Standard+2

==**Standard #2:** An educational leader promotes the success of all students by advocating, nurturing and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional development. (Culture of Learning)==



The administrator: a. Provides leadership for assessing, developing and improving climate and culture. b. Systematically and fairly recognizes and celebrates accomplishments of staff and students. c. Provides leadership, encouragement, opportunities and structure for staff to continually design more effective teaching and learning experiences for all students. d. Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of curriculum, instruction and assessment. e. Evaluates staff and provides ongoing coaching for improvement. f. Ensures staff members have professional development that directly enhances their performance and improves student learning. g. Uses current research and theory about effective schools and leadership to develop and revise his/her professional growth plan. h. Promotes collaboration with all stakeholders. i. Is easily accessible and approachable to all stakeholders. j. Is highly visible and engaged in the school community. k. Articulates the desired school culture and shows evidence about how it is reinforced.

Supporting Documents and Projects Some Special Valentines
 * 1) From my students**
 * My goal is for students to see the principal as the teacher leader, and not the punisher. My philosophy regarding behavior centers around understanding relationships, situational awareness, and knowing the difference between skills deficits and simple insubordination. This is a critical component of effective principal leadership.


 * 2) Adult School Culture**
 * I give staff 2 "I Blew It" cards each fall. My goal is to embrace risk-taking in trying new instructional practices, including the use of technology. "I Blew It" cards supports the development of the 5 Characteristics of Effective Instruction, as detailed in the Iowa Core.


 * 3) Assemblies**
 * Assemblies this year (2011-2012) have changed slightly from the agendas listed above. We have monthly celebration assemblies, and feature one of Steven Covey's 7 Habits at each assembly. In essence, each classroom has a "Student of the Month" who demonstrates the identified habit. The picture below is of students who demonstrate "Begin With the End in Mind."


 * 4) Title I Math**
 * I developed this Title I program using the instructional strategies that I taught while serving as a Mathematics Specialist at Great Prairie AEA, with the framework for delivering instruction that I learned during Second Chance Reading training.


 * 5) Second Chance Reading**
 * I was the original administrator on the Second Chance Reading team at the middle school, and supported teachers in developing and implementing the program. The final item in the group above was sent from the High School principal to me after I transitioned to the Elementary Principal position. Several of the SCR high school students visited one of my elementary schools are read to our students.


 * 6) Teacher Evaluation and Growth**
 * I worked with a beginning educator to develop Iowa Teaching Standards 1 and 6. We meet every other week, and have used "A Framework for Understanding Poverty" by Ruby Payne and "Fair Isn't Always Equal" by Rick Wormeli as two resources for our conversations. The teacher visited other classrooms, and the document above is her response to the questions that I posed for her reflection. We continue to meet this winter, beyond our original planned dates, at the teacher's request. She stated that she was very excited about the changes in her classroom, and wanted to continue meeting to share her new learning with me.
 * The Fairfield CSD used a standardized walk-through for Pk-12 classrooms. The template was adapted from the Middle School walk-through which was created during the 2008-2009 school year. The newer form uses the 5 Characteristics of Effective Instruction, and provides feedback/data for both teacher and student behavior.


 * The above items demonstrate that I provide feedback and reflective questions for teachers so that professional development plans and the evaluation process serves as a growth tool and not a "hoop to jump through."


 * 7) Every Student Counts - Professional Development Leadership (2006-2007)**


 * 8) Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (2007)**