Standard Five - Managerial Leadership
Element 5A: School Resources and Budget
The school executive establishes budget processes and systems which are focused on, and result in, improved student achievement.
As part of my coursework in ELP 554-NCSU Budget and Finance class, I was assigned to a team and we collaborated in person and virtually to design a school budget project. This project involved analyzing the school budget of a Johnston County middle school and devising a plan for effectively distributing the funds in areas that would best support the School Improvement Plan and improve learning outcomes for students and teachers based on the needs of the school. Completing this project increased my understanding and awareness of how critical it is for school principals to collaborate with their administrative team and bookkeeper when creating a comprehensive school budget.
In addition to the budget project, we created an infographic to share with parents and families. This visual display was an easy and engaging way for us to be transparent about how funding sources within the budget would be used to improve Benson Middle School. To promote trust and gain support from all community stakeholders, we were intentional about showing the alignment of our budget to the School Improvement Plan in our infographic.
Element 5B. Conflict Management and Resolution
The school executive effectively and efficiently manages the complexity of human interaction so that the focus of the school can be on improved student achievement. This year, the administrative team at West Millbrook Magnet Middle School expressed a commitment to utilizing equitable disciplinary practices and to supporting teachers, as they work diligently to establish procedures and expectations for effectively managing their classrooms. To facilitate this commitment, the administrative team engaged in an "action" book study of the text, Hacking School Discipline. The goal of this action study was to build teachers' capacity to manage their learning environments in equitable ways and create sustained change on our campus. As a member of the administrative team, I had the opportunity to lead and engage in meaningful, professional dialogue and activities that focused on the following questions:
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Element 5C: Systematic Communication
The school executive designs and utilizes various forms of formal and informal communication so that the focus of the school can be on improved student achievement.
At West Millbrook, various forms of formal and informal communication are used to keep teachers, students, and parents abreast of academic updates. Every Sunday, the principal sends a weekly memo to parents and families via email. This message is also posted in English and Spanish on our school's website. The principal also sends a weekly message to staff that contains. academic information, district expectations, and reminders. Each assistant principal also sends a weekly email message to his/her grade level team that contains information that is only relevant to their team. When I worked with 6th and 8th grades, I collaborated with both assistant principals to create the grade level weekly messages. Just before school started, I created an opening of school document for all teachers and staff members called, "WMMMS Important Dates and Reminders 2019-2020". This document served as a running calendar of reminders for turning in required forms, staff meetings, and upcoming school events from August through December 2019. School leaders must use multiple means of communication to keep all stakeholders to continuously improve student performance and keep community stakeholders informed.
The school executive designs and utilizes various forms of formal and informal communication so that the focus of the school can be on improved student achievement.
At West Millbrook, various forms of formal and informal communication are used to keep teachers, students, and parents abreast of academic updates. Every Sunday, the principal sends a weekly memo to parents and families via email. This message is also posted in English and Spanish on our school's website. The principal also sends a weekly message to staff that contains. academic information, district expectations, and reminders. Each assistant principal also sends a weekly email message to his/her grade level team that contains information that is only relevant to their team. When I worked with 6th and 8th grades, I collaborated with both assistant principals to create the grade level weekly messages. Just before school started, I created an opening of school document for all teachers and staff members called, "WMMMS Important Dates and Reminders 2019-2020". This document served as a running calendar of reminders for turning in required forms, staff meetings, and upcoming school events from August through December 2019. School leaders must use multiple means of communication to keep all stakeholders to continuously improve student performance and keep community stakeholders informed.
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5D. School Expectations for Students and Staff The school executive develops and enforces expectations, structures, rules and procedures for students and staff. Clear, consistent, and systematic communication from administration is key when providing students, teachers, and staff members with processes and procedures to ensure that a school runs safely and effectively run a school. For one of my communication assignments, I examined our current dismissal plan and revised some of the processes for staff member and teachers to make it more clear. Although I cannot take credit for the original dismissal plan, the revisions have improved student transitions during afternoon dismissal. Also this year, I have had the opportunity to learn a variety of processes and procedures for managing facilities by working closely with our 6th grade assistant principal. With his guidance, I've learned how to create work orders for maintenance repairs, delegate responsibilities to the custodial staff, collaborate with WCPSS maintenance and contracted services, and communicate cleaning updates to staff as needed. |
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