Supporting all Staff with a Student-Centered Mindset

Reflection on Internship Experience

Throughout this internship, I have engaged in various leadership opportunities that have allowed me to grow professionally and refine my skills in alignment with the ELCC standards. This week, I focused on utilizing technological tools to collect and share professional artifacts, ensuring ethical personal conduct (ELCC 5.1), fostering positive relationships (ELCC 2.1), making effective decisions (ELCC 1.3), demonstrating stewardship of school resources (ELCC 3.2), and supporting instructional leadership (ELCC 4.3).

To align with ELCC Standard 5.1, which emphasizes ethical leadership, I created onboarding documents that outline staff expectations and professional standards. These documents serve as a guide for maintaining integrity and professionalism within the school environment. Additionally, I strengthened positive relationships (ELCC 2.1) by advocating for my mentor to fellow teachers who struggle with a team mindset, fostering unity within the staff and promoting a collaborative culture.

Effective decision-making (ELCC 1.3) was crucial when I had to balance respecting my mentor while maintaining teamwork within my fourth-grade team. When one of my teammates had an emergency absence, and the principals were unavailable, I had to navigate an emotionally charged situation by supporting an upset coworker while also upholding my mentor’s decisions to ensure a smooth workflow. This required quick thinking and strategic leadership.

I also demonstrated stewardship of school resources (ELCC 3.2) by preparing AASA binders for staff, ensuring they were organized and well-maintained to support instruction and assessment. Furthermore, I participated in spot checks alongside my mentor, gaining insights into classroom instruction and student engagement, aligning with ELCC 4.3, which focuses on fostering instructional capacity and supporting student learning. A highlight of my week was contributing to a fifth-grade PLC by providing feedback to support a high-proficient student’s engagement and social skill development, reinforcing a commitment to improving student outcomes.

As I approach my final internship experience in EAD-539, I recognize the importance of refining my leadership attributes to be fully prepared for a school leadership position. Moving forward, I will continue seeking opportunities to enhance my decision-making, communication, and resource management skills to ensure a positive impact on the educational community while aligning my actions with ELCC standards.

References

Council of Chief State School Officers. (2011). Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC) Standards. Retrieved from https://www.ccsso.org/resource-library/educational-leadership-constituent-council-elcc-standards

American Association of School Administrators (AASA). (n.d.). AASA Resources and Tools. Retrieved from https://www.aasa.org/resources