VALUES AND ETHICS
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of education in a democratic society;
2. Demonstrate an understanding of and model democratic value systems, ethics, and moral leadership;
I was faced with the responsibility of bringing to light a delicate but necessary issue at our High School during the 2015-2016 academic year: we were failing - in all kinds of ways - our students of color and/or our students in poverty. There was no way for a racially and socially conscious educational leader to do this but to name it, deal with it and have teachers and staff realize it. We have made small steps, but they are steps.
Culturally Responsive Teaching Professional Development - Culturally Responsive
3. Demonstrate the ability to balance complex community demands in the best interest of learners;
The St. James School District taxpayers defeated six bond referendums for building and/or renovation in the past twenty years. It was imperative that administration and the Board of Education listen to the community to pass a referendum in November 2015 asking taxpayers for $23,900,000 over a 30-year bond for improvements to our school systems and buildings. We received a 2:1 resounding YES! But it took patience, lots of listening and compromise to get to that outcome. What follows are various documents and sites to prove that the school was sensitive to the community's needs and opinions at the same time asking for their trust.
November 2015 Referendum - Referendum
4. Help learners grow and develop as caring, informed citizens;
Through a system of identifying students who were not connected to adults in our school, the Social Worker and the Social Worker intern set-up meetings for students and me over lunch. We met on various days to discuss why school wasn't working for them and what as an administrator and as a school we could do to make learning a positive experience for them. What follows is notes from one of those meetings. As a racially and socially conscious educational leader, I insisted there be representation from Hispanic and White, female and male, and LGBT at these meetings.
Lunch meeting notes from students - Lunch meetings
5. Demonstrate an understanding and application of the Minnesota Board of School Administrators Code of Ethics for Administrators.
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of education in a democratic society;
2. Demonstrate an understanding of and model democratic value systems, ethics, and moral leadership;
I was faced with the responsibility of bringing to light a delicate but necessary issue at our High School during the 2015-2016 academic year: we were failing - in all kinds of ways - our students of color and/or our students in poverty. There was no way for a racially and socially conscious educational leader to do this but to name it, deal with it and have teachers and staff realize it. We have made small steps, but they are steps.
Culturally Responsive Teaching Professional Development - Culturally Responsive
3. Demonstrate the ability to balance complex community demands in the best interest of learners;
The St. James School District taxpayers defeated six bond referendums for building and/or renovation in the past twenty years. It was imperative that administration and the Board of Education listen to the community to pass a referendum in November 2015 asking taxpayers for $23,900,000 over a 30-year bond for improvements to our school systems and buildings. We received a 2:1 resounding YES! But it took patience, lots of listening and compromise to get to that outcome. What follows are various documents and sites to prove that the school was sensitive to the community's needs and opinions at the same time asking for their trust.
November 2015 Referendum - Referendum
4. Help learners grow and develop as caring, informed citizens;
Through a system of identifying students who were not connected to adults in our school, the Social Worker and the Social Worker intern set-up meetings for students and me over lunch. We met on various days to discuss why school wasn't working for them and what as an administrator and as a school we could do to make learning a positive experience for them. What follows is notes from one of those meetings. As a racially and socially conscious educational leader, I insisted there be representation from Hispanic and White, female and male, and LGBT at these meetings.
Lunch meeting notes from students - Lunch meetings
5. Demonstrate an understanding and application of the Minnesota Board of School Administrators Code of Ethics for Administrators.
