasks. I am also being considered for the role of assistant principal for a sister-building. I do believe my dedication to professional growth is one of the characteristics that is highly desired by my district as they like to “grow their own.”
7Ethical PerspectivesWhen making decisions that impact the students and community you serve, an effective leader always puts the needs of their students at the top of every agenda. Throughout our career as leaders, we will be faced with making challenging decisions, however, we must always consider the immediate needs of our students while ensuring that the decisions that were made were data driven and aligned to the district’s mission and vision for success. When a leader is intentional with ethical decision making, they are demonstrating a commitment to do what is right no matter the situation. The leader’s ethical perspective will promote a positive culture, equitable and inclusive opportunities for the students they serve (GGI Insights, 2024.) As your team witnesses your compassion to lead ethically for the betterment of the students, staff, and school, they will be more likely to buy-in and follow the leader’s example creating a school environment that strives for positive student outcomes (GGI Insights, 2024.) During my time at Lighthouse Charter School, I have been exposed to situations where I had to consider the overall impact on the student, family, and the school. I remember the time when I was told by one of my parents that they were highly dissatisfied with their child’s general education teacher. The parent was concerned that the teacher was not adhering to their child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and as a result, her daughter was demonstrating elevated levels of frustration which increased symptoms of her depression and anxiety. My first call to action was to meet with the parents to go over the IEP. I then spoke to the student to gain insight as to what her experiences were to date. Once I received that information, I scheduled a meeting with the teacher in question to gather her perspective on the situation and to also ensure that she was aware of the information in the IEP. During our meeting, the teacher did not appear to have much regret and continued to discuss the child’s disability as her “crutch” for getting out of
8schoolwork. When I realized where the conversation was headed, I began to remind the teacher of Article 7 and the American with Disabilities Act and how they are entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education. I also seized the opportunity to document this conversation and begin creating a coaching and walkthrough schedule to ensure this scholar’s needs were being met. I looped Mrs. Jackson in so she could also monitor this teacher when she conducted her evaluations and walkthroughs. After noticeable failed attempts to meet my expectations, the teacher was then placed on a professional improvement plan. I monitored this teacher for some time and noticed there was no evidence of improvement on the teacher’s end despite being given the tools and guidance needed. This teacher had a negative, ableist mindset that did not align with our school’s mission, vison, or overall core beliefs. Mrs. Jackson and the teacher needed to be relieved of their duties due to their shortcomings. When a leader is responsible for student achievement, they must be prepared to base their decisions on the notion that the outcome will benefit the child. As the leader of the special education department, I advocate for my students and desire them to have equitable access to the resources and support they need to be successful. My principal was incredibly supportive throughout this situation as it was one of the first times I had to consider the ethical and moral aspect as it pertains to a student with a disability.Looking AheadAs a first-year principal, I understand that I will need to continue to develop my craft by staying current with best practices, pedagogy, and curriculum. I intend to seek out additional professional development to share with my team so they can strengthen their ability to deliver quality instruction and boost student achievement. It is a principal’s responsibility to ensure they are well versed in changes in education and the impact said changes have on the students and community.
9As I begin my career as a principal, one of my goals is to try to increase parental involvement in their child’s academic experiences. Since the pandemic, there is significant data that shows a steep decline with parent involvement and engagement. I want parents to feel they are active stakeholders and not just the person in charge of attending parent conferences a few times a year. Parents should be proud to be connected to the establishment that nurtures, protects and educates their child. When parents are included in the decision-making process student achievement and social development are likely to increase (Stanford, 2023.)My second professional goal will be to increase teacher’s capacity to deliver instruction to students with diverse learning needs. Since I have a special education background, I am well-versed in the laws that protect this subgroup. With special education numbers on the rise and a known teacher shortage, new and transitioning teachers will need support with differentiation and strategies that support specific and unique learning styles. As a former special educator, I can attest to the theory that diverse learning strategies can be beneficial for all students no matter their ability. As a building leader, I intend to leverage my expertise along with the resident special education director to bridge the gaps with teacher capacity to deliver effective instruction that is equitable for all students.ConclusionOverall, my experiences throughout this program have prepared me for my future as a principal. All the coursework, readings and discussions have expanded my knowledge base and will allow me to lead my team with integrity, build connections with stakeholders and develop highly effective teachers who are committed to our mission and driven to boost overall student achievement.
10ReferencesEffective communications / Guides for managing your school / Managing your school / Home - Educational Leaders. (2024). Www.educationalleaders.govt.nz. https://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/Managing-your-school/Guides-for-managing-your-school/Effective-communications#:~:text=LeaderGGI Insights. (2024, February 13). Ethical Leadership: Navigating Growth with Integrity in Every Decision. Graygroupintl.com; Gray Group International LLC. https://www.graygroupintl.com/blog/ethical-leadership#:~:text=Leaders%20with%20integrity%20are%20honestStanford, L. (2023, July 25). Does Parent Involvement Really Help Students? Here’s What the Research Says. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/does-parent-involvement-really-help-students-heres-what-the-research-says/2023/07Why is professional development important for teachers?(2024, March 27). Smekens Education Solutions, Inc. https://www.smekenseducation.com/why-is-professional-development-important-for-teachers/#:~:text=Instructional%20techniques%2C%20curriculum%20frameworks%2C%20and