Final reflections and three year plan

Part One:  Development of PDP and Reflection of Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned from Developing my PDP:

I believe the lesson I have learned from completing this three year Professional Development Plan is that I haven’t really given much thought past this next year.  By participating in this activity, I thought through where I really wanted to be and what skills I truly wanted to develop.  By nature, I am not one to seek out relationships to network.  I am a very social person, but I believe it happens naturally.  While I do not feel comfortable directly marketing myself, I do know that as I continue to narrow my focus to central office jobs, the connections I make will be critical.  Letting people know that I am interested and capable to handle these jobs is important.  In addition, I know I need to be more assertive in gathering resources and identifying people who support the district mission.  Putting these goals in writing makes me more accountable and helps me solidify my thoughts about best ways to move forward.

Professional Development Plan (PDP)

Year One

Goal I will secure one community resource to promote student success.	TExES Competency and Domain Domain I, Competency 2	Objective (What do you want to improve?) My ability to secure resources	Course Work/Book/ Workshops (How do you want to improve?) I will identify one need, make a list of potential community resources for that need, and pursue finding a donor to cover the need. Read Crucial Conversations	Mentor Professional Support (Who will help you improve?) Education Foundation director; PTSA president	Date of Completion May 2012	Evaluations (How will you know you have improved?) I will have secured a $2500 donation to the school.
Goal I will develop stronger relations with other educational leaders.	TExES Competency and Domain Domain III, Competency 8	Objective (What do you want to improve?) I want to improve and expand my circle of influence in the educational leader community.	Course Work/Book/ Workshops (How do you want to improve?) I want to meet at least five new education leaders at TASA Midwinter and TASSP.	Mentor Professional Support (Who will help you improve?) TASA; 3 other principals, TASSP contacts;	Date of Completion May 2012	Evaluations (How will you know you have improved?) I will have established professional relationships with five new educational leaders.

Year Two

Goal I will become more familiar with strategies and programs for struggling learners.	TExES Competency and Domain Domain II, Competency 4, 5, 6 and 7	Objective (What do you want to improve?) Instructional strategies, Curriculum alignment to state assessments; measurements	Course Work/Book/ Workshops (How do you want to improve?) Attend STAAR trainings, RTI conferences and books,	Mentor Professional Support (Who will help you improve?) Special education, C& I specialists	Date of Completion May 2013	Evaluations (How will you know you have improved?) I will have a greater understanding of STAAR.  I will have RTi strategies I can use with my teachers.
Goal I will learn more about the Visioning Document prepared by TASA.	TExES Competency and Domain Domain I, Competency 1	Objective (What do you want to improve?) My understanding of the vision, how I could develop implementation of strategies to support the vision.	Course Work/Book/ Workshops (How do you want to improve?) Visioning Document, Conferences that address Visioning document information, conversations with other educational leaders	Mentor Professional Support (Who will help you improve?) Two superintendents, TASA leadership	Date of Completion February 2013	Evaluations (How will you know you have improved?) I will be familiar with the document, can discuss it intelligently with other leaders, pursue spin-off conferences to reinforce the learning.

Year Three

Goal I will learn three challenges to technology implementations at district level.	TExES Competency and Domain Domain III, Competency 8 and 9	Objective (What do you want to improve?) My knowledge of various district implementation options.	Course Work/Book/ Workshops (How do you want to improve?) A technology conference; technology directors	Mentor Professional Support (Who will help you improve?) 2 technology directors from two different districts	Date of Completion May 2014	Evaluations (How will you know you have improved?) I will have three more points of contact,  have knowledge of at least 3 implementation options.
Goal I will learn more about school finance and board relations.	TExES Competency and Domain Domain III, Competency 8, Domain I, Competency 1	Objective (What do you want to improve?) Understanding of financial resources and distribution of funds. Understand board/superintendent relations	Course Work/Book/ Workshops (How do you want to improve?) Attend TASBO; Attend new superintendent academy	Mentor Professional Support (Who will help you improve?) TASA, TASBO,Lamar University professors, Three Superintendents	Date of Completion May 2014	Evaluations (How will you know you have improved?) I will have better understanding of team building options for school board/superintendent; I will have stronger foundation in school finance.

 

Part Two:  Revisions and Changes Made to the Vita since EDLD 5396

I have made minimal changes to my Vita since EDLD 5396. The main reason I have not made many changes is because most of my information has not changed.  I have added staff development sessions which I have led as the campus principal.  I have also added staff development sessions which I have attended, such as Ruby Payne and Dylan Wiliam.

I have written various cover letters to address my strengths that match the job for which I am applying.  I find that these cover letters are the method I choose to use to highlight different experiences that align with the job description.  I am also contemplating adding a brief paragraph summarizing my experiences and addressing my objective before listing my education.  I asked for feedback from my Superintendent about my Vita and this is the recommendation that he had.  I believe that insertion is a personal preference, but I am willing to try it!

 Part Three:  Review and Submissions of All Reports

District Supervised Summary Report: 

I actually combined my revised intern plan and my District Supervised Summary Report.  By adding an additional column on my internship report, this allowed me to include the number of hours I spent on each competency activity.  In addition, this embedded the changes I made to the plan along the way. I have posted this in my Tk20 and my blog.

Superintendent/Supervisor Internship Summative Evaluation:

 I have posted my Superintendent/Supervisor Internship Summative Evaluation on my blog as well as in the discussion blog. 

Revised Intern Plan (See above in District Supervised Summary Report)

Completion of Comprehensive Final Reports – Parts A - E

The final Reports A – E have been posted in the discussion blog as well as on my personal blog.  

Part 4 Blog Comments following SISE Conference:

I met with Dr. Robin Ryan, my Superintendent on Tuesday, September 13 at 1:30 pm in his office.

The lessons I learned from my SISE conference included the importance of networking and allowing for the path to becoming a Superintendent to be somewhat non-linear.  These lessons have been reinforced by my experiences of applying to various positions.  I also had a conversation with our newest Chief Learning Officer.  Both he and my superintendent stated that networking is of primary importance at this level in education.  Dr. Ryan also talked about the importance of a willingness to move to different districts to find a Superintendent position.  There are many reasons this “job-hopping” might be of value. First of all, by experiencing different districts, the transfer of knowledge opportunities are tremendous.  Our professors talked about this transfer theory in one of our classes.  Using the experiences and information gained in one district can help in another, even if the conditions are not quite the same.  By building a deep tool box, these experiences can be helpful later.  Secondly, by working in different districts, the networking and relationships built can be helpful.  The more people who know your work ethic and knowledge, the better chance you have of your name being brought up as a possible candidate for the next position. 

I have been in the same district now for 20 years.  I need to experience a different culture, different issues, and grow as an educator.  Moving to another district could help me with that experience.  I believe I am ready.