Self-Assessment Reflection: Review your responses to the 10 Competency Self-Assessment, and write a reflection discussing your strengths, areas where you consider yourself competent but not yet a strength, and areas needing improvement. Be sure to reflect on all S, C and I responses because you will be expected to certainly include areas for improvement and competent areas in your Intern Plan. Write your reflection on the next page.
I went through the list of competencies and I feel that I have strengths in all of them. I think these classes and my experiences at Region 5 ESC have prepared me to have the ability to take on the responsibility of a Superintendent. I am in no way disillusioned that I do not need to improve in many areas and I feel that experience is the best way to accomplish true strength and competency in each area. Although I marked S on all of them there are some areas that I am stronger in than others. I feel that I can always improve. I will be including the areas that I feel I am weakest in when working on my Intern Plan. In Competency 1 I feel the area that I am strongest in is model and promote high standard of conduct and interact with district staff, students, school board, and community in professional and ethical manner. I feel that the area I need to most improve on will be to continue to learn and keep up-to-date with laws, policy and procedures as there are many to understand and many that change quite often. In the domain of Leadership of the Educational Community; Competency 1 my strongest area is model and promote the highest standard of conduct, ethical principles, and integrity in decision making, actions and behaviors. The area I need to concentrate most on improving is maintain awareness of emerging issues and trends affecting public education and communicate their significance to the local educational community. In Competency 2 I feel the area that I am strongest in is establish and support a district culture that promotes learning, high expectations, and academic rigor for self, students, and staff. I feel that the area I need to most improve on will be to maintain awareness of emerging issues and trends affecting public education and communicate their significance to the local educational community. In Competency 3 I feel the area that I am strongest in is implement effective strategies for systematically communicating with and gathering input from all stakeholders in the district. I feel that the area I need to most improve on will be to analyze community and district structures and identify major opinion leaders and their relationships to district goals and programs. In Competency 4 I feel the area that I am strongest in is provide leadership in defining superintendent-board roles and establishing mutual expectations, and communicate and work effectively with board members in varied contexts, including problem-solving and decision-making contexts. I feel that the area I need to most improve on will be to use legal guidelines to protect the rights of students and staff and to improve learning opportunities. There are areas in all competencies that I feel I have strengths and weakness in, but I do feel I am prepare to be able to take on the role of a Superintendent. One thing I have learned from the ESC is that no one knows it all, but there is such great teamwork with the Superintendents in our Region that there is always help and advice offered when needed! One rule of thumb…. Don’t pretend you know it all… Everyone knows you don’t! J
In reviewing Domain 2, Instructional Leadership, Competency 5 I see my major strength in facilitating technology. Technology is my background and I feel I can contribute knowledge to this area. Although I have strength in curriculum it is an area that I will always need to keep up with. There are many trends and products out there that can benefit student achievement. It takes time and effort to research and choose methods that work for the ISD you work for. In Competency 6 my major strength is develop and use appropriate change processes. With many changes in the ESC and ISDs of Region 5 I feel I have had more experience in this area than others in this competency. I would have to continue to improve several of these competencies such as, ongoing study of best practices, implement research-based theories for the simple matter that you must dedicate time to reviewing the analyzing the various theories. Competency 7 includes several areas that I feel confident in such as develop professional development plan, facilitate adult learning, and staff evaluation models. My experience with Region 5 provides me with many experiences in these areas.
After looking over Domain 3 Administrative Leadership I find that I have strengths in this area as well. As I have said before I marked all as strength simply because I feel I can do the jobs adequately, but there is ALWAYS room for improvement EVEN If the area is an area where you have strength. In Competency 8 I would need some different training on school budget. I have managed and maintained a high dollar budget but I do realize that the ESC budget process is different than an ISD budget. I feel I am best at working with School Boards and appropriate personnel to develop the budget. In Competency 9 the area that needs most improvement is renovation and construction/or bond issues. I have the knowledge for the emergency planning and responding to crises and applying procedures to ensuring the effective operation and maintenance of facilities. Competency 10 indicates that superintendents know how to apply organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills to comply with federal and state requirements and facilitate positive change in varied contexts. I feel I have strength in implementing appropriate leadership skills and processes into the ISD.
I really think it is a positive exercise to review these skills and reflect on where you stand with each one. I thought long and hard about this and while we should all be prepared to take on all tasks, therefore we should have strengths in all areas we need to be very mindful that as a new Superintendent that all areas can be improved upon and do not shy away from group meetings where you have the opportunity to meet and talk with other Superintendents.
Section A: Career Position and Leadership Goals Statement (1/2 to 1 page):
Position Goal:
1. Write a brief paragraph describing the career position(s) you would like to pursue.
I would like continue to grow in my current position as Associate Executive Director at Region 5 ESC. I have worked extremely hard in my service time at Region 5 ESC and I have accomplished the position that I set my goals on. I would in time love to be able to bcome the Executive Director at Region 5 ESC. I will have my Superintendents Certification that would possibly qualify me for the position if the opportunity every presented itself.
2. Include positions that may lead to your ultimate career position. For example, you may desire to move up by holding positions such as grade-level or department chair, site council member, assistant principal, principal, and ultimately, superintendent. I have held a number of positions that I feel prepared me for my role as Associate Executive Director at Region 5 ESC. I began teaching the 5th Grade at Groves Elementary in the Port Neches-Groves ISD. I then completed my Masters in Educational and Instructional Technology which allowed me to move into the position of campus technology coordinator at Groves Middle School. A Technology Specialist position was open at Region 5 ESC and I was fortunate to move into that role. I then served a Director of Technology for several years, which included a wealth of experience on how the ESC worked and procedures. I was then offered the position of Associate Executive Director of Technology and now serve a Associate Executive Director over many programs.
3. Include a brief rationale for why you believe it important to move through these positions. I feel that it is very important to move through various positions that are in line with the end goal. I feel it affords you many experiences that are necessary in order for one to be successful. It also allows one experience the same things, issues that people you may lead one day do. This will help you as a leader as you can understand the various positions that your employees hold.
Leadership Goal –
1. Write one or more paragraphs describing why you want to lead. This goal addresses the purpose or motivation for leading versus obtaining a specific position. You should consider the following in developing this:
2. What do I hope to accomplish as a leader?
3. What educational needs underlie my motivation to lead?
4. What personal needs underlie my motivation to lead?
5. How did the accomplishments, during my internship, prepare me to lead school improvement?
I enjoying leading people and my goal is to continue to learn and grow in order to be a better leader. As Max DePree indicates in his book, “Leadership is an Art”. That phrase is absolutely true. As leaders we need to allow and enable people to d what is required of them. We as leaders should strive to build healthy relationships with the people we work with. “It’s all about the relationship” I want employees to feel empowered to accomplish desired tasks to the best of their ability. If employees feel they have a say, they will strive to put their best foot forward and do what it takes to make the organization successful. I feel that leaders need to constantly look for ways to improve their leadership by attending trainings, reading books, observing other leaders they respect, etc. In my internship I was able to observe leaders in my organization that have prepared me in various ways and taught me many things about being an effective leader.
I also updated my vita and posted on TK20 and I will repost here as well. I updated my Intern Plann and Supervised Logs.
