A Final Reflection

Kristina E. Bergman Dr. Christy Thompson
Requirement #6 EDSU 28523
December 18, 2011 Learning Reflection



A Final Reflection

There were several things that I gleaned from this class. I was amazed how much I have grown in my writing and typing skills. As I put together my portfolio, I reviewed the many assignments and requirements that I completed for this degree, and realized how much I have improved over the last three years. I learned not only how to type properly and professionally, but also to properly format proposals and papers, as well as power points presentations. These attributes will all prove beneficial as I embark on a position in administration.
I have gained knowledge in how to interact more effectively with people, namely staff members that I had to observe for at least two of my courses. I used diplomacy and tact, and always start with the positives when relaying constructive criticism. It was encouraging to discuss my observational findings with my peers and be accepted by them as an administrator. I will continue to earn that trust and confidence as I proceed into my internship. Ultimately, there is a climate of respect and discipline between administrators and staff that is earned, not given.
The statement, “Don’t make hallway decisions!” was a statement that I have heard from several of my prior professors in this graduate cohort program. Document everything that you do, either on a note pad or on the computer, and update it often. Another suggestion that was made in my Intro to the Principalship course, was to journal all conversations in a soft, bound journal, whether it is was with staff, parents, or students. I have taken this advice, and at the end of each day, I jot down thoughts, events or issues that I encountered during that day in a small notebook. I can refer back to conversations that I have had with people, and be able to reference the discussion. Also, if an issue comes up regarding something I have written in my journal, I have it to refer to. I also remembered to note the suggestion of having people send you an email about a question or issue, so you will have a visual reference. That way, you have a hard copy of the conversation and you will be able to follow up on it much better.
This course has explained to me that a Principal needs to be skilled in planning, organizing, academics, instruction and financial matters. He also needs to delegate responsibilities to others, and encourage his supervisors, directors, and department heads to be leaders. The Principal should be a leader of faculty and staff, not just a manager. As an administrator, he should be assigning the work to be done, not allow others to tell him what to do. I also learned from my Power and Influence assignment the different types of power, and realized the types of power that I would like to use, namely Referent and Expert. With the Referent type of power, the administrator is usually non-adversarial and encourages friendship. This would help during a roundtable or committee meeting to help the administrator gain approval for their ideas or changes. This type of power is admirable, and could be the least objectionable. The Expert type of power includes a leader with special knowledge in their field, possibly in technology or is computer savvy. This could also include someone who is adept at scheduling. The Expert power types are rational and will explain why a change needs to be done. It is important to remember that to be a leader, one does not have to be an expert. As you work through your daily activities in administration, hopefully you will become an expert in some areas, but probably not in all.
I appreciated the fact that we did not have to read every chapter of each of the texts; Failure is not an Option, by A. Blankstein, or The Principal as Professional Development Leader, by P. Lindstrom and M. Speck. It was more beneficial to either assign or to choose a chapter and have the reader highlight the key points of each to relay these points to the class. Some of my colleagues were very flamboyant in their descriptions of some of the chapters, and it made it enjoyable and easier to digest. I also appreciated the guest administrators that were asked to come speak with us. Allowing them to share their knowledge with us really made relevant the many facets of administration and how rewarding, frustrating and perplexing it can be. The final four-person panel that presented a few weeks ago was the highlight of the Building Organizational Capacity course. They were very informative and were very down to earth. I was pleasantly surprised when as Ms. Procopio discussed her interview process. Imagine! Three interviews later and she is the new principal of Millville! The entire panel of administrators seemed to be, “on the same page”, when it came to students, parents and staff. They collaborated well, and appeared very supportive of each other, much the same as we are in our cohort, and valued each other’s vision and views. I will take away from that experience the suggestion to be visible, have an “open door policy” regarding parents, go above and beyond, volunteer, be genuine and natural and show passion about how you feel about the students and school.
The one assignment that I feel should have been started and completed during the course Change for School Improvement, is the mini-change proposal, our major project. Since that course is about change, with regards to administration and how we will elicit the change during our internship and practicum, our mini-change project should be completed during that course, not during BOCAP. We can then segway into BOCAP with the proposal in place, complete, and finish up our portfolio. There were a lot of assignments required for BOCAP, and much work involved to get us ready for our portfolio; removing one of the major requirements and placing it during the more appropriate Change for School Improvement course would be a more viable alternative.
This course has been an interesting and learning experience. I hope, as I continue on into my internship, I will become more knowledgeable about the many levels of administration and the many facets that have become my new challenge. I hope to use this knowledge to become a successful administrator in whatever venue I decide to take.
Thank you for all your support and assistance on my journey to being an administrator. Your support and vast knowledge helped to clarify and conceptualize what an administrator is all about. (I would give you a couple pluses on our three by five plus/delta cards!)