The principal is an accomplished teacher who
practices quality leadership in the provision of opportunities for optimum
learning and development of all students in the school.
My teaching
career has led me in many unanticipated and diverse directions. The experiences
I have had, and the lessons I have learned along this journey are the platform
of my skill-set and knowledge as a professional teacher and educational leader.
I believe that more often than not, the path chooses us.
I have taught
at least one subject to kids from grades one through ten. I taught a first and
second grade split class during my first year teaching at Tall Cree Indian
Reserve in northern Alberta. From that jump-off point I continued my growth and
development as a teacher for five years in grades three to six within two other
Aboriginal communities. I moved to Red Deer and joined the Alternative School
Programs in my seventh year of teaching. I worked with grades six to ten over
the next eight years within two different segregated programs addressing severe
student behavior. I completed my Masters Degree in Leadership (focus on school
counseling,) during this period. I then took a position as a counselor for what
turned out to be one year at the middle school level. At this point my
direction shifted once again, and I was fortunate to become a school
administrator at Mattie McCullough Elementary School.
With every
teaching and administrative position I have held, I have assumed different
formal and informal leadership roles designed to optimize learning and
development opportunities for all students. Additionally, I have assumed
leadership roles throughout my career putting me in a position to support the ongoing
and purposeful professional development of my teaching colleagues and beyond as
a conference speaker, workshop writer, blogger and author.
This
reflection summarizes my teaching experiences, my personal professional growth
and my perspective as a learner and teacher relative to the leadership
dimensions contained within Alberta Education’s Principal Quality Practise
Guideline. These are the elements that form the foundation of my practise as an
educational leader. Over the course of my career I have formulated a set of
personal beliefs that guide my practise. Many, if not all of these beliefs,
permeate my life away from school in ubiquitous ways also. I will reference
these as “I believe” statements where appropriate throughout this reflection.
