A competency is a combination of knowledge (factual and experiential) and skills that one needs to effectively implement the practices.
The principal may or may not personally possess all of these competencies but must ensure that a team is in place that not only possesses them, but can effectively and efficiently execute them.
These 21 competencies are listed in the NC Standards for School Executives to emphasize their importance and to make sure they are incorporated into the development of school leaders.
The principal may or may not personally possess all of these competencies but must ensure that a team is in place that not only possesses them, but can effectively and efficiently execute them.
These 21 competencies are listed in the NC Standards for School Executives to emphasize their importance and to make sure they are incorporated into the development of school leaders.
The artifacts/reflections provided below will demonstrate proficiency towards the North Carolina School Executive Competencies.
Artifacts/reflections represent residencies at two schools in Wilson County: Elm City Elementary and Wells Elementary.
Artifacts/reflections represent residencies at two schools in Wilson County: Elm City Elementary and Wells Elementary.
Communication – Effectively listens to others; clearly and effectively presents and understands information orally and in writing; acquires, organizes, analyzes, interprets, and maintains information needed to achieve school or team 21st century objectives. Artifact - The district received a grant for swimming lessons for all second graders in Wilson County. Besides providing times to be at the location, there was not a procedure to follow. After using the acquired information and organizing all details for the three weeks of swimming lessons at Wells Elementary, I created a document with information in regards to how the SEAL Swimsafe lessons would go for our second graders. I also created a letter to send home to the parents with reminders about the lessons; this was in addition to verbal reminders through Blackboard Connect. |
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Change Management – Effectively engages staff and community in the change process in a manner that ensures their support of the change and its successful implementation.
Artifact - At the beginning of February, new PBIS incentives were put in place at Wells Elementary to encourage positive student behavior. Below is an email sent to remind staff about the changes we had made with our positive incentives. This was the third e-mail sent to review the changes and expectations. This third reminder was needed in order to ensure successful implementation of the new incentives.
Artifact - At the beginning of February, new PBIS incentives were put in place at Wells Elementary to encourage positive student behavior. Below is an email sent to remind staff about the changes we had made with our positive incentives. This was the third e-mail sent to review the changes and expectations. This third reminder was needed in order to ensure successful implementation of the new incentives.
Conflict Management – Anticipates or seeks to resolve confrontations, disagreements, or complaints in a constructive manner.
Reflection - At Wells Elementary, a struggle that we had was to have our custodians on board with our expectations for the cleanliness of the building. As an administrative team, we sat down several times to discuss the expectations with one custodian in particular. After a lack of improvement, we then had the director of the custodians come and lead the discussion with the custodian. After seeking to resolve the unwillingness to share a common vision, we had to start documentation on the mentioned custodian.
Reflection - At Wells Elementary, a struggle that we had was to have our custodians on board with our expectations for the cleanliness of the building. As an administrative team, we sat down several times to discuss the expectations with one custodian in particular. After a lack of improvement, we then had the director of the custodians come and lead the discussion with the custodian. After seeking to resolve the unwillingness to share a common vision, we had to start documentation on the mentioned custodian.
Creative Thinking – Engages in and fosters an environment for others to engage in innovative thinking.
Reflection - The new PLC template that the county requires teachers to use has provided a sense of frustration amongst the teachers. As administration we have continued to emphasize that the PLC template should be used to plan collaboratively and to provide opportunities for the grade level team to come up with assignments that are innovative and challenge students. At Wells Elementary, we have specifically asked the teachers to focus on the essential question component and to break down the key words of the essential question with students. Some teachers have taken this innovative thinking back to the classroom are able to identify with more ease where there are disconnects with students, as well as where students possess understanding.
Reflection - The new PLC template that the county requires teachers to use has provided a sense of frustration amongst the teachers. As administration we have continued to emphasize that the PLC template should be used to plan collaboratively and to provide opportunities for the grade level team to come up with assignments that are innovative and challenge students. At Wells Elementary, we have specifically asked the teachers to focus on the essential question component and to break down the key words of the essential question with students. Some teachers have taken this innovative thinking back to the classroom are able to identify with more ease where there are disconnects with students, as well as where students possess understanding.
Customer Focus – Understands the students as customers of the work of schooling and the servant nature of leadership and acts accordingly. Artifact - As schools, I believe our primary customers are students. This means that we must find ways to celebrate our students and ensure their success. One initiative that I put in place at Wells Elementary was the Positive Office Referral. Positive Office Referrals are used to reward students that are showing exemplary character traits, as well as those students that are showing improvements in specific areas. Students have really responded well to these and have been excited to receive them. |
Delegation – Effectively assigns work tasks to others in ways that provide learning experiences for them and in ways that ensure the efficient operation of the school.
Artifact - Dismissal at Wells Elementary is a tedious process as we have so many transportation methods in the afternoon and we lost several staff members throughout the year. After the resignation of a staff member, I had to ensure we had enough staff in place to continue dismissal as planned. In order to do this, I had to move a staff member to another area, delegate the new responsibility to the staff member, and then ensure efficiency with dismissal by communicating the move to the staff through the provided email.
Artifact - Dismissal at Wells Elementary is a tedious process as we have so many transportation methods in the afternoon and we lost several staff members throughout the year. After the resignation of a staff member, I had to ensure we had enough staff in place to continue dismissal as planned. In order to do this, I had to move a staff member to another area, delegate the new responsibility to the staff member, and then ensure efficiency with dismissal by communicating the move to the staff through the provided email.
Dialogue/Inquiry – Is skilled in creating a risk free environment for engaging people in conversations that explore issues, challenges or bad relationships that are hindering school performance. Artifact - After starting my new residency at Wells Elementary in November, I faced the challenge of building new relationships with the staff, but also having the expectation to evaluate the staff right from the start. I found that the post-observation questionnaire that I utilized helped create a respectful atmosphere in our post-conferences. The questionnaire helped addressed areas of strength, allows teachers to address areas for improvement, and allowed teachers an opportunity to address any components of the lesson I may have missed. This made dialogue about my suggestions easier because we had already established that the post-conference was a mutual, respectful conversation versus an opportunity to tell them everything that needed improvement. |
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Emotional Intelligence – Is able to manage oneself through self awareness and self management and is able to manage relationships through empathy, social awareness and relationship management. This competency is critical to building strong, transparent, trusting relationships throughout the school community.
Artifact - This is an area that I have diligently worked on this year. I have had to remind myself consistently what it felt like to be a teacher and what a difference it made when talked to calmly and respectfully by administration. I have learned that staff members will not always do what is right, but it is all in how you approach the individual that will get you desired results.
The provided email was between myself and a staff member at Wells Elementary that was struggling with a student's behavior and chose the inappropriate way to handle. In the email, I assured the teacher that everything was fine, but then addressed the teacher in person. Due to how I handled the email, I believe the in-person conversation which really well especially because I had to correct her behavior. If I had responded negatively or curtly in the email, this conversation would have never went as positive as it did.
Artifact - This is an area that I have diligently worked on this year. I have had to remind myself consistently what it felt like to be a teacher and what a difference it made when talked to calmly and respectfully by administration. I have learned that staff members will not always do what is right, but it is all in how you approach the individual that will get you desired results.
The provided email was between myself and a staff member at Wells Elementary that was struggling with a student's behavior and chose the inappropriate way to handle. In the email, I assured the teacher that everything was fine, but then addressed the teacher in person. Due to how I handled the email, I believe the in-person conversation which really well especially because I had to correct her behavior. If I had responded negatively or curtly in the email, this conversation would have never went as positive as it did.
Environmental Awareness – Becomes aware and remains informed of external and internal trends, interests and issues with potential impacts on school policies, practices, procedures and positions.
Artifact - While running the building during my principal's absence at Wells Elementary, we had had some external threats to several counties including Wilson on social media. In order to make teachers aware that I was aware of what was circulating social media, the expectations for handling parent concerns, and how procedures for the day would occur, I sent out a staff email first thing that morning. If I had not addressed the concerns from the beginning, there would have been more interruptions and potential for disarray than what actually occurred.
Artifact - While running the building during my principal's absence at Wells Elementary, we had had some external threats to several counties including Wilson on social media. In order to make teachers aware that I was aware of what was circulating social media, the expectations for handling parent concerns, and how procedures for the day would occur, I sent out a staff email first thing that morning. If I had not addressed the concerns from the beginning, there would have been more interruptions and potential for disarray than what actually occurred.
Global Perspective – Understands the competitive nature of the new global economy and is clear about the knowledge and skills students will need to be successful in this economy.
Reflection - At Wells Elementary, we hosted several parent academy nights including a Reading Night, Math Night, and Read-In night. The intent of the parent academy nights was to involve the parents in the student's education, but more specifically to show parents the knowledge and skills that students must possess inside and outside of school. The feedback from parents that attended the nights was positive, but several continue to note that they need assistance with resources in order to make their student globally prepared.
Reflection - At Wells Elementary, we hosted several parent academy nights including a Reading Night, Math Night, and Read-In night. The intent of the parent academy nights was to involve the parents in the student's education, but more specifically to show parents the knowledge and skills that students must possess inside and outside of school. The feedback from parents that attended the nights was positive, but several continue to note that they need assistance with resources in order to make their student globally prepared.
Judgment – Effectively reaching logical conclusions and making high quality decisions based on available information. Giving priority and caution to significant issues. Analyzing and interpreting complex information. Artifact - In order to clearly communicate how discipline would be handled at Wells Elementary, I took a Wilson County referral tool and made it in to a flowchart. This was then sent to staff, put in staff mailboxes, and discussed numerous times at PLCs. We wanted it to be clear that after investigating discipline incidents that these would be processes utilized when making disciplinary decisions. This took a complex issue and showed teachers that in order to be fair to all parties involved that the steps documented would be I assigned discipline. |
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Organizational Ability – Effectively plans and schedules one’s own and the work of others so that resources are used appropriately, such as scheduling the flow of activities and establishing procedures to monitor projects. Artifact - I had to create testing schedule to complete the Universal Screener testing for all classes at Wells Elementary within a certain window of time. This test is online and required utilizing our Chromebooks available and the computer lab. The schedule was sent through email, provided to each teacher individually, and I was available during the administering of the assessment. |
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Personal Ethics and Values – Consistently exhibits high standards in the areas of honesty, integrity, fairness, stewardship, trust, respect, and confidentiality. Artifact - As seen throughout my Weebly, I was the testing coordinator for Wells Elementary. This means that I had to follow the Code of Ethics for testing at all times and ensure that my staff adhered to the proper procedures. The artifact provided is the documentation that I required staff to use when administering the Case 21 benchmarks throughout the year. We used the Case 21 benchmarks as trial runs for the End-of-Grade tests and followed the testing procedures as closely as possible. |
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Personal Responsibility for Performance –Proactively and continuously improves performance by focusing on needed areas of improvement and enhancement of strengths; actively seeks and effectively applies feedback from others; takes full responsibility for one’s own achievements.
Reflection - As addressed by my coach and my principal at a meeting in February at Wells Elementary, I am a perfectionist and I am used to having all the answers. They discussed this with me and we talked about how it was okay that I did not have all the answers and that everything I did was not going to be perfect. I have kept this in mind as I have continued my work, taken some of the pressure off of myself, and have started realizing that is okay to have to complete tasks the next day.
Reflection - As addressed by my coach and my principal at a meeting in February at Wells Elementary, I am a perfectionist and I am used to having all the answers. They discussed this with me and we talked about how it was okay that I did not have all the answers and that everything I did was not going to be perfect. I have kept this in mind as I have continued my work, taken some of the pressure off of myself, and have started realizing that is okay to have to complete tasks the next day.
Responsiveness – Does not leave issues, inquiries or requirements for information go unattended. Creates a clearly delineated structure for responding to requests/situations in an expedient manner.
Artifact - The email provided below was in response to security concerns and outdoor recess from teacher assistants at Wells Elementary. The concern required immediate response due to the timing of recess and was outlined in detail.
Artifact - The email provided below was in response to security concerns and outdoor recess from teacher assistants at Wells Elementary. The concern required immediate response due to the timing of recess and was outlined in detail.
Results Orientation – Effectively assumes responsibility. Recognizes when a decision is required. Takes prompt action as issues emerge. Resolves short-term issues while balancing them against long-term goals.
Artifact - At Wells Elementary, our guidance counselor had been out for three months due to medical conditions. As we started nearing testing, it was evident that we needed help from the district with reevaluating some 504 plans and putting new 504 plans in place. I contacted the district, set-up the day for an outside counselor to visit, and then had to work out all the logistics with the parents and staff members. The artifact provided demonstrates the assistance I had to ask for from teacher assistants in order to get the needed 504 plans in place.
Artifact - At Wells Elementary, our guidance counselor had been out for three months due to medical conditions. As we started nearing testing, it was evident that we needed help from the district with reevaluating some 504 plans and putting new 504 plans in place. I contacted the district, set-up the day for an outside counselor to visit, and then had to work out all the logistics with the parents and staff members. The artifact provided demonstrates the assistance I had to ask for from teacher assistants in order to get the needed 504 plans in place.
Sensitivity – Effectively perceives the needs and concerns of others; deals tactfully with others in emotionally stressful situations or in conflict. Knows what information to communicate and to whom. Relates to people of varying ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. Artifact - This was the communication provided to parents after our monthly fire drill at Wells Elementary. This was a sensitive time due to external issues so we wanted to ensure we communicated with parents to make them aware that it was only a drill. |
Systems Thinking – Understands the interrelationships and impacts of school and district influences, systems and external stakeholders, and applies that understanding to advancing the achievement of the school or team. Artifact - The district has encouraged schools to start using instructional rounds throughout the building. This was a tough conversation at Wells Elementary because teachers saw this as just one more thing they had to check off. I spun the conversation with the Kindergarten team to focus on the benefits of seeing best instructional practices after allowing them to discuss their concerns. The PLC agenda provided shows the conversation we had around the instructional rounds being a tool for observing best practices. |
Technology – Effectively utilizes the latest technologies to continuously improve the management of the school and enhance student instruction. Artifact - I completed a micro-credential focused around using technology to help students create and monitor individual goals. This is an initiative that I would like to see teachers implement building-wide due to the ownership that is created when students track their own goals. |
Time Management – Effectively uses available time to complete work tasks and activities that lead to the achievement of desired work or school results. Runs effective meetings. Artifact - I consistently use Google calendar to monitor my day at Wells Elementary and to stay on task with all the things I need to accomplish for the day. This is in addition to the lists that I create to remind myself of all that I need to complete. This tool helps me effectively manage my time. |
Visionary – Encourages Imagineering by creating an environment and structure to capture stakeholder dreams of what the school could become for all the students.
Reflection - We were in a transition year as both of the administrators were new to the building at Wells Elementary. There have been numerous conversations focused around the lack of student engagement, students' drive to be at school, and really understanding the types of environments our students come from. We have had conversations about how to improve this for the 2018-2019 school year and I would love to see it start with community visits and a summer picnic for families.
Reflection - We were in a transition year as both of the administrators were new to the building at Wells Elementary. There have been numerous conversations focused around the lack of student engagement, students' drive to be at school, and really understanding the types of environments our students come from. We have had conversations about how to improve this for the 2018-2019 school year and I would love to see it start with community visits and a summer picnic for families.