Competency 1: 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.

Being a member of the Positive School Committee and Welcoming Schools committee I have learned

how to share anti-bias activities and help teach diversity education in the curriculum. The school vision

has always been to be open minded and to teach on diversity. Joining studenst, teachers, and parents to

help push the vison into the curriculum is a challenge because not all teachers want to do the extra

work. However, when students are involved and show teachers how well the vision works teachers buy

into the new lessons and activities formed by the Positive School Committee. I have learned to always

have the help of the students, their voice is just as important.

Competency 2: 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.

I have learned how to communicate and collaborate with parents who are extremely involved in the

school and who have shown up to my classroom unannounced. This was a challenge for me at first, but

I have learned how to respond to the interest and needs of the parent. Being empathic is an important

way to communicate.

Competency 3: The principal knows how to act with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical and legal

manner.

The number one rule I have learned is, What is right isnt always legal, and what is legal isnt always

right. This rings true because as a teacher I think the right thing to do to drive a student to her home

when its late or pouring rain. This however can be a huge legal issue and I have to learn to be more
cautious about doing the right thing. However, I also believe in kindness above all and I will not change

my morals.

Competency 4: 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.

The most difficult project I was given this year, as an intern in administration, was the master schedule

for our school. Implementing and designing lesson plans to help teachers has become second nature. I

love to teach other teachers great lessons they can use in the classroom. Organizing a schedule to

enhance learning and organization is much more difficult. It is like a math puzzle, there is more than one

way to figure it out. When my partner and I thought we had it figured out, we had to go back and

change it all again. It took us about three weeks to get it right. Our principals gave us an old schedule

said, make sure all teachers have the right amount of conference time and lunch time. That was it no

other instructions were given. We loved the challenge and as frustrating as it was we made it work.

Competency 5: 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.

Advocating for a program I care about and a program that nurture the school vision can be difficult

without parent, teacher, and staff support. One of the programs I have come to love is Welcoming

Schools. This is resource for schools to implement anti-bias and diversity education in the school

curriculum. One of the Welcoming Schools professional Development I attended taught me how to

respond to students when asked about the LGBT community. In all my teaching years I had never

thought this curriculum was available or allowed to teachers in any school district. In my current school
we have sustained the instructional program though student lesson plans and parent involvement. Not

everyone is open to the idea, but all are open to respecting each child.

Competency 6: 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.

This year we were introduced to a staff development on how to evaluate staff and use the development

system to improve performance in all staff members. The Houston ISD Teacher Appraiser Professional

Development session gave us information needed to evaluate. However, watching the implementation

of teacher evaluations I learned talking to staff is not the easiest thing to do. Sometimes its more about

how you treat staff and how you say things, not what you say.

Competency 7: The principal knows how to apply organizational, decision-making, and problem-solving

skills to ensure an effective learning environment.

When I was the Spring ISD Intramural Sports director for all middles schools, organization was key.

Organizing all the soccer games, making the decision to suspend students off a team for fighting during a

game, solving all soccer coaches problems through a phone call. The first year was the most difficult the

second year I was able to correct the mistakes I made the first time. I loved the experience and would

love to do it again.

Competency 8: 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.

Apply procedures for effective budget planning and management.

Work collaboratively with stakeholders to develop campus budgets.
 Acquire, allocate, and manage human, material, and financial resources according to
district policies and campus priorities.
Apply laws and policies to ensure sound financial management in relation to accounts,
bidding, purchasing, and grants.
Use effective planning, time management, and organization of personnel to maximize
attainment of district and campus goals.
Develop and implement plans for using technology and information systems to enhance
school management.
Competency 9: 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.

Implement strategies that enable the school physical plant, equipment, and support
systems to operate safely, efficiently, and effectively.
Apply strategies for ensuring the safety of students and personnel and for addressing
emergencies and security concerns.
Develop and implement procedures for crisis planning and for responding to crises.
Apply local, state, and federal laws and policies to support sound decision making related
to school programs and operations (e.g., student services, food services, health services,
transportation).