Resource Management
Tennessee Standards for Instructional Leadership: Standard D
Tennessee Standards for Instructional Leadership: Standard D
I began working with the leadership team of the Ralph E. Davis Leadership Scholars Academy in the Spring of 2020. The program was a grant funded initiative created as a partnership between LEAD and ETSU. I worked under the direction of Dr. Jean Swindle. As part of my responsibilities, I assisted in developing marketing materials for the program and to facilitate public relations through social media. In July I was selected to be the Social Media Liaison which would extend past my internship and into the Spring of 2021.
Participated in leadership team meetings
Designed logo and visual branding
Created social media accounts, website, and print marketing materials
Created and facilitated online student applications
Selected platform for student interaction through blogging
Selected tablets for purchase and student use
Maintained website and social media accounts
Facilitated the Tech Minute for students
Working with the leadership and students of RED Academy has allowed me to see the how empowering young adults can have a powerful impact on their lives and benefits the community. This is particularly important for students in marginalized communities. Helping students find their voice and equipping them to engage their community creates lifelong advocates that can build momentum towards real change. It also helped me to understand that I must use my own voice and position to advocate for these amazing young people and ensure that their voice is elevated.
I created and maintained the website in order to facilitate public communication.
Over the past three years, I have participated in Congressional engagement at both the state and national level. Each time I utilized my position as an educator to advocate for student centered policies and for allocation of resources for educational programs.
February 2019
In February of 2019 I attended my first day on the hill. The event was planned by SCORE, and I received an invitation as part of my participation in the SCORE Tennessee Educator Fellowship. This was an incredible experience. I did not lead the group, but I feel I was challenged to lead through student advocacy.
February 2020
During the 2020 Day on the Hill, I attended additional training to lead a group of educators to our various appointments and advocate for student centered policies. It was different being a leader in that I had to help keep the conversation flowing by connecting the experiences of the members of our group to the topic at hand.
We met with over 8 legislators both formally and informally. It was a challenge to connect the best member of our group to the topic we were advocating for in the limited time we had.
February 2020
As part of the JROTC CS demonstration project, I had the opportunity to attend two meetings with the offices of Representative Roe and Senator Blackburn. Our group was lead by Lisa Malloy who works for Intel, and I was joined by my colleague Jeremy Epling.
During the meetings, we met with staffers in order to advocate for funding for a partnership between JROTC and computer science teachers. This important initiative creates opportunities for non-traditional CS students to explore potential careers.
Summer 2020
I worked with a team from my cohort to research Washington County School's legal and financial structure. Through interviews and research, I learned how the BEP works and the role the school board places in setting budgets. My biggest takeaway from this process is that what you budget for indicates your priorities. Mission and vision are either limited or supported through the budget.
Spring 2020
One of the problems with having a large staff is ensuring that everyone is on the same page. Dr. Shadden has 18 teachers and 11 programs of study on Dobyns-Bennett's main campus and 2 teachers and 2 programs on DB-Excel's campus. He tasked me with building a one-stop staff resource website. The website includes data, quick links to documents and forms, our SSQI portfolio checklists, and much more.
The website is something that will continue to grow. I chose to use Google Sites to build it, so that Dr. Shadden could add and maintain it easily. Additionally, he can add collaborators to the site to help with maintenance.
The reception by the staff has been positive. They appreciated having one place to go to get information. Additionally, many have emailed ideas of things to add to help improve the site. I imagine that this will be something that will become beneficial as new people are hired, and it will help create consistency in the forms and documents used.
Spring 2020
The Perkins V reauthorization made significant changes to the reporting and compliance required for teachers. The Size, Scope, and Quality Indicators (SSQI) took the place of the Quality Program Indicators (QPI).
Dobyns-Bennett has been identified as at risk in previous audits, so Dr. Shadden tasked with me with developing a system that would make it easy for teachers to develop their SSQI portfolios.
In addition to the compliance requirements set by the State Department, Dr. Shadden and I discussed the current goals for the department and tried to design the SSQI Checklist to incorporate those goals.
In addition to acting as a checklist for teachers, Dr. Shadden can monitor progress. The checklist uses a Google Sheet and Google Forms to allow teachers to submit artifacts and Dr. Shadden mark items as complete.
Our initial rollout has been slowed by the pandemic as Dr. Shadden felt that teachers had enough on their plate this Fall. The SSQI checklist is available and being used by the majority of teachers.
Fall 2020
Being the principal of a school that doesn't exist yet is an exciting and daunting task. Dr. Davis is preparing for the opening of West Ridge High School in the Fall of 2021. Every teacher at the three schools that will consolidate into West Ridge has been assured a job. He spent most of the day working with placing personnel and strategizing how to build a new culture.