Curriculum+Management+5335

Reflection: This course has definitely given me a better understanding of what curriculum is, and how I can effectively manage it on my campus. I feel that I am much more aware of how to use data to provide the appropriate curriculum. I plan to focus on using the TEA learning components to evaluate and further develop the curriculum on my campus. With the help of this course I have a better understanding for what curriculum management means, and will be more prepared to evaluate my school’s curriculum to ensure that the written, taught, and tested curricula are congruent. The most relevant topic to me as a school administrator is becoming an instructional leader. I feel it is important to lead by example and be supportive of my staff. I can reference and demonstrate the organizational and curriculum theories learned in this class with my staff, so that they are better informed when we make group decisions. Much of what I have learned cannot be done alone, but I feel that I am prepared as an instructional leader to lead others to make appropriate decisions about curriculum. I plan to make site based decisions with the help of the formation of PLC committees. I will involve staff members from all disciplines, so that each group is represented in making decisions about the curriculum. I now have a better understanding of learner centered instruction. I will be able to appropriately distribute the adequate materials to teachers to support learner centered activities in their classrooms. With this new knowledge, I will be able to provide my staff with staff development opportunities that center on the ideas of learner centered instruction, and promote these principles in their classrooms. Our students will have a properly trained staff that will help them to achieve success at higher levels. In this course we had to collaborate online with peers to complete some of our assignments. I think this is an important practice and I plan to continue to collaborate as I make decisions. Our peers are very valuable resources that we can utilize to help us accomplish similar goals. I learned that it is important to gain respect and trust in my peers so that we can effectively collaborate. With trust comes empowerment. By gaining trust and empowering my staff, I will have greater success in maintaining a positive school climate. As we use PLC committee’s to make site based decisions on curriculum, I will face tough decisions on what programs are still effective and which need to be modified. With the help of the available data, I will make decisions that ensure I am funding programs that support student achievement. By having a clear vision and being willing to make the needed sacrifices to make those visions come to life, my campus will be able to support the outcomes. With these changes will come a lot of uneasy staff. I hope to encourage all of my staff to take an active role in making site based decisions by joining a committee geared toward improving student achievement. I also feel that when my campus effectively analyzes the data from benchmark testing, achievement tests, and other sources that we will be better prepared to make appropriate changes to our curriculum. By using data to make these decisions, I will be able to act fairly. By designing an action plan to carry out my vision, I will also be able to use my staff’s strengths to implement the needed changes. It is important to maintain an active, ongoing relationship with colleagues from different areas of instruction, including those at the district and state level. I plan to utilize the district and state personnel to help me reach the goals my campus has set for our students. While it is important that our mission and goals match up with those of the district, I also plan to distinguish our campus goals so that it meets the needs of the learners at my campus. I will continue to collaborate with my colleagues from other campuses in my district as well as be an active member in state wide committees that make decisions for all learners within the state. I plan to stay up to date with the “state of the art” in education so I can use it appropriately on my own campus. I will also continue to attend and create staff development to help stay up to date with the direction of education.