Running Head: COMPETENCY REFLECTIONS

Competency Reflections

Rafael Garcia
University of St. Thomas

Professor: Patrick Huff Ed. D

April 20, 2016

COMPETENCY REFLECTIONS

Competency 001: The principal knows how to shape campus culture by

facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and
stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the
school community.
As an administrative intern over the course of this last school year, I have been given the
opportunity to lead several professional learning community sessions. One of the first sessions
dealt with horizontal alignment. The whole 11 th grade team came together to discuss ways we
could collaborate to accomplish academic goals. Even though the majority of the group was on
board, there was resistance by some teachers due to their belief that we were focusing too
much on testing. I gave her time to discuss here concerns while others shared a similar
concern. However, I made sure that we went back to our mission of ensuring student success.
After several minutes of discussion, we agreed that students must pass state test to graduate
and we must do all we can to help them accomplish that goal. We came up with ways to
incorporate important skills across the curriculum that will help students graduate but most
importantly be college ready.
Competency 002: The principal knows how to communicate and
collaborate with all members of the school community, respond to diverse
interests and needs, and mobilize resources to promote student success.
Over the last year, I have worked ardently to improve the Limited English Proficiency
populations performance throughout the 11th grade level. At first I did not know the dire need
for more intensive work with these students. I quickly knew that I needed to do more than just
work with them in class. I volunteered to help with the TELPAS committee to learn more about
how to better serve this population. I learned that there were plenty of people throughout the
campus that felt that similar efforts were needed. I began to collaborate with the English
teachers to address the needs of our students. Throughout the school year there has been
greater communication, collaboration and ultimately growth regarding this student population.
Competency 003: The principal knows how to act with integrity, fairness,
and in an ethical and legal manner.
As an administrative intern I have been witness to several disciplinary meetings. An impacting
meeting dealt with two young men fighting after school. These students had never been in
trouble before but they had been caught by campus police and could face serious
consequences like alternative schooling. Instead the principal decided to call both of the
students parents letting them know that they needed to come to campus. Both students

COMPETENCY REFLECTIONS

parents had a conversation with the principal and police office to discuss the seriousness of
the issue. I learned that when it comes to students, issues like this are not a black and white
but there are definite shades of gray. Although we must uphold policy, we must also be fair to
students whom are barely learning about the responsibility that comes with adulthood.
Competency 004: The principal knows how to facilitate the design and
implementation of curricula and strategic plans that enhance teaching and
learning; ensure alignment of curriculum, instruction, resources, and
assessment; and promote the use of varied assessments to measure
student performance.
As US History team leader, focusing on curriculum, assessment, and student performance
have been the most pressing tasks. I have been able to work with my team to ensure varied
instruction to reach all our populations. Our team participated in an ELL strategies
professional development and another on engaging social studies strategies. I have also made
sure that our team is reaching out to other subjects to work together to address the needs of
specific populations.
Competency 005: The principal knows how to advocate, nurture, and
sustain an instructional program and a campus culture that are conducive
to student learning and staff professional growth.
Throughout my internship year, I took a course on principalship. One of the major focuses of
the course was the ability for a good leader to support and retain high quality teachers. One of
the ways this is accomplished is by growing leaders on campus. I felt like I was one of those
leaders and was ready to provide support in any way. I learned that it is important to give
people opportunities to show their abilities so that everyone is involved in students academic
growth.
Competency 006: The principal knows how to implement a staff evaluation
and development system to improve the performance of all staff members,
select and implement appropriate models for supervision and staff
development, and apply the legal requirements for personnel
management.
During the first semester of my internship, I was tasked to observe one of my colleagues for
the course Clinical Supervision. This assignment allowed me to see how several of my
colleagues teach in very different fashions, but all follow the same established format that the
whole school has adopted. I noticed that the only way a system to improve academic

COMPETENCY REFLECTIONS

achievement can have results, is if the campus leaders and teachers hold each other
accountable for following the evaluative models. This allows for effective formative
assessments and ultimately positive summative evaluations.
Competency 007: The principal knows how to apply organizational,
decision-making, and problem-solving skills to ensure an effective learning
environment.
I had several opportunities to apply organizational strategies and solve problems dealing with
instruction. The two programs that I was a part of during this internship year were aimed at
addressing the needs of underperforming students and the other was to address the needs of
the advanced group at Sharsptown. The Bridge program was created to address the needs of
incoming freshmen while the AP study club was focus on increasing college readiness.
Competency 008: The principal knows how to apply principles of effective
leadership and management in relation to campus budgeting, personnel,
resource utilization, financial management, and technology use.
While I did not engage in a great capacity with the budget, I was able to figure hours for
teachers in both the AP Study club to make sure that we stayed within the budget. Secondly, I
had to coordinate with other principals and hear custodian regarding school facilities. I feel like
this is a major area of growth for me.
Competency 009: The principal knows how to apply principles of
leadership and management to the campus physical plant and support
systems to ensure a safe and effective learning environment
Part of my internship duties was to engage in supervision during lunch, afterschool and during
certain sporting events. The biggest take away from these activities was the major necessity to
show administrative presence to subside any potential behavioral conflicts.