I attended the Saturday, October 15, web conference with Dr. Abernathy speaking and Dawn Kirkland, the IA, also in attendance. Some questions arose about APA since the IA hold told one person in our Skype group that all the citations had to be direct quotes. According to Dr. Abernathy, this is not correct. Scholarly writing does allow for both paraphrasing citations and direct quote citations. In addition, questions arose about how to submit our class reflections, since many of us had followed the advice from the very first web conference – not to write about each of the class activities. We had followed the Professor’s directions to reflect on the reflection, but received failing grades because we did not list out all the class activities. This is still a little unclear, but at this point I will do what the grader wants. It was also clarified that our field based activities need to match up with our internship plan.
There was also a doorbell, FEDEX man, talk of taxes and ibuprofen and pain meds. Personally, I take them all, but not for too long or too much. I just change them up enough to avoid the bad effects.
Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Web Conference July 19th
The July 19th web conference was lead by Dr. Mason and then also attended by Dr. Martin who gave many thoughts on different topics. The first questions were about the discussion board topics for this week. Dr. Mason asked us to discuss the best leadership activity we have done in our internship. Many of the attendees commented on their action research projects. They had questions about the review needed by their site mentor and changes in their site mentor. The topics of the actions research project varied. Some included discipline referrals, scheduling, block scheduling, RTI, communications, and leadership experiences. Much of the discussion focused on administrators’ relationships with staff and teachers, professional practice and the surprises of administration. Many commented on the practices of administrators that they did not want to emulate if they became a leader.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Bedside Manners Needed
Ten years ago my last child was born premature. He did not have enough amniotic fluid to float around in so his lungs did not develop properly. His first x-rays showed that his lungs only took up one-third of his chest cavity. Each day was touch and go. The nurses began to call him the “energizer bunny” because he just kept going.
After a few days a C-scan was done on his chest. The radiologist and the lung doctor diagnosed my son with pulmonary lymphangiectasia – of which my NICU docs had never heard. I finally had a chance to ask the lung doctor about this diagnosis one afternoon. As he explained the disease to me, it was very clear that he was quite proud of himself for coming up with this diagnosis. As other parents came into the NICU to see their babies in dire circumstances nearby, this doctor, oblivious to them, continued on to tell me of the horrible outcome that would end the life of my child. He ended his explanation by telling me, “The only decision you need to make for your child is whether he dies at home or the hospital.”
I was reminded of this event in my life the other day, after reading state senators’ comments regarding funding education. When these senators question the intentions of school districts who have maintained fund balances in Dave Ramsey style as if there is something foolish in that, it shows that their ego is in the way and they don’t care who hears. When these senators, who have built their reputations for pushing an accountability system and End of Course Exams on the schools, will not relent even for a year to ease the funding crisis, then their egos are making decisions. When these government leaders refuse to let up on unfunded mandates, knowing full well that these will force the layoffs of certain school positions over others, then they are not for local control and do not believe school boards are capable of making decisions based on their community's interests.
When the doctor above spoke those words to me, my first thought was, “you don’t know the GOD I know.” I knew HOPE. But my second thought was, if my husband and I are going to experience the worst thing that has ever happened to us – the death of our child – it would NOT be with this doctor leading us.
This brings me to my point. If the current politicians, who will vote on the funding of Texas public education, continue to make comments showing their egos are more important than the people they are supposed to be helping – the children of Texas – they may find in the next election cycle that the parents of those children have decided to get a second opinion.
***A lung biopsy proved that my son did not have this horrible disease. He is ten now.
After a few days a C-scan was done on his chest. The radiologist and the lung doctor diagnosed my son with pulmonary lymphangiectasia – of which my NICU docs had never heard. I finally had a chance to ask the lung doctor about this diagnosis one afternoon. As he explained the disease to me, it was very clear that he was quite proud of himself for coming up with this diagnosis. As other parents came into the NICU to see their babies in dire circumstances nearby, this doctor, oblivious to them, continued on to tell me of the horrible outcome that would end the life of my child. He ended his explanation by telling me, “The only decision you need to make for your child is whether he dies at home or the hospital.”
I was reminded of this event in my life the other day, after reading state senators’ comments regarding funding education. When these senators question the intentions of school districts who have maintained fund balances in Dave Ramsey style as if there is something foolish in that, it shows that their ego is in the way and they don’t care who hears. When these senators, who have built their reputations for pushing an accountability system and End of Course Exams on the schools, will not relent even for a year to ease the funding crisis, then their egos are making decisions. When these government leaders refuse to let up on unfunded mandates, knowing full well that these will force the layoffs of certain school positions over others, then they are not for local control and do not believe school boards are capable of making decisions based on their community's interests.
When the doctor above spoke those words to me, my first thought was, “you don’t know the GOD I know.” I knew HOPE. But my second thought was, if my husband and I are going to experience the worst thing that has ever happened to us – the death of our child – it would NOT be with this doctor leading us.
This brings me to my point. If the current politicians, who will vote on the funding of Texas public education, continue to make comments showing their egos are more important than the people they are supposed to be helping – the children of Texas – they may find in the next election cycle that the parents of those children have decided to get a second opinion.
***A lung biopsy proved that my son did not have this horrible disease. He is ten now.
Monday, January 31, 2011
EDLD 5345 - “Domain I, Competency 3” Course-Embedded Internship Activity Log 2. The Review of Chapter 247 of the Texas Administrative Code
Through recent changes in the law, the State Board for Educator Certification not longer accepts complaints against professional educators. The Texas Education Agency handles the complaints made at the state level. In all cases, the TEA expects individuals to follow the chain of command established through the local school policy. They also do not accept complaints on areas that have not been established through the legislature.
The TEA website states “If after completing the complaint process at the district level, a person believes he or she is aggrieved by the actions or decisions of the district's board of trustees that violate the school laws, the person may appeal the board of trustees’ written decision to the commissioner of education. The process for requesting TEA Hearings and Appeals under §7.057 of the Texas Education Code is described in §157.1073 of the Texas Administrative Code.” (Retrieved January 30, 2011 from http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/ED/htm/ED.7.htm#7.05)
An individual who does not accept the decision of the local school board may request to appeal the decision to TEA. This mostly includes contract decisions, but may include other issues as well. Anyone who is an adult and has interacted with a certified or certify-seeking individual in such a negative way as to consider them to be unfit for the profession can file a complaint. If they have followed all the local chain of command procedures and the local school board policies, and they are unhappy about the school board decision at the appeal process there; then an individual may request an appeal to TEA.
In the Texas Administrative Code, a principal is expected to have high moral character in all areas of their lives. One area that principals are expected to always be truthful is in regards to school monies. Principals may “not submit fraudulent requests for reimbursements, expenses or pay.” (Standard 1.3) This would mean that a principal could not sign up to go to a conference that happens to be in Miami, Florida, and then spend the entire time on the beach. The expectation would be that the principal is attending the conference for most of the day. So if another administrator from the district notices their absence and sees a picture of them on the beach, the beach-loving principal may have an ethics complaint against him.
Another situation where a principal or educator may face an ethics complaint would be in the acceptance of a large gift that may be seen as giving a special advantage. If a principal was offered floor seats for the Spurs basketball season from a parent, and he accepted them; he may face an ethics complaint when he fails to discipline the child of the parent who gave him the tickets. (Standard 1.5)
Another area where an educator may violate the ethics code against a colleague is when the educator makes false statements, lies and twists information to place the victim in a bad light for the purpose of causing them harm in their career. (Standard 2.2) Standard 3.7 states “the educator shall not furnish alcohol or illegal/unauthorized drugs to a student”. An educator would violate this standard if they invited students to their home for a post game party and supplied a keg of beer for their consumption.
An educator would also find themselves faced with ethics complaint if they choose to send inappropriate text messages to a student so as to begin or imply a desire for a romantic relationship. (Standard 3.6) Possible consequences of an ethics complaint could include a criminal investigation by law enforcement officials if any laws are broken, a reprimand letter may be placed in the individual’s permanent file, restitution may be sought for money lost by the district, and a poor evaluation may be received by the educator and quite possibly nonrenewal of their contract.
My example
Standard 3.7 states “the educator shall not furnish alcohol or illegal/unauthorized drugs to a student”. An educator would violate this standard if they invited students to their home for a post game party and supplied a keg of beer for their consumption.
As a principal in this situation, I would gather all the facts regarding the incident and present them to the educator with my decision. If I also knew that this educator had deficits in their teaching skills and classroom achievement, I would feel more empowered. But either way, I would terminate the employee. It is illegal to serve alcohol to minors. The educator has broken the law, and will also probably face legal ramifications for their act of stupidity.
The TEA website states “If after completing the complaint process at the district level, a person believes he or she is aggrieved by the actions or decisions of the district's board of trustees that violate the school laws, the person may appeal the board of trustees’ written decision to the commissioner of education. The process for requesting TEA Hearings and Appeals under §7.057 of the Texas Education Code is described in §157.1073 of the Texas Administrative Code.” (Retrieved January 30, 2011 from http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/ED/htm/ED.7.htm#7.05)
An individual who does not accept the decision of the local school board may request to appeal the decision to TEA. This mostly includes contract decisions, but may include other issues as well. Anyone who is an adult and has interacted with a certified or certify-seeking individual in such a negative way as to consider them to be unfit for the profession can file a complaint. If they have followed all the local chain of command procedures and the local school board policies, and they are unhappy about the school board decision at the appeal process there; then an individual may request an appeal to TEA.
In the Texas Administrative Code, a principal is expected to have high moral character in all areas of their lives. One area that principals are expected to always be truthful is in regards to school monies. Principals may “not submit fraudulent requests for reimbursements, expenses or pay.” (Standard 1.3) This would mean that a principal could not sign up to go to a conference that happens to be in Miami, Florida, and then spend the entire time on the beach. The expectation would be that the principal is attending the conference for most of the day. So if another administrator from the district notices their absence and sees a picture of them on the beach, the beach-loving principal may have an ethics complaint against him.
Another situation where a principal or educator may face an ethics complaint would be in the acceptance of a large gift that may be seen as giving a special advantage. If a principal was offered floor seats for the Spurs basketball season from a parent, and he accepted them; he may face an ethics complaint when he fails to discipline the child of the parent who gave him the tickets. (Standard 1.5)
Another area where an educator may violate the ethics code against a colleague is when the educator makes false statements, lies and twists information to place the victim in a bad light for the purpose of causing them harm in their career. (Standard 2.2) Standard 3.7 states “the educator shall not furnish alcohol or illegal/unauthorized drugs to a student”. An educator would violate this standard if they invited students to their home for a post game party and supplied a keg of beer for their consumption.
An educator would also find themselves faced with ethics complaint if they choose to send inappropriate text messages to a student so as to begin or imply a desire for a romantic relationship. (Standard 3.6) Possible consequences of an ethics complaint could include a criminal investigation by law enforcement officials if any laws are broken, a reprimand letter may be placed in the individual’s permanent file, restitution may be sought for money lost by the district, and a poor evaluation may be received by the educator and quite possibly nonrenewal of their contract.
My example
Standard 3.7 states “the educator shall not furnish alcohol or illegal/unauthorized drugs to a student”. An educator would violate this standard if they invited students to their home for a post game party and supplied a keg of beer for their consumption.
As a principal in this situation, I would gather all the facts regarding the incident and present them to the educator with my decision. If I also knew that this educator had deficits in their teaching skills and classroom achievement, I would feel more empowered. But either way, I would terminate the employee. It is illegal to serve alcohol to minors. The educator has broken the law, and will also probably face legal ramifications for their act of stupidity.
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