Dr. Victoria Pettis

Summer Cohort 2006

EOCS 7450

Practicum in Leadership 

Shadowing Field Notes, Part 1

 

Dr. Ben Kerwin, CMS Principal

 

Date: November 9, 2006          Time:8:10  To   12:17                 Duration: 4   Hrs. 7  Min.

 

Notes

        (Descriptive, non-evaluative)

 

K is eating breakfast with daughter and helping her with homework.

 

K is filing emails in stored folders. Meeting with focus groups ****

 

K is reading email about staff member who has missed too many days.

 

Receptionist gives him a phone message.

 

K said  mother tried to enroll student who was ****

 

K is forwarding an email to people.

 

K gives her money to purchase books at the book fair. M. brings K several books from media center.

 

8:29 – G. comes in discuss: 1) the school secretary (C) is at a dentist appointment and Rill be late; and 2) 7th grade math teacher does not have a substitute. K tells her to contact 8th grade teacher, who has a practicum student who can cover the teacher’s spot until C returns.

 

8:31 – Gives the custodian a compliment about work. Says he is going

 

Mentioned to H. about saying something on the announcements about her classes doing models of the solar system. Compliments her.

 

K asks D to print out multiple copies of agenda for today’s principal’s meeting

 

D asks K to sign PSP payroll.

 

8:36 – K recites pledge, asks for a moment of silence. Makes announcements.

 

K commented that completed PLU plan for Whole Faculty Study Group and was able to send it in late due to a mistake by district and CMS.

 

K is signing paperwork for checks

 

K talked about a 7th grade teacher who is not doing well with classroom management. He said he has people working with him but it is still not going well.

 

K responding to emails.

 

K continues talking about social studies teacher who is weak in classroom management.

 

D. comes in to talk about substitute situation. K talks to G about practicum student covering teacher.

 

R. comes in to have K give his signature.

 

Re talk about the struggle of handling family and work.

 

K puts something in the shredder. He is organizing his desk.

 

K says he wants S to shadow me.

 

K is on the phone with H, principal of BHL. Asking about student pledge.

 

Workman talks to K about lights, air conditioning, and calking.

 

K talks to D and School Resource Officer (SRO) G about police Rants schools to do Pledge Day (against gun violence). It involves a student pledge, assembly, making posters, and shirts. K decided to do one assembly during 6th period.

 

R. comes in and joins the group.

 

K planning how to do program.

 

R. suggests that poster guidelines be structured.

 

9:05 – K answers phone in the middle of meeting. Resumes discussion on Pledge Day with D., R., and G.

 

9:11 – Parent and Student J come in to talk to K about a problem with discipline with R. J has to go to the car to get paper.

 

9:13 – Talked to D. about Canathon. Official dates are Dec. 1.

 

9:16 – K is reading paper that R. gave him. (It is a paper about discipline.) Says the level of it is not appropriate for middle school. Very sophisticated. Ask R. to check with teacher about this paper.  Tells/ assures parent and child that they are free from assignment until he has R. talk Rith teacher. Student is concerned about being asked about assignment on Friday.

 

9:22 – Parent leave K. K talks to R. and D. about inappropriateness of assignment. R. is reading some of statements on the assignments. K talks to R. about hat he should say to Teacher R when he talks to her.

 

D. says she is going to run off copies of schedule for meeting.

 

K is answering email. Tells R., D., and me about an email from the district office.

 

D. mentions to R. about Student K, a major behavior problem. R. tells her he is taking her to hearing.

 

K says he has observed the difference between the Ray boys and girls behave. Girls have the more aggressive behaviors.

 

R. asks him how long he Rill be at meeting. K says he Rill be at the meeting until 12 noon and at 2 p.m. he has a doctor’s appointment.

 

R. says he is getting K’s hearing packet into the mail.

 

K says to R. about Teacher Scott about observing his class. Behavior specialist observed his class and told S that his class was chaotic. Rants to give S every support he can.

Asked teacher to “invite” him in, but he didn’t, so he is going unannounced.

 

R. said he Ras observing a class and Ranted to say something. Class Ras tortuous.

 

K – The kids aren’t the problem.

 

R. will do the observation. He leave K.

 

9:41 – Answers phone. Talking about teacher potentially. Tells caller to tell potential teachers to start sending resume.

 

9:44 – I leave with D to go middle school principals’ meeting.

 

 

**Middle School Principals’ Meeting**

Hooker started meeting began at 10:15. Nice introduction. People laugh.

 

Agendas were distributed. People getting food.

 

Handout distributed by M.N.

 

10:17 --K complimented BHL on food spread and introduced me to group. Talked about agenda and introduced first person on agenda: M.N.

 

M. began talking about 8th grade Transition Professional Development for Tue., Nov. 14, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

K expresses his concern about the transition students, who still need academic and behavior support in January when they begin taking high school credit courses. He doesn’t want this experience to be too high school oriented. The kids are still in middle school.

 

L.J. talks to group about speakers coming to talk to transition students.

 

K talks about modifying the gym period so that students can have the best experience and disrupt students as little as possible.

 

K thanks L. and M. about their work on the professional day for transition teachers. He asks:  Is there a need for one in the spring?

 

G.B. asks for numbers of students going to high school.

 

K starts the discussion about what to do with transition students who haven’t earned their way to high school. How do we differentiate those who have earned it from those who hadn’t? Made some suggestions about dinner, banquet, etc.

 

M. suggested a night at a UGA dorm and using the Ramsey center,

 

H. & P. agree it would be a great idea.

 

M. – Do you want me to come up with some ideas and get back to everyone?

 

K directs his comments to Jim from the superintendent’s office: Are we on the right track?

 

J. says he thinks the superintendent and board would support such an incentive.

 

H. & P. agree that celebration should be kept simple.

 

K – Sounds like we have consensus that we move everyone on.

 

H. We’ve given our best effort.

 

K says they need to put into place something to track if the program helps them be successful in high school.

 

J says Jobs for Georgia Graduates could be the program to help these students be successful.

 

K. brought up issue of teen mothers being placed at PLC. Need to finalize what students from transition to PLC. Need to come up with criteria for PLC.

 

B. asks questions about high school making connections to transition.

 

K provides summary of next agenda item: retention of 6th and 7th grade. Discussion follows. M. reads out loud the BOE policy of retention policy.

 

D. policy dictates that middle school summer school provide the core classes/

 

Discussion bounces back and forth among H., K, K., and D.

 

11:03 H. talks about the pyramid of interventions his school uses for BHL. Suggests that principals be proactive and get together on this problem or with students who are failing.

 

K compliments H. on initiating this.

 

Discussion turns to the failure rate of students. If teachers are giving actual grades, this leaves very little room for students to pass. There is a need for teachers to contact parents.

 

B. – We have to be more proactive instead of reactive. Offers other options other than summer school, such as mini-mester. Need to go to board with a proposal to meet the needs of students. Superintendent felt like summer school staff was not quality, which may be the reason summer school was not successful.

 

K objected the superintendent’s perception of lack of quality in summer school staff.

 

Next middle school principals’ meeting: CMS Dec. 5 @ 10 a.m. – Retention/Summer School

 

J objected the group’s assessment of board policy on retention.

 

K asks clarifying question.

 

Jennings agrees with Jim.

 

P suggests that elementary school principals be included in the meeting about retention.

 

G. talks about MAP testing Nov. 29-Dec. 14. It’s a check-up point. Looking for growth January to May.

 

K testing only some of the kids makes it a logistical problem.

 

H. said he is testing everyone. So is P.

 

G. said the district has been granted a waiver for the ITBS in reading, language arts, math, and science. Must give NRT in social studies. CRCT On-line system is up and running.

 

J talks about orchestra instruments needed at his school.

 

B. – This is a program problem. We have gaps in art and/or orchestra from middle to high school.

 

J wants to see orchestra program back at middle schools.

 

K – Clarifying question: The issue is programs/stick-it-to-it-tiveness and money.

 

Discussion back and forth about issue of orchestra programs at all four middle schools.

 

Action: J will buy the instruments needed for H. Distributes middle school staffing formula handouts to principals.

 

M.T. – talked about advance placement for next school year. Suggested putting back criteria of TSARS test back.

 

Discussion.

 

K clarified what the issue was and provided background information.

Asks G. and K to do some research.

 

K has FTE reports for each school about gifted and ELL. All schools hurt by FTE. Has reports and Rill be happy to talk to each school.

 

B – Keep focus in the spring on FTE.

 

G -- Keep it to 55-minute segments.

 

K clarifying about mistakes made about FTE.

 

H – Need communication from higher-ups to communicate with principals so that FTE money isn’t lost.

 

H – Need to know parameters before school schedule is built.

 

B – Getting mixed messages from state DOE.

 

K interjects topic of Pledge Day. Discussion follows.

 

K Let’s talk about scheduling at our next middle school principals’ meeting in January.

 

12:17 End of meeting!

Reflection

(Insights, questions)

 

Why am I so nervous? I am only shadowing K He’s not shadowing me!

 

Although you’re a leader, you have to learn to balance family and work.

 

To be a good leader, you HAVE to be organized.

 

He arrived late. He commented that he had to stop because of his daughter. Glad he has assistant principal to come in early.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You have to make sure faculty and staff feels appreciated and valued.

 

 

 

 

A principal has so many roles/hats to take on!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I NEVER knew that K was able to do announcements from his phone.

 

 

 

You must KNOW what you’re signing.

 

 

 

 

How do you deal fairly, appropriately with teachers who are struggling?

 

 

 

 

An effective leader is constantly communicating.

 

 

 

I would need to come in at 7 a.m. to have some quiet time before my day begins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hmm. Do I need one of these?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have to take care of building needs This would be an area I would have to learn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gotta be prepared!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principals have to be a jack-of-all-trades.

 

 

 

 

I would have to get used to parents dropping by. I am irritated when parents do that without calling first.

 

 

 

An effective leader makes a parent feel that his/her child is important.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have GOT to stay healthy. I need to start exercising and eating healthier. After this program, I plan to start going to bed on a schedule.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meetings need to be punctual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Administrators need to be able to quote statistics about your school. I can’t afford to be ignorant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An effective leader is proactive, not reactive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do you work with a crazy superintendent who cares so little about his principals and teachers?

 

 

I really like how S always kept the meeting going and kept clarifying information for the benefit of everyone. It was very helpful. He was truly a leader among the other principalK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Principals should work together, instead of against each other. This is not a race.

 

 

 

 

 

This is something I know nothing about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We lost a lot of money for FTE due to miscommunication/no communication with principals and other personnel. There needs to be better communication from BOE personnel and school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This program sounds promising.

 

I wish I could attend this meeting. I found this meeting of middle school principals fascinating to witness!