Competency |
Experience with the Competency |
1. Communication – Effectively listens to others; clearly and effectively presents and understands information orally and in writing; acquires, organizes, analyzes, interprets, maintains information needed to achieve school or team 21st century objectives. |
Utilizing my communication skills has been paramount in performing my duties effectively as a principal resident. I have improved my active listening skills while partnering with teachers and parents. To see several examples of my communication and conflict resolution skills, please see: nela6-traun.weebly.com/standard-five.html |
2. Change Management – Effectively engages staff and community in the change process in a manner that ensures their support of the change and its successful implementation. |
An excellent example of my experience with change management is my work this year in encouraging the use of new instructional strategies. For examples, please see: nela6-traun.weebly.com/problem-of-practice.html or Standard 3. |
3. Conflict Management – Anticipates or seeks to resolve confrontations, disagreements, or complaints in a constructive manner. |
As a Principal Resident, I have encountered numerous student conflicts with which I needed to use conflict management skills. I have utilized these skills both in discipline situation and to media social conflicts alongside the counselor, embracing a protocol. For examples, please see: nela6-traun.weebly.com/standard-five.html |
4. Creative thinking – Engages in and fosters an environment for others to engage in innovative thinking. |
During a SIT meeting, the group was discussing some options for Spirit Day at EMS--various theme and dress up days. I used creative thinking to suggest that we poll the students to select the most popular themes. This solution increased student voice and choice while using innovative thinking. |
5. Customer focus – Understands the students as customers of the work of schooling and the servant nature of leadership and acts accordingly. |
My experience with customer focus is embedded within everything I do as a Principal Resident--I always have what is best for kids at the heart of my decisions. As a practical example, I have implemented innovative discipline solutions with students who consistently struggle to stay in class such as behavior logs and check-ins. |
6. Delegation – Effectively assigns work tasks to others in ways that provide learning experiences for them and in ways that ensure the efficient operation of the school. |
Delegation is essential as a school executive to seek appropriate maximum involvement and include the expertise of those around the building. As a Principal Resident, I delegate to Student Services often when custody, records, or enrollment/withdrawal situations arise. For more examples, please see: nela6-traun.weebly.com/standard-one.html |
7. Dialogue/Inquiry – Is skilled in creating a risk-free environment for engaging people in conversations that explore issues, challenges or bad relationships that are hindering school performance. |
As a result of the Parkland tragedy, I was involved in creating and administering a student survey to gain perspective of any school safety or relationship problems students were experiencing at the school. I used the results to address issues of concern such as open doors, lack of supervision, and lack of staff-student connections. To view the survey, please see: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSex7-ke8OfcoTR10gBxMkmHdOI5aqAt255ZwhndgQy5m01U9g/viewform?c=0&w=1 |
8. Emotional intelligence – Is able to manage oneself through self awareness and self management and is able to manage relationships through empathy, social awareness and relationship management. This competency is critical to building strong, transparent, trusting relationships throughout the school community. |
I have worked on my emotional intelligence skills throughout my time in the NELA program. I tend to be analytical and results-driven, so I have to work harder and slow down to remember to use my emotional intelligence skills. I have been successful as evidenced by my latest feedback from Mock Interview day where an interviewer stated that I understood the importance of relationships and intricacies between staff member relationships. |
9. Environmental awareness – Becomes aware and remains informed of external and internal trends, interests and issues with potential impacts on school policies, practices, procedures and positions. |
The greatest experience I have had with this competency is my collaborative relationships with both my cohort members in the district and other district professionals. By communicating and remaining in touch with other professionals, I eliminate the "silo effect" of being closed off in a school without a larger perspective of the trends and issues throughout the district. |
10. Global Perspective – Understands the competitive nature of the new global economy and is clear about the knowledge and skills students will need to be successful in this economy. |
Studying international education trends and visiting Singapore to learn more about their education system has increased my understanding of global competition and improved my global perspective. I hope to continue to stay current of the latest international research after the inspiring experience of attending the ICSEI conference in Singapore and learning from various professionals from around the world. |
11. Judgment – Effectively reaching logical conclusions and making high quality decisions based on available information. Giving priority and caution to significant issues. Analyzing and interpreting complex information. |
Judgment is a skill I will continue to develop as I gain more experience. Being young in my career, sometimes I have to take extra time and diligence to try to gain enough foresight to anticipate future problems. I have worked with my principal this year to develop more foresight with issues of conflict. An example is when a student engaged in a fight where he was taken to the ground. The nurse was off campus, but the student appeared fine. My principal asked what me what I thought he would do in this situation. I answered that he would call a nurse from another campus to ensure we followed protocol regardless of how the student presented. |
12. Organizational ability – Effectively plans and schedules one’s own and the work of others so that resources are used appropriately, such as scheduling the flow of activities and establishing procedures to monitor projects. |
Some organizational tools I utilize to increase my organizational ability include Calendly, a regular Google Calendar (this keeps my events, invitations, IEP meetings, and District Meetings while allowing me to share my schedule with other Google users), checklists with priorities, and To Do lists for assignments. I have been successful in meeting all my deadlines and completing tasks appropriately this year as a student and Principal Resident. |
13. Personal Ethics and values – Consistently exhibits high standards in the areas of honesty, integrity, fairness, stewardship, trust, respect, and confidentiality. |
In dealing with people and sensitive topics, I must maintain a high level of personal ethics and values throughout all my daily operations as a Principal Resident. For example, when dealing with Human Resource issues such as assisting with teacher Monitored Plans, I must maintain confidentiality, fairness, respect, and honesty between myself and the teacher. |
14. Personal responsibility for Performance – Proactively and continuously improves performance by focusing on needed areas of improvement and enhancement of strengths; actively seeks and effectively applies feedback from others; takes full responsibility for one’s own achievements. |
Throughout my time with NELA and in my profession, I have maintained a high level of personal responsibility for performance. I have made adjustments to assignments and tasks based on feedback and continued to reflect as a professional on a weekly basis in my Weekly Logs. |
15. Responsiveness – Does not leave issues, inquiries or requirements for information go unattended. Creates a clearly delineated structure for responding to requests/situations in an expedient manner. |
As a Principal Resident, I have shown responsiveness in dealing with issues such as discipline, staffing substitutes (or covering as a substitute), responding to questions via email and in person, and seeking help for solutions when I do not know the answer. For example, I promptly reply to teachers who experience issues with curriculum by visiting their classroom to lend a helping hand. |
16. Results orientation – Effectively assumes responsibility. Recognizes when a decision is required. Takes prompt action as issues emerge. Resolves short-term issues while balancing them against long-term goals. |
Results orientation is a personal strength of mine. I am data-focused and analytical--I like to foster positive results and be strategic in my obtaining such results. I do have to reflect on my process orientation as my results orientation sometimes causes me to develop 'tunnel vision.' |
17. Sensitivity – Effectively perceives the needs and concerns of others; deals tactfully with others in emotionally stressful situations or in conflict. Knows what information to communicate and to whom. Relates to people of varying ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. |
Along with Emotional Intelligence, it takes a little more intentionality for me to exercise sensitivity. One way I have demonstrated sensitivity is the way I perform intentional walkthroughs. Before I conduct walkthroughs, I consider the climate and circumstances for a teacher. For example, I do not perform walkthroughs on teachers who have had a walkthrough or observation earlier that day. Another example is being mindful of not doing evaluative observations on 'inopportune' days of the week, such as Friday afternoons! |
18. Systems thinking – Understands the interrelationships and impacts of school and district influences, systems and external stakeholders, and applies that understanding to advancing the achievement of the school or team. |
Systems thinking is a competency that is one of my strengths. I tend to enjoy working within structures and systems to strategically align efforts and maximize outcomes. For example, I leveraged my understanding of MTSS to influence our impact on Tier 1 instruction by increasing the use of small group instruction in my Problem of Practice: nela6-traun.weebly.com/problem-of-practice.html |
19. Technology – Effectively utilizes the latest technologies to continuously improve the management of the school and enhance student instruction. |
In a PD session in October, I modeled several technology tools for teachers to utilize during the closing of their lessons. The strategies included PollEv, WordCloud, and Kahoot. To view the presentation, please see the "Instructional Framework" presentation here: nela6-traun.weebly.com/standard-four.html |
20. Time Management – Effectively uses available time to complete work tasks and activities that lead to the achievement of desired work or school results. Runs effective meetings. |
Throughout my Principal Residency, I have improved my time management skills by keeping lists each day that categorize tasks as "urgent" and "important." Urgent tasks are those that are time sensitive, and important tasks are those that contribute to the big goals of the school. I also have experience running meetings utilizing agendas, meeting norms, and a timekeeper. Please see here for an example of the norms: nela6-traun.weebly.com/standard-three.html |
21. Visionary – Encourages imagineering by creating an environment and structure to capture stakeholder dreams of what the school could become for all the students. |
In August, I was able to apply my experiences with this competency when I helped lead a Mission Statement Activity with staff. Through this activity, I was able to communicate with my new staff and learn their hopes and dreams for the school. After the activity, I led as a visionary by reminding staff of our Mission during any PD or PLC meetings I led. To see the activity, please click here: nela6-traun.weebly.com/standard-one.html |