Describe

The artifact is a School Vision Plan we created as a group as part of Educational Leadership class 701, The Principal as a School Leader.  This project was worked on throughout the Fall of 2012 and  collected in December 2012.  In a group of five, we selected a school, and the areas that needed to be improved within the old plan.   The group functioned well and there were no problems with communicating or meeting the deadlines for the project.  I was content to follow the directions of my fellow colleagues.  I am a procrastinator but was not able to do so with this project. The group kept me focused and on task.

Analyze
 

ELCC 1.1 - Develop a Vision.  In developing the vision plan for the Dobbs Ferry Middle School it was important to identify the areas which needed the most improvement and how we were going to implement the plan within the school.  This was done by collecting data to determine the extent of the problem and by developing strategies to improve the problem.  Surveys were given out to parents, teachers, and students.  Parents were concerned about student writing skills, availability of acceleration, and the need to raise the test scores to exceed state standards.  The students wanted more meaningful learning and wanted more technology built into their day.  Teachers thought that the original vision was weak and the meaning was lost.   As a result of the surveys, a new vision plan was written.

ELCC Standard 1.2 - Articulate a Vision and 1.3 - Implement a Vision.  The most  important people to realizing a school’s vision are those responsible for articulating and implementing it .  All stakeholders must be included and willing to work towards the goal of the school.  Creating plans to motivate staff, students, and families to achieve the vision of the school is important for all stakeholders involved.  I feel one way to accomplish this is by developing leadership in others and asking others to take ownership in the planning stage.    Teachers need to believe administrator's will support them when they make decisions based on the vision statement.  I believe that a vision statement which is clearly understood by both the administrators and teachers will help to unite them in a common goal.  It is very important that not only the principal and the staff are on board but also the parents and community.  The school community must sense that changes are going to be made for the better.  This can be done by the daily actions taking place within the school.  Parents will be able to discuss to the new vision through such activities as “Coffee with the Principal” and book talks.  Since Board of Education meetings are televised, it is a opportunity to further explain the vision to the parents and community.  The students also need to understand the new vision.   Bringing the students together at assemblies and student government meetings will help them understand and be a part of implementing the vision.  It is essential that all voices be heard and listened to.  

ELCC 1.4 - Steward a Vision.  Not only does a vision need to be communicated, but an opportunity for feedback and suggestion from everyone involved must be included to have a successful vision.   It is important that there is always open communication between the administration, staff, parents, and students.  In order for such communication to work, there will be methods for using data-based research strategies to monitor, evaluate, and revise the school vision.  The surveys were created to initiate a needs assessment for the parents, students, and teachers on how to improve the school.  The concern here was to reveal and improve on issues to make the school and students more successful.  By implementing a timeline for the next three years, the administration will be able to stay on task with the vision plan.  Having teachers incorporate the vision in their lesson plans will be important.  Teacher evaluations will include elements of the vision.  This will help to ensure that not only the teachers understand and work towards the vision but the students are reminded of it throughout various lessons.  Year one and two are focused on administrating the vision to the school and the community.  Each month there are things that need to be discussed and worked on.  At the beginning of the third school year, revision of the plan will start to take place.  There will be a team established to work on revising the new vision based on the data collected over the past two years.  

ELCC 1.5 - Promote Community Involvement in the Vision. Promoting community involvement is one of the most vital parts of having a successful vision plan.  School leaders need to provide opportunities for a variety of levels and types of parent involvement. These activities are a focal point for cultural, traditional and value activities.   In allowing the community to be a part of this process, it will produce greater benefits.  Having the community feel involved in this project, watching it unfold and be successful will help the vision become a reality.    

Appraise

This artifact has helped me tremendously as an educational leader.  I am now able to understand the complexity of a school vision.  I understand that the vision centers around the betterment of the students.  That every activity which occurs in the building revolves around what is best for the students.  The vision is to create a society of learners where students are constantly being challenged by teachers as well as their peers.  I have learned that right from the start, the staff needs to buy into the vision.  If this isn’t done from the beginning, the vision can not be a successful one.  

Transform

One of the things I learned from this project is that the entire school must be on board for the plan to work.  Everyone must believe in the vision and want to move in the same direction.  Another thing I learned is that it is important to have open communication with all stakeholders.  Communicating with the parents and doing everything necessary to get the vision out to the public can also be difficult.  By everyone working together and not giving up this can happen.  As a future administrator, I feel there needs to be a sense of respect of the administration from the teachers, the students, the parents and the community for everything to work and have the vision statement become reality.