Self-Assessment Reflection

EDLD 5399 Capstone Superintendent Internship

Week one assignment Part 1

Reflection from Superintendent’s Competencies – Self assessment

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.

Domain I – Leadership of the Educational community – competencies 1-4

Domain I is an area that I think I have my greatest strengths.  With my experiences in leadership positions such as, teacher, Head Football Coach, Athletic Director, High School Vice Principal, High School Principal, and Assistant Superintendent for Educational Support, many of the competency skills in those positions transfer to the skills needed in the Superintendent’s responsibilities.  In Domain I there are 35 indicators in competencies 1-4. I think I am above competent in all 35 indicators. Although I am confident in my Leadership abilities there is still room to grow.  I will always be a student to learning.    

Domain II – Instructional Leadership – competencies 5-7

Domain II has 30 indicators in competencies 5-7 and of the 30 indicators I think I am above competent in 28 of the 30.  I see myself as be competent in 2 of the 30 indicators.  Areas that I am competent in but need to continue to grow are 1) to facilitate effective curricular decision making based on an understanding of pedagogy, curriculum design, cognitive development, learning processes, and child and adolescent growth and development 2) to deliver effective presentations and facilitate learning for both small and large groups. I would like to be more effective in my presentations to large groups and improve my knowledge base in curriculum.  With the new academic accountability standards with STAAR and EOC there is much to be learned. 

Domain III – Administrative Leadership – competencies 8-10

Domain III has 24 indicators in competencies 8-10.  I see my strength in 20 of the 24 indicators and competent in 4 of the 24 indicators.  Areas that I am competent in but need to continue to grow are 1) apply procedures for planning, funding, renovating, and/or constructing school facilities to support the district’s mission and goals, (2) implement strategies that enable the district’s physical plant, equipment, and support systems to operate safely, efficiently, and effectively (3) apply procedures for ensuring the effective operation and maintenance of district facilities, (4 implement evaluate appropriate procedures to ensure efficient, effective district transportation services, food services, health services, and other services,

Blog Follow-Up: Be sure to post your above reflection to your blog, and read and comment on at least two other students’ assessment reflections.

Week One Assignment, Part 2

As part of the development of your 5 Part Comprehensive Final Report, we begin with Section A.

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.

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.

3. Include a brief rationale for why you believe it important to move through these positions.

The career position that I am interested in pursuing is the position of Superintendent.  This is my thirty seventh year in education.  I have served as a classroom teacher/assistant coach, Head Football Coach and Athletic Director, Vice-Principal, Principal, and Assistant Superintendent.  These roles have prepared me for the position of Superintendent. I believe that because of the positions that I have held this has given me a perspective in many different leadership roles.  This experience has given me a well rounded knowledge base of the educational process.  Being a classroom teacher gave me the opportunity to be involved with planning lessons, collaborating with colleagues about best teaching practices, analyzing data to plan the best strategies for student success, as well as exploring the many ways that students learn.  The role I served as the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director gave me the opportunity to lead a group of coaches and student athletes in UIL competition.  As Head Coach I was able to involve myself in the hiring and interviewing process, preparing budgets, communicate with parents through booster club meetings, dealing with the media, as well as speaking to civic clubs and organizations.    Serving as Vice-Principal and Principal gave me the opportunity to get involved with curriculum, Master Scheduling, personnel management, student discipline, building and facilities management, technology, as well as many other duties and assignments.  Now I am in the role of Assistant Superintendent working closely with the Superintendent, Board of Trustees, campus principals, teachers, civic groups and organizations. In short, my career path has and is preparing me for the position of Superintendent.  I look forward to the challenge. 

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 have been in a leadership role all of my life.  Most of those situations were not my choice.  It seems as though people have always chosen me to lead.  Leadership roles included: Quarterback of the football team in High School, Captain of the football and Basketball teams in High School, Member of High School Student council, and Captain of my college football team.  I was selected by someone for each of the listed leadership roles and I must say that in all of those roles our groups were successful.  I actually enjoyed the trust and confidence my teammates, teachers, and coaches had in me.  But the biggest reason I chose education and the burning desire to be in a leadership role was because of the tremendous role models that I had during my high school and college days.  I was influenced by my high school and college teachers and administrators.  They were important people in my life and they were the difference makers who helped me be the person that I am today.  I have always been a strong competitor with a will to win.  I love the challenge of leading and I look forward to continuing this path of leadership. 

This internship has been so valuable.  This is my second year in the role of Assistant Superintendent.  My first year was wonderful and I consider it a successful one and I contribute it to this class.  Those activities that we were covering in our classes, I was actually doing those things in real life as part of my duties.  It was part of my everyday assignments.  School community relations, School Law, Human Resource Development, School Finance, Ethical Leadership, Contracts, Board and Superintendent’s responsibilities, and Facilities were all topics that really helped me during my first year as a Central Office Administrator.  The collection of courses has been a mirror of what I am working with each day.  Yes, this internship program has prepared me to lead school improvement.