As we conclude the course, please reflect on your personal learning outcomes.  To what extent did you meet those learning outcomes?  As you continue forward, what are some areas related to your growth as a scholar that you would like to develop?

This semester has been an interesting step in my journey in the doctoral program. While stats was often a pull your hair out, nail biting, exhausting ride, I feel like I do have a better understanding of quantitative research. I can actually read a quantitative article and understand some of what they are saying instead of glossing over the statistics! There's still plenty to be learned but I've got time!

One of my big learning outcomes was to really gain a strong sense of where I wanted to go with my dissertation and get a solid question developed. I feel that I've definitely met that goal. With the completion of my qualititative research proposal, I think I have a good foundation to build on for my dissertation. I'm feeling good about my research question and research topic. I think I've really made some strides with my writing. I'm starting to find my scholarly voice. I can see it emerging. I've definitely made the decision to go with a qualitative research study. In fact, I think I want to do a case study for my dissertation. I'm looking forward to moving on in my research and digging deeper as I develop my literature review.

This was a successful semester for me. I feel like I really came away with a strong sense of direction and a solid foundation for moving forward!

We're about half-way through the this course.  As you think about embarking on a research journey, what intrigues you about conducting educational research?  What are you most anxious about?  What strategies support your on-going research journey?


It's halftime folks!  Generally that's the time when the coach gives the team a pep talk and reviews what has happened in the first half of the game and gives some strategies for the second half.  So here we are at halftime in AI II and Stats.  Whew!  The first half of this semester was a whirlwind.  I feel like the fog has lifted a bit.  I'm not gonna lie - Stats knocked me on my butt in the first couple of weeks.  But much like AI 1, it's all starting to come together.  I'm actually getting it and feeling pretty confident.  I've also noticed that I can read a quantitative article without totally skimming over the numbers and getting lost!

I am feeling good about my research topic right now.  I think it might need some more tweaking but I'm starting to close in on it!  I am intrigued about how my study is going to take shape.  In my mind I see myself working with some colleagues in my field but perhaps it will end up being larger than that.  I'm pretty sure that my study will be qualitative but we'll see what happens after the quantitative proposal is complete.  I also had an aha moment recently when I realized that I've gotten better at reading articles and pulling out the important information.  Doing annotated bibliographies and rhetorical précis have really helped me to get at the meat of an article and move through it quickly.  

I'm anxious in general about seeing all of this hard work come together.  The writing still paralyzes me a bit but I can see my writing improve so that's good.  One issue with my research topic is the research itself or lack thereof.  Assistant Principals and their role transition is new in the research field which makes my project timely but difficult to come up with supporting literature.  I just need to dig a little deeper and get back in the game!  

And the whistle blows and here we go….

Here we are in AI II all together again.  It's hard to believe that the 1st year is behind us.  As we begin our 2nd year in the doctoral program and I look around at all the familiar faces, gone are the looks of shock, horror, and complete bewilderment that shone in AI I.  Now I see nods of understanding, brows furrowed in concentration, and maybe even a few smiles.  Wading knee deep into AI II, it's time to figure out what I want out of this semester.  I looked at the syllabus, the book, and the Sakai site to get an idea of what will be coming at me.  

 My learning outcomes for this semester are to come away with a strong sense and direction of my dissertation topic.  I know from last semester the direction I am heading.  Now I want to solidify the topic and narrow it down to a main question.  I want to understand my research better and know that the research that I am finding is quality information.  I also want to gain a better understanding of qualitative and quantitative research.  I think I want to do qualitative research but I want to understand both sides before making the decision.  I want to come away from this class with a definitive decision on which way I am going.

I am looking forward to this class and being back with this great group of people.

Now that you have completed this class, what do you see as the top three personnel issues facing educators?  Use articles, videos, and related materials from our class to support your conclusions.  How do these three issues compare to those that you considered at the beginning of the semester?

At the beginning of the semester I said that the top three personnel issues are professional development, evaluations and building relationships.  I still maintain that these three areas are the top issues.

Professional development is critical to improving skill sets and moving teachers forward in their practice.  With the implementation of common core standards, computer based assessments, increase in English language learners, the need to differentiate instruction, etc., there is a constant need to review and train staff.  Professional development is an opportunity for staff to come together and collaborate and share ideas.  Using tools such as twitter and GoToMeeting could be helpful in this endeavor.  I already use Edmodo in my staff meetings.  I post all of our staff meeting agendas as well as any other paperwork for my staff on our edmodo site.  Teachers can access it anywhere and at anytime.  I think some of my teachers might be interested in using twitter to collaborate, especially with teachers from other sites. Additionally, these same resources can be used in the classroom with students.  This is critical as our students live in a technology rich world.  Using these resources in class helps build an engaging classroom environment.   

Evaluation is the top issue in my opinion.  Evaluation encompasses all of the other issues together.  The California Standards for the Teaching Profession are used in teacher evaluations at my site and most any site in California.  This is the benchmark for effective teaching practices.  I use evaluations to seek out new leaders and to help struggling teachers improve.  Evaluations give me the chance to find teachers who are looking for the chance to try something new or who want to take on the challenge of leadership roles at the school.  This is one way that I attempt to do succession planning at my site.  Succession planning is critical for filling positions left open when teachers move on or when as a site or district I am looking for someone to take over a leadership position.  Grooming teachers for future leadership roles is a part of succession planning. 

The third important personnel issue is building relationships.  Building relationships occurs in all facets of personnel issues.   Relationships can make or break a staff and a school.  Positive relationships will help a school grow and keep morale high.  With strong positive relationships on a staff, it is easier to tackle tough issues like diversity, evaluations, and conflict resolution.   Developing positive relationships with staff also helps teach staff how to develop those same relationships with students and parents.  The relationships that staff have with their students are critical to the students success.  Fostering these relationships will also help in building tolerance and understanding for culturally diverse populations on our campus. 

Through continuous professional development, evaluating my staff, and building positive relationships, I am creating a positive school community.  While I chose three issues as the top personnel issues, all of the personnel issues that we discussed in class are important.  In my self-reflection as a school leader I will continue to assess how all of these personnel issues affect my staff, my school, and myself.  

Describe how you have used/might be able to use the evaluation process in your organization as a tool to identify and develop future leaders. Include how the evaluation process can help identify specific activities that would support the future leader’s professional development.


As a school administrator, I evaluate staff on a daily basis both informally and formally.  I visit classrooms and observe instruction.  I have conversations with teachers about instruction, curriculum, and how best to meet student needs.  I provide feedback on instructional strategies and lessons taught to help teachers improve upon their practice. Throughout all of this, I am able to help strong teachers evolve into leadership positions within our school site.  

Leaders within a school site can take on many different roles.  It could be a teacher who is strong at mentoring new teachers.  It could be a teacher who is involved with committees or leadership groups on campus.  It might also be the teacher leading student leadership groups and planning student activities.  

As I evaluate teachers both inside and outside the classroom, I observe how they interact with students and with their colleagues.  I observe what learning is taking place inside their classrooms.  When I notice a teacher that is really strong inside the classroom, I begin to have conversations with them about how they might be able to share their expertise and their talents.  I'll ask those teachers to share their ideas within staff meetings.  I'll send them to conferences to learn new ideas that can challenge them in the classroom.  I'll talk to them about taking a new struggling teacher under their wing and giving them support.  

Sometimes through the evaluation process, I'll find a teacher who loves working with students and getting involved in extra curricular activities.  I will try and pair that teacher with my student activities director.  I will encourage them to chaperone activities and attend student leadership meetings.  I will send them to student activities conferences and workshops.  These teachers often become the leaders of school clubs, student organizations, and student leader groups.  

Many times, in conversations with teachers, they will share their desire to become an administrator.  With these teachers, I will often find leadership opportunities on campus for them.  I will ask them to serve on committees and be a part of leadership groups.  I will find ways for them to spend time in the office seeing the day to day school management activities.  Additionally, I will find opportunities within the school district for these teachers to get involved with and learn about.  

I also encourage teachers to help develop staff trainings and carry out those trainings for their colleagues.  Teachers teaching teachers is a great way to cultivate leaders in a staff.  This helps younger staff identify colleagues that can help them with their instructional and curricular needs.  It also makes teachers feel more confident in their own practice by letting them show off their strengths to their colleagues.  

My teachers are all leaders within their own classrooms.  I try and encourage them to be leaders outside of their classrooms.  By providing them with a variety of opportunities to showcase their skills, they in turn become stronger within their classroom walls.  

Using the model from Google, write a top-ten list of reasons to work at your school/campus.

1.   The People!  My staff has been on site for 8-10 years.  They love coming to school every day and it's visible in all         
      that they do!

2.  The Students - All 400 of them!  I love my students.  They are fun, energetic, and truly care about their school!

3.  The District - We are part of a small school district - only 4 schools.  It is a family type atmosphere.

4.  The Creed - The Jefferson Creed has 5 components - Be responsible, Think before you speak, put others first,               
     Avoid conflict, Do Your Best Each Day.  My staff and students live and breathe these 5 simple rules each day.  

5.  The Community - Jefferson is comprised of families from south Tracy.  We aren't a big community, but we care 
     about each other and our school.

6.  A New Campus - We are building a new campus for our site.  It will open in the fall of 2015.  I can't wait!

7.  My Colleagues - I truly enjoy working with and learning from the other administrators in my district.  They have so 
     much to offer and we are a great team!

8.  P.E. Classes  - All 400 students run every day!  It's fantastic!  And the teachers run, too!

9.  The Culture - There's a reason we've been a distinguished school 4 times!  We support each other, have pride in 
     our school, and truly want every one to succeed!

10.  The Food - Yeah, I get a free lunch everyday.  It's pretty good too.

The readings and videos look at Generations in the workplace. In what ways do the characteristics attributed to your generational group describe you? In what ways are you different from the characteristics? As you read, listened to the presentation in class or watched the videos, did you ever say, “Oh, that is so me” or “I don’t fit that characteristic at all”?


I am a Gen Xer.  I definitely fit nicely into this group.  I have been using technology since I was in 11 years old.  I have had a computer in my classroom and/or office for my entire career.  I don't know any different.  I never had to use a paper gradebook as my gradebook has always been electronic.  I have always had the ability to communicate with my students and their parents through email.  Technology is a big part of my life both at work and at home.

I was a latchkey kid for part of my childhood.  I was lucky in that my mom stayed home early on.  Once I was older and in middle school and high school, I did take the bus home on my own and come home to an empty house a few times a week.  My parents were never downsized as they are self-employed so I never experienced that.

One characteristic that I definitely relate to is that I do attach to people, not groups.  In my career, I have worked with many talented educators.  I have had some very strong mentors and would definitely have followed them to other districts.  I am loyal to managers/supervisors that I trust and respect.  If I don't respect my supervisor, I find it difficult to continue working with them.  I want to be mentored and have a strong leader to help me grow in my own practice.  I also want to have strong teachers around me and a strong team.  I attach to my team as much as I attach to a strong leader.  I do believe in leadership based on competence rather than authority.  I don't care if you are my boss if I think you are totally incompetent.  I'll leave and work some place else because I don't respect incompetence.  

I definitely like and appreciate frequent feedback and recognition.  If I am doing something well or working hard, I like to hear that positive reinforcement.  I also like constructive feedback.  It's important to know what I can do better.  

I want my supervisor and or my teachers to be truthful and direct.  Tell me what you want and when you want it and I'll do it.    Give me some specific goals and expectations and I will meet them.  I like having a to do list and knowing that I've accomplished tasks. I'm good at multitasking and I do it often.  I also like to know "why" I'm doing something.  I want to know why this is good for the school or for my students or for my teachers.  I want to know why I'm asking my teachers to do something.  What's the point and why should I care?  

I also understand the balance between work and home life.  I want to work hard but efficiently so that I can go home to my family.  I will do my job well and give 150% but I'm not going to waste time and be at work til a certain hour just to be there.  If I'm done, I'm going to go home.  
I enjoyed reading about the 4 generations.  I think there is some overlap in the characteristics of each generation which means that we are learning from each other.  We all bring strengths and talents to the job and we all have areas for improvement.

All I want for Christmas is to finish my course work!  Yeah, I'm looking forward to a break from the hustle and bustle of writing and reading and doctoral studies!  This has been an eye opening few months.  I was terrified when I started this program and I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  Frankly, I didn't know if I keep up with the pace and work of a Doctoral program.  It definitely has been a learning process.  I've learned to read, to write, to manage my time, and to ask for help!  I'm still working on the reading thing and I expect it'll take some more time before I can really get through a research article in a timely manner.  I've really learned a lot about scholarly writing and the process of putting together a paper.  I have some strategies in my pocket now that will help me over the next few years.  Managing my time has been a struggle.  Being an army wife, an often single mom (with a traveling husband) to 2 young girls 5 and under, a new Principal, and a 1st semester Doctoral student had been a challenge.  There were times when it seemed like I wasn't doing any of these things well.  I kept dropping all of the balls I was juggling.  As I got to the end of the semester, I took some big deep breaths and just relaxed.  That seemed to really help!  I started carving out an hour each night to do homework.  This seemed to really help keep the other balls in the air.  I'm looking forward to my next classes as I have a better idea of what to expect and how to handle the work.  

My journey has just begun!  I'm looking forward to the rest of the ride and the bumpy road ahead!

Is it really the last class already?  Where the heck did the semester go?  So we are going to eat, drink, and read portfolios!  I have enjoyed doing peer reviews throughout this semester.  I have found them to be really valuable.  I have come to trust my classmates opinions and feedback on my work and I have found that reading their work to be an incredible benefit.  I can't tell you how many times I visited my classmates blogs to see what they were up to and what they were writing about.  Their thoughts inspired me and kept me going!  

I think we have all come a long way this semester.  It was fun reading through the portfolios of my 2 classmates and seeing their work.  Some of the pieces in their portfolios helped me to improve on sections of my own work.  One of my colleagues had a great course plan and I borrowed some of his plan for my own.  I liked his class choices and they were much the same as the ones I had chosen.  It was interesting to see how we had all set up our websites and why we chose to do what we did.  One of my colleagues chose to use a "thematic" approach for her portfolio.  My approach was more linear.  It's all a personal style!  Seeing each others pictures and reading blogs was highly entertaining and informative.  It was nice to know that we all were suffering the same pain at times during class!  We all have such a diverse collection of research interests.  It will be interesting to see where our interests take us in the next couple of years.