Reflective Summary

As I reflect upon my journey through the Master in Educational Administration program at St. Ambrose
University I examine how I have changed, how my view about leadership have changed and how I plan
to take my new found knowledge and go forward as a leader. For the purposes of this reflection, I am
using the framework of the ISSL standards.
Standard #1 Administrative Vision: This was one of the most powerful courses I took in my program. It
required me to recognize the need for both individual vision and collective vision. It also required me to
look inward and really search my beliefs about education and leadership. From doing this I gained a
greater knowledge of self. Dr. Manges always said that it is the administrators job to protect the
vision. I found this to be a very powerful statement. In this era of NCLB and data driven decision
making, I think that it is easy to stray from the bigger picture. Without that vision it becomes easy to
lose our way. It is not only necessary to develop and protect your vision but it is also critical to foster
shared vision. As I learned about this in class, I was able to apply it in my daily life as I worked to
develop the teacher leadership system.
Standard #2 School Culture: While school culture was addressed in many of my courses, I found that it
was through several of the assigned readings that I recognized the importance of school culture and
how to foster this culture. From the book, Drive, by Daniel Pink I understood and applied the
importance of purpose in work. I often times see teachers who do not believe in the data driven era
that we are immersed in as educators and I have learned the importance of linking all that we do to
purpose. If initiatives arent relevant then teachers will have trouble buying into them. I also took away
important information from Focus and Switch regarding how to foster a culture in order to get the
results you want. From our conversations in research class, I recognized how difficult it can be to
measure the culture of a school and had to really examine what made a school successful.
Standard #3 Management: Have you got a minute was probably the most beneficial and realistic
activity I engaged in throughout the program. Through my work as a SAM I recognize the amount of
interruptions that principals face from day to day. Knowing how to prioritize and manage those
interruptions is crucial. This is why I think the 30 day plan assignment is also very meaningful to
aspiring administrators. This assignment makes you think about and prepare for otherwise unforeseen
issues.
Standard #4 Collaborating: Collaboration has always been a critical component of effective teaching
but I have also learned that it is equally important in administration. Through the curriculum courses
and the personnel course I learned a new method of collaborating. That is to create and direct the
collaboration that needs to occur. Collaboration that is not instructionally focused can go astray. It is
equally important to have all the stakeholders involved when instituting change. This also helps with
second order change. Learning about the difference between first order change and second order
change was one of the most important things I learned in the program. I, by nature, tend to operate in
second order change mode. I now understand what problems can accompany this method of change
and how to avoid some of the pitfalls.

Standard #5 Ethics: While in the vision course, we were required to write an ethical platform. When I
asked my professor how begin this process, his response was this: Whatever you write, make it from
the heart and really believe it. So I did and I have used that as my compass through all of my leadership
experiences. As I developed the Teacher Leadership System for Davenport, I was met with many
skeptics, critics and naysayers. From the teachers union to the executive directors, I had to keep true to
the vision of the plan. It was only ethical to proceed with the plan. While this journey was lonely at
times, I was comforted by the fact that I was doing what I knew was best. As Dr. Manges stated, we are
the protectors of the vision. When I developed common intervention time for our RtI plan, I knew this
change would be difficult for the teachers but was in the best interest of the students. I have found that
it is very important to believe in what you are doing as a leader, because often it is not popular.
Standard #6 Larger Context: It is clear to me as presented by the professors in the program that
education is forever changing. While it is important to pay attention to the local and national changes, it
is equally important to understand how we can best educate our children with consideration of, and
sometimes despite, these changes. Teaching has changed significantly over the two decades that I have
been a teacher. Now teachers are not only instructors, they are assessors and diagnosticians. I often
feel as though teachers today have so much on their plates that the focus is often not on the students.
As an educational leader I will try to right this wrong whenever possible. I will continue to learn about
best practice and be a voice for the teachers. From my experiences in the program, I have learned to be
a critical thinker about the latest trends. I have learned to analyze all angles of a situation and examine
the possible impact before moving forward.