Dominique Williams

EDUC 5392
June 28, 2020

Preparing to be an Administrator and Securing Interviews

While reading this article, I found myself becoming discouraged because I haven’t

accomplished or even started thinking about accomplishing a large percentage of the

recommendations provided by Dr. Lebuffe. Before I could get too down on myself, I

remembered that my path into Administration is unique in itself and that is okay. The end goal

for me is to create an organization where the students and faculty can learn and grow in a safe

environment. I believe true leadership begins with self-leadership and that has been a task in

itself for me, but I’ve become better and I believe that I am making progress towards my goal at

my own pace.

Strategic planning is probably one of my favorite past times because it has proven to be a

way for me to get the most bang for my buck. I’ve been conducting research on leaders that I

admire and don’t admire so that I can learn from them both. The leaders who’ve taken time to

develop their character, core values, morals, etc are the most successful in my opinion. Their

actions are consistent no matter the situation because they are well aware of their strengths,

weakness, goals, etc. Developing my character matters to me and I’ve been able to see the

strengths and weaknesses that I possess, and I am currently working on them. Being a school

leader is a very tricky job for several different reasons and it is very easy to be swayed if the

foundation of who are and what you stand for isn’t established.

Another aspect of my strategic plan is exploring the many facets of education to find my

niche. I started my career as Special Education teacher, and I’ve become very passionate about

how we can improve student success by creating systems and supports for both students and staff

members. I am a part of the Special Education Standards Committee, where I’ve been able to

provide ways that we can better prepare future special education teachers to ensure success for
Dominique Williams
EDUC 5392
June 28, 2020

the students and teachers. My Admin internship provided me with an opportunity to discover my

passion for coaching and mentoring new and experienced teachers. I was able to see that new

teachers need a lot of support and guidance during their first few years of teaching. There are so

many situations that formal education and alternative certification programs simply do not

prepare the teachers for and it can be unfavorable for the student, teacher and school district

when the teachers are not properly supported. I’ve also discovered that Instructional Leadership

is so necessary because teachers can only become better by receiving feedback from component

leaders. I’ve been very fortunate to learn from good and bad examples and how they both impact

student success.

Graduation is swiftly approaching, and I’ve been asked several times if I will be headed

for administration shortly after and the answer is not yet. This Principalship course has opened

my eyes to see what is ahead for me and I am in no rush to pursue leadership. I will continue to

learn as much I can, and I am confident that the opportunity for advancement will present itself

at the right time and I will be prepared.

During this time of preparation, I plan to read more literature about education and

leadership. Dr.LeBuff has provided several articles about issues in schools that leaders must

informed about. I am apart of Kappa Delta Phi but I haven’t taken full advantage of the

resources, so I plan to become active during this summer and upcoming fall semester. Last

school year, I presented a few professional developments and I plan on perfecting my presenting

skills by presenting more. Due to the uncertainties associated with Covid-19, I’ll study my

favorite presenters and practice in the mirror more. Lastly, I will begin to ask trusted colleagues

to write references for me that will highlight my best attributes.

Dominique Williams
EDUC 5392
June 28, 2020

Overall this article provided a ton of insights for me and I am looking forward to my

future in educational leadership. I won’t compare myself to others and their journey because I

understand that there are several different paths that will lead me to my leadership destination. I

am grateful that I’ve been provided with resources such as this article, professors, colleagues,

and mentors to help me while I’m on my journey.