Passed the Superintendent Exam!

On October 19, I sat down at a computer at a testing center to take the dreaded exam. Professors told us it is the hardest exam for educators with the highest failure rate, but I was confident going in. That belief held fast for the next couple of hours. Many of the questions were obscure. Many had shades of correctness so slim that it was hard to deciper. Yikes!

I skipped about 10 questions I wanted to review at the end and I'm glad that I did. After 4 hours, my eyes were swimming and my brain was mush, so getting up for about 10 minutes to stretch and clear my head was the smart thing to do. When I went back in, all those questions had a definitive answer. I knew I had completed the exam to the best of my ability and stayed true to my vision of what a district leader should do.

I couldn't sleep the next Tuesday night and checked the ETS website around 3 am. Low and behold I passed! I wasn't too worried, but you never know in a situation like that, so I wasn't counting any chickens.

Now one more hurdle to jump and it will be time to apply for the certification and see what opportunities await. Onward!

Reflections on SISE

This last class has been a roller coaster.

First of all, culminating the whole superintendent program experience has been exhilerating, scary, full of anxiety and relief.

Second of all, my father's unexpected death a few days before the last class began threw my emotional life into termoil. With all the pressures, it was difficult to concentrate. I wanted to give up, but my dad would never had wanted me to do that.

I had difficulty communicating with my site supervisor, but I persevered and completed my activities with the help of friends, colleagues, professors and other district personnel who gave their time to my projects ungrudgingly. Since I am intrinstically motivated and determined to complete this course of study, I did not have a problem moving forward in my own education on the issues. I did not see that the person I chose to be my site supervisor was not really interested in being of assistance. To say I was shocked when that person would not sign off on all the work I had done, is an understatement.

I felt panicked and ready to give up. I am so grateful to my professors, Dr. Creel and Dr. Eason specifically, for believing in me and making me realize that they really care about the students in this cohort. I am determined to make all the hard work I have out into this program pay off. I know the activities I have completed will serve me well. The biggest lesson learned is many people in this professional community are willing to help and support colleagues, all we have to do is reach out.

Revised Internship Plan

Jody Kotys - INTERNSHIP PLAN DRAFT

Red notes indicate changes made from cohort/peer suggestions. Green notes indicate suggestions from Dr. Creel. Purple indicates changes.

Activity # ____ You may  give the number corresponding to the 38 activities from the text to identify one of the activities.	TExES comp.#___ You must have activities that represent each of the 10 Superintendent competencies.	Summary of Activity - Describe the activity you plan on implementing or participating in during your internship – you may use any of the internship activities identified in the School Leader Internship, 2nd edition, pp. 19 – 68.	Resource Person	Projected Date to be Completed
1a Vision/Mission	2 Domain I: Competency 2- Development, Articulation, Implementation and Stewardship of the District Vision and Culture	Analyze a school’s vision/mission statement as it relates to the school’s master schedule. Determine if the vision is reflected in the reality of the master schedule. Provide summary and recommendations. What kind of indicators would be useful in determining whether or not the school’s mission state is reflected in the Master Schedule? If the Mission Statement speaks to the success for ALL students, does it support services, counseling, remedial courses, etc, that are necessary to achieve this goal? Does the Master Schedule support Time on Task for both students and teachers?	Cynthia Luna	4/22/12
2b Strategic Planning	2 Domain I: Competency 2- Development, Articulation, Implementation and Stewardship of the District Vision and Culture	Participate on a committee to plan, supervise, and participate in a Code Blue Lockdown Drill- summarize procedure and outcome of drill Is the school’s plan NIMS (National Incident Management System) Compliant? Has the staff been trained on NIMS Principles? How is the drill initiated? Is there an AAR (After Action Review)? Is a written CAP (Corrective Action Plan) developed? Summarize procedures for individual teachers during the drill. What exceptions to guidelines are acceptable under what circumstances?	Safety Director/ Campus Principal	5/15/12
3c Data Collection/Analysis	2 Domain I: Competency 2- Development, Articulation, Implementation and Stewardship of the District Vision and Culture	Analysis of Projected STAAR Data	Cynthia Lopez, District Testing Coordinator, Campus Principals	4/15/12
4a/25* Effective Communication Community/Public Relations	3/3 Domain I: Competency 3: Communication and Collaboration with families and community members that Promote Student Success and responds to diverse community interests and needs	Write, create, and direct training District public relations videos for administrators Mr. Escobar would not permit videos being made because he felt principal training was not necessary. Discussion and protocols for public relations were summarized.	Daniel Escobar	6/15/12
5c Negotiating/ Consensus Building	2 Domain I: Competency 2- Development, Articulation, Implementation and Stewardship of the District Vision and Culture	Choose a current issue (to be determined) in a district/school. Use steps to for issue resolution with a small group of concerned parties. Reach consensus and/or critique on areas resolution failed. (Possible KEYS or expulsion hearing.)   Discussed with teachers and administrators from different districts NCLB, STAAR, Core Curriculum, Character Education, Cooperative Learning and Project-Based Learning.	Superintendent	6/15/12
6a Collaborative Decision Making	2 Domain I: Competency 2- Development, Articulation, Implementation and Stewardship of the District Vision and Culture	Observe a district cabinet meeting- observe behavior in outlining goals/problem definition, seeking information, challenging viewpoints, diagnosing problems and summarizing.   Observe and participate in a district Instructional Rounds pre-observation meeting and debriefing – Discussed goals with assistant superintendent before, observed behavior in outlining goals/problem definition, seeking information, challenging viewpoints, diagnosing problems and summarizing.	Superintendent	4/1/12

 

7d Analyzing the Curriculum	5 Domain II: Competency 5- Strategic Planning for Alignment of Curriculum, Curriculum Resources, and Assessments, along with implementing state and federal accountability systems	Feeder Pattern Vertical Alignment Project- Attend meeting, participate in discussion, review progress, report on outcomes	Bridgette Bumpas	3/15/12
8a/16* School/Program Scheduling Student Discipline	5/6 Domain II: Competency 5- Strategic Planning for Alignment of Curriculum, Curriculum Resources, and Assessments, along with implementing state and federal accountability systems Domain II: Competency 6- Promoting and sustaining a strong instructional program and District Culture that promotes student learning and staff professional growth and development	Review DAEP placement procedures, analyze problem of senior credit problem w/ possible solutions	Ellen Brewer	2/22/12
9b Supervision of Instruction/ Instructional Strategies	5 Domain II: Competency 5- Strategic Planning for Alignment of Curriculum, Curriculum Resources, and Assessments, along with implementing state and federal accountability systems	Participate on Instructional Rounds Teams, collect data, analyze data for instructional purposes	Cynthia Lopez	3/15/12
10b Learning/ Motivational Theory	6 Domain II: Competency 6- Promoting and sustaining a strong instructional program and District Culture that promotes student learning and staff professional growth and development	Survey a school faculty on methods to motivate students. Survey a sample of students soliticiting methods that motivate them to perform in school. Compare and contrast the two surveys.	Teachers, students, Activities Director	5/1/12
11c Learning Technology	8 Domain III: Competency 8- Budgeting, Resource Allocation, Financial Management, and Technology Applications	Interview persons responsible for assessing technology software. Describe the process used. Evaluate and discuss corns, recommendations.	Yosie Hernandez	3/15/12
12c Evaluation of Student Achievement/ Testing and Measurement	6 Domain II: Competency 6- Promoting and sustaining a strong instructional program and District Culture that promotes student learning and staff professional growth and development	Review data from AP scores, recommend possible solutions to increase scores	Holly Fields	2/22/12
13* Supervision of Co-Curricular Education	5 Domain II: Competency 5- Strategic Planning for Alignment of Curriculum, Curriculum Resources, and Assessments, along with implementing state and federal accountability systems	Evaluation of Co-curricular project- Cosmetology/Sierra Providence East Medical Center	Michelle Saucedo	5/15/12
14a Staff Development/ Adult Learning	7 Domain II: Competency 7- Implementing staff evaluation and development and select appropriate models for supervision and staff development	Observe a High Schools That Work planning committee- report on progress	Ignacio Estorga	4/15/12

 

15* Change Process	10 Domain III: Competency 10- Applying, Organizational, Decision-Making and Problem Solving Skills complying with federal and state requirements and facilitate positive changes	Discuss and analyze previous superintendent’s performance and reasons for leaving. Keeping in mind superintendents leave for various reasons, find out how this information is gathered. Consider accuracy of data, sources and method of gathering of information.	Tony Ayub	4/15/12
8a/16* School/Program Scheduling Student Discipline	5/6 Domain II: Competency 5- Strategic Planning for Alignment of Curriculum, Curriculum Resources, and Assessments, along with implementing state and federal accountability systems Domain II: Competency 6- Promoting and sustaining a strong instructional program and District Culture that promotes student learning and staff professional growth and development	Review DAEP placement procedures, analyze problem of senior credit problem w/ possible solutions	Ellen Brewer	2/22/12
17c Student Services	10 Domain III: Competency 10- Applying, Organizational, Decision-Making and Problem Solving Skills complying with federal and state requirements and facilitate positive changes	Interview a school nurse to discuss major requirements and goals for the school health program. Ask about perceptions of change in recent years at it relates to the nurse’s job.	Ida Hernandez	4/1/12
18a General Office Administration/ Technology	8 Domain III: Competency 8- Budgeting, Resource Allocation, Financial Management, and Technology Applications	Assess Technology standards and levels of compliance.	Yosie Hernandez	3/15/12
19b School Operations/ Policies	8 Domain III: Competency 8- Budgeting, Resource Allocation, Financial Management, and Technology Applications	Meet with School Attendance Officer. Discuss rules, procedures, and ramifications of attendance on law, finance, and general school/district operations-summarize	Attendance Officer	5/5/12
20b Facility and Maintenance Administration/ Safety and Security	9 Domain III: Competency 9- Leadership and management of the district’s physical plant and support systems to ensure a safe and effective learning environment	Interview Asst. Superintendent in charge of Maintenance- summarize discussion Ask about budget cuts and projects that were not finished, cutbacks in staff and needs for equipment, etc.	Thomas Eyeington	2/22/12
20* Facility and Maintenance Administration/ Safety and Security	9 Domain III: Competency 9- Leadership and management of the district’s physical plant and support systems to ensure a safe and effective learning environment	Participating in Reviewing Punch List for El Dorado 9th Grade Center expansion project, report on outcome	Troy Bryne	3/10/12
21c Student Transportation	9 Domain III: Competency 9- Leadership and management of the district’s physical plant and support systems to ensure a safe and effective learning environment	Assist in planning and organizing bus transportation for SPED Extended- Year Program- report on the process and how routes are selected Ask about budget cuts and projects that were not finished, cutbacks in staff and needs for equipment, etc.	Transport Director	6/1/12

 

22a Food Services	9 Domain III: Competency 9- Leadership and management of the district’s physical plant and support systems to ensure a safe and effective learning environment	Participate in planning and organizing the Summer Breakfast/Lunch Program- report on the process and the schedule Ask about budget cuts and projects that were not finished, cutbacks in staff and needs for equipment, etc.	Debbie Devine	6/1/12
23a Personnel Procedures	7 Domain II: Competency 7- Implementing staff evaluation and development and select appropriate models for supervision and staff development	Interview HR Director, discuss outsourcing, reassignment, budgeting, and determining raises- write summary of discussion	Juan Martinez	3/15/12
24d Supervision of the Budget	8 Domain III: Competency 8- Budgeting, Resource Allocation, Financial Management, and Technology Applications	Prepare a bid for the Regional Co-op and go through the bid process	Martin Camacho	3/2/12
25* Community/ Public Relations	3 Domain I: Competency 3: Communication and Collaboration with families and community members that Promote Student Success and responds to diverse community interests and needs	Assist in developing strategy for community information / action regarding recent child killed in a cross walk	Pat O’Neill	5/1/12
4a/25* Effective Communication Community/Public Relations	3/3 Domain I: Competency 3: Communication and Collaboration with families and community members that Promote Student Success and responds to diverse community interests and needs	Write, create, and direct training District public relations videos for administrators	Daniel Escobar	6/15/12
26* Parent Involvement	3 Domain I: Competency 3: Communication and Collaboration with families and community members that Promote Student Success and responds to diverse community interests and needs	Participate in PTA Leadership Training- receive certificate	Lynn Hardiman	3/15/12
27a Climate for Cultural Diversity	3 Domain I: Competency 3: Communication and Collaboration with families and community members that Promote Student Success and responds to diverse community interests and needs	Examine and evaluate the school library to evaluate resources that address the heritage and values of culturally diverse populations.	Librarians	4/30/12

 

28d Community/ Business Involvement and Partnerships	3 Domain I: Competency 3: Communication and Collaboration with families and community members that Promote Student Success and responds to diverse community interests and needs	Participate in planning the Partner in Education Banquet/Awards	Maya Kirtley	4/15/12
28d Community/ Business Involvement and Partnerships	3 Domain I: Competency 3: Communication and Collaboration with families and community members that Promote Student Success and responds to diverse community interests and needs	Collaborate with director on goals for Partners in Education 2012-13	Maya Kirtley	5/15/12
29b Position Goals and Requirements	1 & 4 Domain I: Competency 1- Integrity, Fairness and Ethics Competency 4- Responding to and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context, including working with the Board of Trustees	Attend a District Custodian Meeting and debrief with a head custodian- report on topics, organization, interview the supervisor to discuss the evaluation process.	Juan Alarcon	4/1/12
30e Philosophy/ History of Education	1 & 4 Domain I: Competency 1- Integrity, Fairness and Ethics Competency 4- Responding to and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context, including working with the Board of Trustees	Investigate, analyze and suggest means of communication and support for Military Families	Lily Triplett	5/15/12
31c Ethics	1 & 4 Domain I: Competency 1- Integrity, Fairness and Ethics Competency 4- Responding to and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context, including working with the Board of Trustees	Meet with a group of representative students soliciting beliefs and experiences with ethical practices in school or in the classroom. Make recommendations for ensuring greater ethical practices for all students.	Student Activities Director	4/30/12
32* Interpersonal Relationships	1 & 4 Domain I: Competency 1- Integrity, Fairness and Ethics Competency 4- Responding to and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context, including working with the Board of Trustees	Investigate and write an analysis of performance issues with previous superintendent	Tony Ayub	4/15/12
33b School Board Policy and Procedures/ State and Federal Law	1 & 4 Domain I: Competency 1- Integrity, Fairness and Ethics Competency 4- Responding to and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context, including working with the Board of Trustees	Attend 3 Board Meetings, Debrief with Superintendent or Assistant Superintendents afterward	Pat O’Neill	4/20/12
33e School Board Policy and Procedures/ State and Federal Law	1 & 4 Domain I: Competency 1- Integrity, Fairness and Ethics Competency 4- Responding to and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context, including working with the Board of Trustees	Interview Board President, review roles, procedures- write summary of discussion	Tony Ayub	3/15/12

 

34a Federal Programs Administration	5 Domain II: Competency 5- Strategic Planning for Alignment of Curriculum, Curriculum Resources, and Assessments, along with implementing state and federal accountability systems	Interview SPED Director regarding new federal/state regulations- develop a monitoring checklist	Susan Kelch	3/15/12
35* Issue and Conflict Resolution	10 Domain III: Competency 10- Applying, Organizational, Decision-Making and Problem Solving Skills complying with federal and state requirements and facilitate positive changes	Analyze problems in transitioning to the EOC and offer possible solutions	Campus Principals	6/1/12
36a Current Issues Affecting Teaching and Learning	6  Domain II: Competency 6- Promoting and sustaining a strong instructional program and District Culture that promotes student learning and staff professional growth and development	Compile a list of current issues that affect teaching and learning. Assess the degree of importance and urgency for each issue	Experts, administrators, teachers, students, parents	4/1/12
37b Professional Affiliations and Resources	8 Domain III: Competency 8- Budgeting, Resource Allocation, Financial Management, and Technology Applications	Visit the website of NASSP and compile of list of all services and information available to the principal. Summarize the findings and how relevant they are in my circumstances.	NASSP	3/15/12
38a Professional Library	8 Domain III: Competency 8- Budgeting, Resource Allocation, Financial Management, and Technology Applications	Compile a list of books, publications, training manuals, and district or state publications used or recommended for administrators.	Librarians, District Leaders	6/15/12