Topic 3 Reflection

Topic 3 Reflection
Cassandra Young
EAD-539
January 12, 2022

Significant Leadership Experience
Over the past week, I have been able to experience what needs to happen as a leader
navigates through multiple setbacks at the school. Throughout the entire last week of school, l
have experienced cold days and numerous days of COVID-19 contact issues, which has created
an experience for teachers and leaders. They are navigating through whether we need to close to
get numbers back up or keep pushing through to keep in-person learning. As they are figuring
out those pieces, we are also trying to determine when to close due to weather or stay open. For
me, this has been a learning experience since these are challenging situations to be in and a
difficult choice to decide if we need to close or not. During this time, leaders have to check to
ensure it is safe for all students and not just a specific few students. This was new to me since we
have not had to navigate this over the last year as the school model was hybrid and virtual, and
before that we were following the school district, we live in. It marks the thought of thinking of
the calamity days that are effective for the states we are in and the time frame we are in- which
raises the question of whether we can reach our planned days or what is being forgiven by the
state.
Connection to ELCC Standards
When tough decisions are made or need to be made as leaders, we have to be made with
great detail in our choices. Different concepts go through our leaders when making difficult
decisions that can affect our teachers and students. The National Policy Board for Educational
Administration (2015) stated that leaders should “protect teachers’ and other staff members’
work and learning from disruption” (National Policy Board for Educational Administration,
2015). All disruptions in work or learning affect both students and teachers since teachers are
trying to keep pace. As they are trying to keep pace for the students by using the remote
knowledge or snow days, we are creating gaps in the learning days those students are having.
Knowing that these types of disruptions might have to occur with the state we live in and the
times we are experiencing, how we support our teachers and students is one of the critical
components we must focus on.
Focus and Application
Since our times have been so different from years past, it has been a learning experience
when we as leaders have to make certain decisions over others. Trying not to disrupt learning is
one of the vital issues we want to address since there are already many gaps in student learning.
Thinking of the future of these experiences and what it has taught me, I believe reaching out to
my leadership team to understand better what is occurring in the building will help support my
choices. Another issue is what is best for the staff and students with travel concerns if we call
days for weather. Wanting to keep pace for both teachers and students is essential, but the safety
of each person is even more critical in the overall picture. Risking lives is not what we want to
do either. As a leader, I want to make informed decisions on when to call off school for weather
and know when staffing issues or student attendance is a concern due to an illness that many do
not have control over.
Lasting Change Initiatives
There have been many ongoing change initiatives at the school I work in, and one is
making decisions on how to release curriculum, or new staff might have to be gradual. Releasing
gradual information does not set team members off as quickly as it does if we push lots of
information at once, which can be overwhelming. For example, the middle school math
curriculum has been a gradual release of the program. We started with the introductory math
courses switching over to the new curriculum. Then, there were many pieces of training to
support teachers in their growth. Into the following year, the leadership team offered even more
training that allowed them to see how the curriculum from third through fifth grade was leading
up to the middle school level, along with releasing the first advanced course of Algebra. Now,
they are in their third year with the curriculum, and another piece was added for the advanced
class for the 7th-grade students. Over the three years, there has been a gradual curriculum release
and additional training each year. The change has been a beneficial change for the students and
teachers, including the learning loss occurring.

Reference
National Policy Board for Educational Administration. (2015). Professional Standards for
Educational Leaders National Policy Board for Educational Administration FORMERLY
KNOWN AS ISLLC STANDARDS. http://www.npbea.org/wp-
content/uploads/2017/06/Professional-Standards-for-Educational-Leaders_2015.pdf

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Topic 3 Reflection

January 12, 2022

Connection to ELCC Standards

components we must focus on.

Focus and Application

not have control over.

Lasting Change Initiatives

teachers, including the learning loss occurring.

Educational Leaders National Policy Board for Educational Administration FORMERLY

KNOWN AS ISLLC STANDARDS. http://www.npbea.org/wp-

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