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Personal Leadership Blog, Part Three

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Currently, I’m taking EDL/500 through the University of Phoenix. This is the third blog entry that serves as a type of reflection journal for class.

The power dynamic at Thurmont Middle School is split within two distinctive categories.

First, the group that is perhaps closest to the ground level of student growth, are the teachers. At TMS, teachers are divided into grade level teams for years six, seven, and eight. Within those teams are grade level counterparts who work each week in organized Professional Learning Community meetings. In these meetings, the grade level core subject teachers review student assessments and make data-driven decisions about instruction. In some cases, tutoring is needed for students. In others, re-teaching in the classroom may be an option as well. It is through these PLC meetings where progress is charted weekly. Also, curricular planning is mentioned in order to “stay on track” with one another. Text discussion and extension activities are also planned.

Personal Leadership Blog, Part Two

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Currently, I’m taking EDL/500 through the University of Phoenix. This is the second blog entry that serves as a type of reflection journal for class.

Strength-based leadership is a forward-thinking approach to problem-solving as well as master teaching in the school environment. In my experience, this kind of leadership implementation takes on a type of specialization that should be more prevalent in the professional education setting. School and site-based leadership are not that unlike working on a project. Roles for a project are given and the task is carried out. In many ways, per the successful completion of each task and component, each member becomes a type of expert relative to each project component.