NOTE: To change the image on this slide, select the picture and delete it. Then click the Pictures icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. TEXAS PRINCIPAL COMPETENCY REFLECTION BY HECTOR LUEVANOS DR. LANDRY

Domain I: School Community Leadership Key words: Culture, Climate, and Vision Competency 001: Shaping Campus Culture  Author Elaine L. Wilmore proclaims that 001 is the most important competency of them all. And I have to agree. The assignments throughout Intern one and two has helped me gain a better understanding of the complex roles of today’s principals. This semester I have gained a great understanding in Competencies 001. Competency 001 states the principal knows how to shape campus culture by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community.  In my career I have seen several types of leaders. Most principals boast of having a school vision but none have lived by their visions like my current principal. It is obvious that our vision is one created with the input of the entire community. School officials and every stakeholder collaborated in order to establish a vision that can be accomplished by our scholars.  Lastly, as a future educational leader, I want to replicate our current administration. Therefore, I have to ensure that all members of the school community feel like they are an integral part of the team, and are actively participating and collaborating to reach the school’s vision of learning.

Competency 002: Communication and Collaboration  I believe communication and collaboration are the main ingredients to running a successful campus. Unfortunately, I have witness one too many times where our school and or administration has failed to effectively and consistently communicate with all stakeholders. This internship has open my eyes to several ways of communicating with community members. For example, I have increased my communication with parents and business leaders around the area. I have created a newsletter, actively use Remind 101, Twitter and so forth. We have scheduled several meet and greets throughout the neighborhoods. Recently we held a fall festival where local health agencies shared important information, Mi Teinda served food, and teachers hosted several games.

Competency 003: Integrity, Fairness, and Ethics  As department chairman, grade level chairman, and future school leader I appreciate the significance of holding myself to the highest degree of conduct when it comes to decision- making, professional actions, and personal behaviors. That is why I have to carry myself in a professional manner at all times. It is vital that I lead by example.  These last two semester I have also had the privilege of learning about legal guidelines concerning testing and the importance of ensuring a safe testing environment. As an aspiring school leader it is important to have a firm understanding of safe testing procedures and to convey to teachers that they must proceed in an ethical and legal manner when testing at all times. My principal emphasizes that there is never a good reason to cheat or compromise the integrity of yourself or the school.  With that being said, I have maintained a keen eye on all situations involving student issues and discipline from multiple perspectives. I constantly remind myself that as a school leader I must serve as an advocate for every scholar, and that those that pose the greatest obstacles, are often the ones in dire need of support. As future principal, it will be a staple that all we do is for the good of the children – our future, and if we are not willing to do whatever it takes then perhaps we are in the wrong profession.

Domain II: Instructional Leadership Key words: Curriculum, Instruction, and Staff Development Competency 004: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment  As the department chair I have learned the hard way that collaboration is the only way to produce meaningful curriculum, instruction and assessment. This is year I have approached lesson planning with two different perspectives. One from a teacher’s point view and the other as an administrator. There have been times when reviewing the curriculum I have just facilitated the process. Other times I have taken total control. As the leader I emphasize the need to constantly analyze data to guide our decision- making.  Recently we have been tracking our scholars’ data from the district level snapshots. This has helped my department to prepare our scholars for the upcoming social studies STAAR. We have analyzed the data and ready to implement strategies and techniques, to include technology to accomplish our goals.

Competency 005: Sustaining Instructional Programs Conducive to Student Learning and Staff Professional Growth  During my internship I was able to conduct my annual STAAR Boot camp and Washington DC field trip. These programs allowed me to create a conducing environment. STAAR boot camp requires the creation of mastery quizzes to assess scholars’ understanding of different eras of history and thus it is necessary to utilize formative and summative data to ensure the appropriate resources are being utilized.

Competency 006: Staff Evaluation and Development  In this competency I lacked a great deal of experience. Although I have had some experience in mentoring and observing teachers, I do not have official experience regarding staff evaluation. This is one area that is challenging to experience unless you are actually part of the admin team.

Competency 007: Decision-Making and Problem-Solving Skills  During my internship, one of the most important things I have learned is the need to involve (all stakeholders) as many people, data, and resources as possible in the decision-making process. I also learned that as leaders we must facilitate discussion not dictate it.  My mentor, the school principal and our data specialist have done a great job of teaching me how to implement procedures for gathering, analyzing, and using date from a variety of sources in order to make informed campus decisions.

Domain III: Administrative Leadership Key words: Resources, Facilities, and Safety Competency 008: Budgeting and Resource Allocation  I have learned that as a the school leader it is vital to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure effective, creative budget planning and management.  Out of all the competencies I know this is my weakest. These last two years I have sought information about budgeting. Unfortunately, all of the campuses I have work at employed a business managers.

Competency 009: School Safety  In my career I have been team leader, part of the SDMC, Steering Committee, Grade Level Chair, Department Chair, football/basketball coach, late school administrator, mentor (for both teacher and scholar) and head of the security team, I have yet experience manager of the campus physical plant.  However, I do believe being part of several of those committees or titles I mentioned have prepared me school safety. I think the lack of exposure to lock-down procedures is an area that I can improve on.  Looking into the future, I foresee exposure in this regard to be extensive when moving into the role of magnet coordinator, assistant principal or principal