Competency Review

BY KARAN HUGHES
Competency 001
The beginning principal knows how to establish and implement a shared vision and culture of high
expectations for all stakeholders (students, staff, parents, and community).

I addressed this competency through facilitating professional development

(faculty Oral Online Test creation using ItsLearning) and piloting the Plickers
program.
During these projects, I learned
Technology becomes undependable when one is solely relying on it.
Training teachers is more difficult than other adults, because by nature teachers are social.
Attempting to get others to embrace and share a vision is more difficult than it sounds. While
some employees embrace change and forge on, others are resistant to change and appear to put
the breaks on before any work begins.
Collaborating does provide stakeholders with a sense of ownership and increases their
engagement in establishing and implementing the shared vision.
What I still need to learn
Additional techniques in persuasion to assist in establishing and implementing a shared vision
Competency 002
The beginning principal knows how to work with stakeholders as key partners to support student
learning.

This competency was addressed through facilitating professional development

(faculty Oral Online Test creation using ItsLearning), piloting the Plickers
program, and monitoring and observing intervention instruction.
During these projects, I learned
Collaborating does provide stakeholders with a sense of ownership and increases their
engagement in establishing and implementing the shared vision.
Support of stakeholders leads to learning and growth of all involved, due to additional
perspectives being acknowledged.

What I still need to learn

More efficient ways to work with stakeholders
Competency 003
The beginning principal knows how to collaboratively develop and implement high quality
instruction.

The competency was addressed through facilitating professional development

(faculty Oral Online Test creation using ItsLearning), piloting the Plickers
program, and monitoring and observing intervention instruction.
During these projects, I learned
Collaborating with team members often yields more rich, authentic instruction due to
imaginative brainstorming.
During collaborative planning varied techniques or tools may be used in a way that one would
have not considered if planning alone.

What I still need to learn

How to utilize technology more in my instruction
Competency 004
The beginning principal knows how to monitor and assess classroom instruction to promote teacher
effectiveness and student achievement.

Monitoring and observing intervention instruction.

During these projects, I learned
Observing others during classroom instruction can be inspiring, giving one ideas and
techniques which can be shared with others.
While observing and monitoring interventionists, the specific qualities administrators are
looking for when they are perform walk-throughs.
Leaving a small note of thanks to those being observed for all they do, makes them feel
appreciated, especially after working so diligently with those students who struggle the most.

What I still need to learn

Various ways to verbalize constructive criticism when it is necessary to assist others in
maximizing their effectiveness in the classroom.
Competency 005
The beginning principal knows how to provide feedback, coaching, and professional development to staff
through evaluation and supervision, knows how to reflect on his/her own practice, and strives to grow
professionally.

Addressed through facilitating professional development (faculty Oral Online Test

creation using ItsLearning) and piloting the Plickers program
During these projects, I learned
How to utilize a tool, ItLearning, to create oral online tests. Prior to this project all my oral tests, I
created in PowerPoint.
How to create a course in ItsLearning, so I could share my knowledge with other faculty members
on my campus.
Through Plickers how to quickly assess student knowledge and use the built in reporting to monitor
progress.
The visual feedback the students received when I used Plickers, prompted those who normally do
not complete their homework, to come to class prepared with their homework done and ready to
check.
What I still need to learn
How to efficiently locate apps and websites to increase my professional growth, so I can share this
with others.
Competency 006
The beginning principal knows how to promote high quality teaching by using selection, placement,
and retention practices to promote teacher excellence and growth.

This competency was addressed through facilitating professional development (faculty

Oral Online Test creation using ItsLearning) and piloting the Plickers program

During these projects, I learned

While piloting Plickers, how to delegate and ask others to implement the tool and provide
feedback, thereby promoting professional growth, since this was a new tool we were testing.
Giving just a little nudge, or questioning a fellow implementation team member, often led to
that person going above and beyond to find the answer.
Sharing what I had encountered motivated others to want to try this new package as well.

What I still need to learn

Better techniques or motivational ideas to encourage those reluctant members who do not
want to push themselves to grow.
Competency 007
The beginning principal knows how to apply organizational, decision-making, and problem-solving
skills to ensure and effective learning environment.

This competency was addressed through facilitating professional development

(faculty Oral Online Test creation using ItsLearning) and piloting the Plickers
program
During these projects, I learned
During the development of the Oral Online Test Course, I had to organize and create a sample
test, a testing course, and then problem-solve when technology had issues.
While piloting Plickers, determining work-arounds due obstacles encountered with the
software package.

What I still need to learn

I need to learn how to become better at getting others who are reluctant to participate, excited
to participate in change.
Competency 008
The beginning principal knows how to apply principles of effective leadership and management in
relation to campus budgeting, personnel, resource utilization, financial management, and
technology use.

This competency was addressed through my role as a Leadership Council

Sponsor.
During my internship, I learned
I learned while participating as a Leadership Council Sponsor, how to guide students in
their leadership role of fundraising. In fact, the students were so successful they received
an award from the League City Police Department for donating the most money of any
CCISD school. These students raised over $3000 for the program.
What I still need to learn
I still need to learn more financial accounting system that our school district utilizes.
Competency 009
The beginning 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.

I addressed this through monitoring arrival and dismissal of students.

While monitoring dismissal, I learned that rainy day dismissal can be difficult
and at times complicated. Obviously when there is lightning in the area,
walker/bikers are detained until a parent is able to pick them up from our
elementary school. It is amazing how many parents become annoyed by this even
though it is a safety issue.

What I still need to learn

I still need to learn more about the lock-down and fire drill planning the campus
initiates.