Dr. Victoria Pettis

Summer Cohort 2006

EOCS 7450

Standard V. A school administrator is an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by acting with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner.

Description of the Activity: Describe and explain issues relevant to this standard.

Explanation of the Activity: Since September 2005, I have been a member of my school district’s continuous improvement committee. One of our first tasks was to formulate a set of core values that we all believe in -- regardless of our job responsibilities, whether we work at the board office or within an individual school, our level of education, etc. When the dust settled, we had a consensus of five core values that we felt described who we are as a school district: trust, respect, integrity, diversity, and excellence.

Based on these core values, I felt it important to write a reflective poem on how my leadership behavior will model my personal and professional ethics, integrity, justice, and fairness.

My Behavior as Educational Leader

I pledge to be a human reflection of the school district’s core values.

As an educational leader, I will model:

Trust.

I am an honest educational leader.

You can count on me to

Say what I mean and mean what I say.

I will do what I say I will do.

If I can’t do something, I will admit it to

Superiors, colleagues, faculty and staff, parents and students

I will do all that I can

To make my school site a safe environment

For open communication.

I will work at my school and in the school district

To ensure honest, consistent processes for decision making

I will exhibit the courage to address

Issues directly with every person I meet –

whether those communications are

Face-to-face or in writing.

As an educational leader, I will model:

Respect.

In the way I treat every man, woman, and child –

Regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or sexual orientation –

I will treat him or her in such a way

that each individual will walk away feeling

Important,

Valued,

Cared about,

Listened to

(regardless of my differences in opinion),

And with their dignity still intact

(no matter the situation).

As an educational leader, I will model:

Integrity.

I will maintain high ethical and moral standards

Personally and professionally

I am human and will make mistakes,

But I will take responsibility for all my actions and decisions.

I will never be too sophisticated or highly educated

To say, “I messed up,” or “I am sorry.”

For me, professional behavior is still right

When there’s nobody but me in my office with only God watching.

After all, in my heart, soul, and spirit,

He is the one holding me accounting

in this position of authority

With that said, I must exhibit courage

At ALL times

To stand up for what’s right

Even when such a stand may

Put me at odds with the people who could have me fired.

To whom much is given,

Much is required.

As an educational leader, I will model:

Diversity.

As a woman of color,

I live the belief that it is our differences

That make us stronger, not weaker.

With that belief, in my capacity,

I will promote equitable treatment for students and colleagues.

It is significant to my success and longevity

To ALWAYS seek to understand

The cultures of the people I work with and serve.

Understanding each other is just the beginning of forming relationships.

As an educational leader, I will model:

Excellence.

I will set high standards for myself,

And hold high standards for the behavior of

Faculty and staff,

Parent and students

The school district,

The community and the world at large

I won’t expect anything from others

That I won’t do myself.

I will continually strive to

Improve the quality of my work and

Expect others to do the same.

I will create a workplace environment

Where everyone – including me – feels empowered to be

Risk-takers with creative ideas,

Exhibiting visionary leadership

An atmosphere that fosters the attitude,

“It’s okay to learn from one’s mistakes.”

An atmosphere where we support each other’s efforts

And refuse to make excuses for our failures

I pledge to be a human reflection of the school district’s core values.

As an educational leader, I will model

Trust,

Respect,

Integrity,

Diversity, and

Excellence

In every situation

With every person

Before, during, and after school hours

Until I retire.