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Audrey Karr

October 28, 2020

EAD-519

Self-Evaluation
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Reflecting upon one’s own ability to make decisions whether they are strengths or weaknesses, is

an important part in becoming an effective and strong leader.  This requires time to stop, take a

breath and look within the moment to see what new questions might be popping up, how to look

at something from a different perspective and think of new ideas that might enhance the current

situation (Houchens, 2018). All good leaders make time for this and adapt to change without

hesitation.

Reflection: Strong Leadership Elements

While reflecting upon my own leadership experiences I have learned that I already have some

great strengths that are going to help me internalize and determine what is best for the staff,

students and the school as a whole.  

ELCC Standard 2.0 talks about a leader applying their knowledge to the success of every student

by collaborating with teachers, building trust amongst one another, embracing the schools culture

and personalizing the learning environment so that everyone gets the same educational

experience.  I feel that this is an area I am strong in for many reasons.  As a grade level mentor to

new teachers I try to make myself available and open for questions.  I am very easy to talk to and

enjoy talking to other teachers in the building to see how their grade level/department is going.  I

also know that if I don’t have an answer to a question, I will go find it and reach out to the

person in charge. Being a literacy specialist these last four years has also given me the

knowledge to know the benefits of particular instructional programs and what the outcomes are. 

I have spent many hours working with grade level teams to dissect new curriculums, help

determine essential standards and provide extra resources that would benefit their students.  I

model this in my own classroom, so I can share my experiences (good and bad.)
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ELCC Standard 4.0 is another area I feel strong in because its focus is promoting the success of

students through not only faculty, but also finding ways to incorporate the community and local

families in the schools continual success. This can be done through engaging activities and

asking them for their input in the continuous improvement plan (NPBEA, 2011).  I feel that by

being a business owner and a teacher, I have an advantage that many do not. Many of my

employees are parents of students in my school.  I am able to communicate with them often,

reach out when they are struggling and provide insight to ideas they may have or find ways for

them to be more involved while keeping the schools culture a priority. I am also heavily involved

in community events, so I work with the mayor, county commissioners, police, judges and other

business owners when it comes to donating or helping schools.  This rapport provides me direct

access to key people who make decisions and can help me build school and community

relationships for years to come.

Reflection: Leadership Elements to Improve

All leaders must accept that there will always be areas of improvement. This is what makes an

individual a good leader.  It’s how you learn from the areas of weaknesses you will find more

strengths. 

ELCC Standard 1.0 is about implementing a shared school vision and using school data to target

learning goals, organize the effectiveness of programs, evaluate school progress and find new

ways to revise the CIP from year to year with stakeholder input. I find this standard to be an area

for improvement.  I have had very little experience with helping develop a school mission and

vision from a leadership side along with ways to adapt the school improvement plan.  I simply

have not been exposed to the process as much as I would like.  I have been on the school

improvement committee but have never directly had to work with the budget, adapting programs
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and seeing that all aspects of the school are given quality attention.  I have a lot to learn in this

department and would like to think I could be an asset with my experience running a business,

leadership skills on committees, and professional development opportunities over the years.  I

feel as if I would have a lot to contribute with an insider and outsider's perspective which

complements my strengths in ELCC Standards 2.0 and 4.0.  

Another ELCC area to focus on is Standard 3.0 which deals with regulating school management,

operations and the usage of available resources (human, fiscal and technological) along with

safety and welfare of all staff and students (NPBEA, 2011).  If I could learn a lot about an area, it

would be here.  I am not around my administrators enough seeing this done on a daily basis. I

have spent some time talking about school operations and budgeting needs for technology,

staffing, grant opportunities, maintenance needs etc. but to actually work the numbers in the

budget is something I would like to take part in. I hope to see more of this as the end of this year

wraps up or the beginning of the new “normal” year begins.

Reflection: Action Steps

The action steps needed in order to improve leadership need to start with the ability to reflect

daily about the work being done and how it can be incorporated into a shared leadership. An

effective principal is only as good as they were as a professional educator. Being a successful

leader means to know what it's like to be the master teacher, so that decisions being made are

coming from experience, knowledge and the courage to never settle for less.  I must be willing to

continue my education in working toward being that master teacher and standing up for what is

right for staff and students.  I have to know what it is like to make quick and responsible

decisions and be comfortable with sudden change.  I also have to be willing to speak to adults

and know that I will be criticized, but that I must stay true to what is right and not let my guard
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down (Ferlazzo, 2016). Lastly, I need to be able to have people I can rely on for advice, to just

listen or ask questions knowing that we are looking out for one another and doing what is best

for education as a whole.

Resources

Ferlazzo, Larry (2016).  Education Week: Principals ‘Must be Reflective Daily About the Work.’ 

Retrieved from:

https://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/classroom_qa_with_larry_ferlazzo/2016/04/response_p

rincipals_must_be_reflective_daily_about_the_work.html

Houchens, Gary (2018).  School Leader: The Role of Reflection in School Principal

Effectiveness.  Retrieved from: https://schoolleader.typepad.com/school-

leader/2018/11/the-role-of-reflection-in-school-principal-effectiveness.html

National Policy Board for Educational Administration (2011).  Educational Leadership Program

Standards. Retrieved from: http://www.npbea.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/ELCC-

Building-Level-Standards-2011.pdf