Discussion 8N

Isaiah

There are many responsibilities that administrators have when managing a school building or district. One of the most important is their responsibility to manage and lead their building and district personnel. Without fulfilling the administrative human resource requirements or developing staff effectively, there is no room for success. This course has opened my eyes to the many areas of administration that need to be addressed. Whenever I earn a job as an administrator, I must continue to learn and grow. Learning is continuous, and a good leader is also a good learner (Blase et al., 2010). To continue my professional growth and development, I will become a member of the American Association of School Personnel Administrators. Attending conferences will give me an opportunity to form new research collaborations, build new skills, and meet professionals in the field (Estien et al., 2021). I will attend the American Association of School Personnel Administrators annual conference and other events they sponsor. I will also subscribe to the latest literature. There is a lot to learn and I will try my best to learn relevant information.

In addition to attending conferences, I will participate in school leadership coaching. Although conferences, seminars, and workshops are beneficial, they are only short-term training events. Long-term coaching has been found to be more meaningful and impactful than one-day training. (Darling-Hammond et al., 2009). In this form of professional development, I will hire outside coaches, or I will use coaching programs sponsored by the state department of education. Experienced leaders and coaches will observe my school leadership styles, observe my administrative practices, evaluate my effectiveness, and offer feedback and suggestions. Participating in this form of professional development ensures that I, as a new administrator, gain multiple perspectives, insights, and opinions. This form of professional development also creates an environment where I am constantly growing and adapting to fit the needs of the school personnel and community. 

Jacklyn

In this course we reviewed several personnel issues that an administrator is likely to face at some point in her career and discussed the implications of decision making in each case. We also looked at different policies governing how we should deal with a range of personnel issues when they arise. This is important to ensure fairness and equity for all. It is also important to ensure we are governing ourselves in a manner that is consistent with the guidelines set forth by Florida statues and the professional standards for principals. 

When dealing with personnel, an effective administrator must be a good listener. Being able to hear the concerns of your staff can make all the difference when you are trying to solve problems or resolve conflict. It is also a key component of the decision-making process. She must be able to communicate well. A good leader leads with vision, but this vision cannot be executed without the support of an informed staff. Additionally, as a coach and mentor, an administrator is responsible for evaluating employees and providing constructive feedback to help develop their skills. This feedback will only be helpful if articulated in a clear, concise, and cohesive manner. She must exercise empathy. Great leadership requires a fine mix of all kinds of skills to create the conditions for engagement, happiness and performance, and empathy tops the list of what leaders must get right (Brower, 2022). In fact, research draws a direct correlation between employees who feel valued with a high level of engagement, retention, innovation, and cooperation.

As a new administrator it will be important to hone these skills and others, through ongoing education and mentoring programs such as the Professional Learning Team which provides support by giving feedback on areas of strength and areas where growth is still needed. During this time, I would continue to improve my knowledge on the Florida Principals Leadership Standards and engage in professional studies on this topic. Embedded within the program are professional readings designed to develop and enhance leadership skills. Current readings and research are enhanced through webinars (First Year Assistant Principal Program (FYAP)). I would also participate in monthly seminars led by Leadership Development representatives on the school campus or district site which affords new administrators an opportunity to engage in discussions with peers on best practices; receive feedback on how to deal with challenges; engage with technology through webinars; collaborate with leadership development staff; and complete required additional coursework.