Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration Commons^™

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Tami L. Mclean

Graduate Research Papers

I believe that the role of the principal is vital in creating the workplace and learning community necessary to prepare students for the future. The principal serves many roles including communicator and leader. I know that I possess the skills necessary to fulfill these roles and effectively move a district forward. My vision for the future is not to use a top-down approach in leading a school, but a broad-based participation approach. The school in which I work will strive to enhance leadership in all teachers, form a community of lifelong learners, and grow and reflect individually as professionals. I …

The Album-Like Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Kimberly R. Miers

Graduate Research Papers

Have you ever put together a photo album? One photograph tells a piece of the story, the photo album tells the whole story. The principal's role is much like that of a photo album creator. Principals need to focus on all aspects of the school. In effect they take snapshots of the school, collect them, and analyze them to ensure the realization of their school's vision.

A Clear V.O.I.C.E. : A Reflective Essay, Kimberly S. Nelson

Graduate Research Papers

A leader can be defined in numerous ways and have endless synonyms: head honcho, boss, chief, master, etc. "Critically, the leader has come to replace the hero, and leadership, heroism." (The Drucker Foundation [DF], 1996, p. 72) Similarly, a leader can affect people through a variety of methods and achieve immeasurable results. The evolution of a leader is an endless cycle, fulfilling the needs.of the situation or the fitting to developing relationships.

The ability to reflect is a daily, sometimes hourly task in order for growth to take place. Three major themes emanate including, (1) personal values, beliefs and philosophies, …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Jeffrey N. Novotny

Graduate Research Papers

Principals are leaders who must use their personal characteristics, morals, ethics and knowledge to successfully lead their staff and community. When a principal develops and understands his personal qualities and applies them. his school will have the leadership component necessary for success. This paper is my attempt to learn about myself through reflection and education. It is a compilation of my beliefs on leadership, schooling, education, others and myself--all of which will guide me when I become a school administrator.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Christopher R. Lopez

Graduate Research Papers

Educational leadership was the goal that I set for myself when I began the Educational Leadership Program. That will continue to be part of my future goals as long as I am in the world of education. Along the way in this program I have had to answer the questions of my peers as well as the questions I had for myself. It is only after all the questions have been answered with confidence and knowledge that the goal will be met.

I look forward to the challenge and I am excited about the prospects ahead. There is so much …

A Preferred Vision For Administering High Schools : A Reflective Essay, Gregg Eschweiler

Graduate Research Papers

Without an educated population, this nation would not be as strong as it is, nor will it be as strong as it could be. We still have a strong educational focus in the state of Iowa which lends us to believe that we can stand alone. That might not be the case in the future. Our state, communities, school districts, parents, teachers and students must keep striving to be the best and not rest on its laurels. We can not afford to let a generation of our youth slip, while we entertain a policy of isolation. I believe that the …

My Vision For Becoming A Secondary Level Educational Administrator : A Reflective Essay, Camelle C. Kinney

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to discuss my beliefs about being a secondary administrator. The focus of this paper is to gain a personal understanding of what a secondary administrator is and does, based on various readings, discussions, practicum experiences as well as journaling activities.

Reflections On The Roles And Values Of Educational Leaders : A Reflective Essay, Scott Schipper

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on my personal, philosophical perspective on education, the purpose of school, and my values and beliefs relative to educational leadership. I think it is valuable for educational leaders to reflect upon their philosophies of education. It serves as a reminder to them of why they are in education and how they go about obtaining their own personal goals. These beliefs that I will be sharing have been formulated over my years of teaching and from my experiences throughout this leadership program.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Scott B. Bailey

Graduate Research Papers

The educational process has been an important part of this country since our founding fathers first stepped off the ships and started a new life. The
pioneers continued to move westward and educate their youth. Reform-minded individuals set out to improve our educational process. These educated individuals soon developed wondrous items of technology. Individuals educated by dedicated leaders in the field of education made those technological advancements possible. These leaders developed qualities, which were continually improved into the leadership ideas presented in this reflective paper. We need to expect the best of our students as they attend our institutions. An …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary And Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, James D. Moeller

Graduate Research Papers

There was a time the school principal's job was clear and relatively simple - not easy, but simple. Everyone understood the role of the principal. That is no longer the case.

In today's society, the public education system in America is one that is fraught with dissension, politics and numerous other variables. Leaders and managers in the public sector are under far greater scrutiny than those in the public sector and the school principal is one position that is frequently caught in a maelstrom.

This essay will explore the literature to identify the numerous characteristics, knowledge and skills that are …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Brian L. Ortman

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of education is to prepare students for a life filled with decisions. Therefore, it is the duty of schools to provide students with opportunities to develop the skills needed to make these decisions. Obviously, students attend school to receive an education, but educators cannot stop there, they must also help students to grow socially.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Tonya Englund-Wilkins

Graduate Research Papers

As a principal; the ship should sail toward the direction of becoming a learning community. The community needs to sense the impact schools play on their lives and their future. They also need to find their role when helping to man the ship. After all, the only path to greater academic achievement is the one open to all in which students and teachers travel daily together. If the map is clearly defined and the course is set, collaborative schools can weather any storm.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Barry Jones

Graduate Research Papers

A principal must be an effective communicator and a motivator of students and faculty. A school principal must be a creative and innovative thinker that embraces the challenges of complex school decisions. The principal serves multiple roles as an educator, manager, and leader of the learning community who builds a vision that all stakeholders work together in making possible.

Perhaps the most important characteristic of a principal is being flexible. An effective principal is never completely satisfied and always strives for making things better. Continually monitoring and assessing best instructional practices, school testing data, and educational research, helps a principal …

Administrator Leadership Of Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, David W. Griffin

Graduate Research Papers

The multiple tasks of principals are a dynamic undertaking of responsibilities and expectations. It is crucial we increase the value of today's society and acquire resources needed to nourish our youth and provide them with the tools needed to become successful in the future. The principal plays a key role in identifying what is needed in order to make his or her building most effective.

In a day when so much energy seems to be spent on maintenance and manuals, to be a leader means having the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around you. …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Rex C. Kozak

Graduate Research Papers

Teachers and principals need to work cooperatively to evaluate programs and make suggestions for the betterment of the students. The principal needs to involve the faculty, parents, community, and businesses to help develop a long-lasting relationship between the school and the outside world. Above all, it is the absolutely necessary for administrators to cultivate trust, confidence, integrity, and moral responsibility within the school. If I can create opportunities for educators to feel good about themselves, they will pass this feeling on to students and then into the community. By embracing these components of effective leadership, effective schools will result.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Shelly A. Petersen

Graduate Research Papers

The principal of the 21st century must be able to balance many activities to meet the needs of all constituents. In creating an environment that meets the needs of all, the principal must focus in on six essential concepts: 1) creating a team approach, 2) building a shared vision through communication, 3) facilitating change, 4) managing time, 5) creating climate, and 6) improving instruction. I am convinced that if a principal focuses attention on these six concepts he/she can create a vision within the school that centers its attention on student achievement. When an administrator does so a vision to …

Defining A Leader : Administration At The Secondary Level : A Reflective Essay, Amy Ann Hamilton Kangas

Graduate Research Papers

To teach students and know that you are affecting their future and possibly the future of the world is a daunting fact. To choose to be an administrator further commits oneself to the lifelong challenge of learning, teaching and facilitating an educational opportunity that will benefit students. To be a school administrator is to make a courageous decision. To be effective as a school administrator requires a strong leader who is able to build consensus among teachers; seek input from the community; and promote the trends that may reach students who are in danger of slipping through the cracks.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Laura K. Lawrence

Graduate Research Papers

Principals need to look into the future and make changes that are needed to fit the needs and development of tomorrow's student. It is also important that principals remember to build a school community that continues to grow and not stay stagnant. The vision of a school is a continuous process that is built on dreams of the principal, staff, students, and people in the learning community. This process cannot stop. "Most important is that the leader continue not only to believe in the dream and the need to pursue it, but also to do the hard brain work of …

Race, Ethnicity, Class, And School Dropouts: A Policy Perspective, Richard C. Verdugo

Trotter Review

The author presents a review of literature on conditions and circumstances that cause youth to drop out before finishing high school. The essay explains the key features of both cultural and structural theories of low academic performance, and the author argues these theories might profitably be fused in order to formulate effective dropout prevention/intervention policies. The author recommends use of the public health model for prevention and intervention and synthesizes the findings of three recent reports on effective dropout programs.

Planning And Managing School Facilities, Theodore J. Kowalski

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

Nearly half of the nation's school buildings need to be renovated or replaced. This book provides a knowledge base for administrators to plan and manage construction projects, and addresses specific planning tasks including public opinion polling, enrollment projections, financial planning, selecting architects and other professionals, and managing facilities once they are operational.

Theodore Kowalski addresses the administrative procedures associated with planning and managing school facilities. As noted at the outset, practitioner interest in school facilities has been growing rapidly in recent years because decades of neglect, poor planning, and cost cutting have created a situation in which large numbers of …

Alternative School Administrators "At Risk": What Does It Mean For Children?, Christopher Dunbar Jr.

Trotter Review

Alternative public schools have evolved from their origins in school choice and the progressive education movement of the 1920's into a system of schools that have become the assigned "dumping ground" for a population of ill-prepared, behaviorally disruptive youth, a population that is also disproportionately composed of minority students. Research suggests these schools fall short of providing an optimal educational opportunity for their students. There are multiple factors that place alternative school administrators "at risk" of failing in their charge to educate. Using a case study from a Midwestern alternative school, the author focuses on policy and the role of …

The Impact Of 4 X 4 Block Scheduling At An Urban High School, Paul Edward Montgomery

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to examine whether attendance, academic achievement, school climate, student stress, and teacher burnout improved in an inner city, predominantly African American high school after the implementation of a 4 x 4 block schedule. Data concerning student academic achievement and absenteeism in 14 classrooms were gathered from the school's Annual Scholastic Reports. Data concerning the instructional practices of eight teachers were gathered through the teacher version of the Instructional Practices Survey and compared to a student version of the Instructional Practices Survey to determine whether student perception of instructional practices coincided with the teachers' …

A Reflective Essay About Philosophy Of Education, James Dostal

Graduate Research Papers

People are the essence of education. In the education and athletic professions people were and are the source of my ideas about leadership qualities. Educational leadership is significant to the organization of schools as well as school districts. This writing will reflect on qualities of leaders and my philosophy of leadership.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Tony R. Hiatt

Graduate Research Papers

Each day, various sources of input develop innovative ideas that could have a positive impact on education, and it is vital that all professional members of education listen to the ideas that are produced and reflect on them. Educators make these contributions by keeping an open mind and maximizing opportunities for children to grow socially and academically through positive experiences during their lives.

In education, we are preparing young people to practice life skills effectively in order to make a community a safe, pleasant place for everybody to live. As an administrator, I hope to serve as an educational leader …

A Study Of The Impact Of The New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards On The Instructional Practices Of Teachers In Grades 1-4, David H. Dilks

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Sustainable Results In Urban Middle Schools: How Principals Use Systems Thinking To Lead Effective Change, Peggy H. Burke

Educational Studies Dissertations

This study presents the stories of four urban middle school principals engaged in reform that is grounded on the core principle that every early adolescent has the capacity for high-level intellectual development. Data collected over two years through formal interviews and informal conversations with principals and teachers, school and district surveys and reports, student test data, and personal observations were analyzed from a systems thinking theoretical framework to assess each principal's ability to implement reform that produced sustainable results. A systems thinking framework articulates the importance of a leader's ability to: 1) conceptualize the whole and recognize patterns; 2) aspire …

What Parents And Teachers Want To Know About Schools And How Schools Can Advertise This Information Using Technology, Denise H. Krefting

Graduate Research Papers

Finding good teachers is becoming very competitive in our nation as a large number of teachers will be retiring and fewer people are entering the profession. Parents are now shopping for the school that they want their children to attend and then finding the home in that district. The possibility of school vouchers is encouraging this. Schools need to be able to advertise information to potential employees and parents of their school district.

The Waukee School district in Waukee, Iowa works to create an informational CD made available to parents and employees is used as an example of what information …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Audrey Wallican-Green

Graduate Research Papers

All eyes are watching school leaders every day. According to Betty Hollas (2001) in Keeping Your StaffMotivated, administrators are the "CEO's (Chief Example for Others)" (p. 7). Staff, students, parents and the school community are examining and interpreting everything principals do and don't do, say, wear, and our overall behavior. Since administrators are under watchful eyes, we have to be positive, energetic, fair, and confident. My life experiences, including the education I received in the principalship program at the University of Northern Iowa and my goals as a future administrator based on the Iowa Standards for School Leaders have influenced …

A Preferred Vision For Administering High Schools, Corey Tafoya

Graduate Research Papers

Few people believe I grew up in Wyoming. It must seem far away, foreign and different from the Midwestern way of life. The rugged individualism that pervades Wyoming's culture is evident in the character of most Wyoming natives. We are raised to be independent and confident. Wyoming is a place where actions are valued above talking. People show their beliefs through their actions. When a neighbor needs help, help until the work is done, there is no need to form a "neighborhood association." Common social catch phrases and trendy social activities have a very short shelf life in Wyoming. What …

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Lynne E. Wallace

Graduate Research Papers

Historically, schools have been viewed as an integral part of the problem and solution for our nation's social, political, and economic problems. Americans generally believe that the public schools should address the ever-changing needs of our society. I agree with this belief, even though school systems sometimes are ill-equipped to handle this responsibility. Schools have the best opportunity to reach students to make the needed changes. Schools have the opportunity to pass on to students prevailing ideas and values to help them adjust to present society and be able to transform future society. The ideal school in the 21st Century …