Week 2 CEDO 565

     This week we are getting into two concepts, data and team building.  When it comes to data and data collection I have not participated in a data retreat up to this point in my career.  I hope that it is all it sounds like is should be.  Lucky for me there are sites that host loads of data to be looked at and reviewed.  The Winns site is one.  It allows me to see my schools data and test scores and compare it with similar schools in the area.  We have looked into the Winns site before, but being assigned to look at our own schools is really getting some real life practice out of these exercises.
     We have also taken a look at what it takes to build a functioning team.  It is interesting to me to see the mechanics and learning the process that goes into adding team members as I was hired only 4 years ago.  This process that I went through is still fresh in my memory.  I have also volunteered to be on a hiring committee for a vacant special educator position that was to be working with our second grade team.  I found that I was sympathizing with the candidates having just recently gone through the process.  I also took what I thought was a good process or question with me to this hiring committee and ultimately we hired  a great new team member.  In our reading this week I enjoyed reading how other districts or schools go through the process and the things that can work or even go wrong.  A simple slip of information can surely send the staff into a downward spiral.  It is because of this that often a hiring committee does not include the school leader.  It is often put into the hands of the curriculum leader--Assistant Principal.  Our district does not have one of these and there for our Principal took the lead on all interviews.  The idea of opening the committee to staff members keeps the hire unbiased and ensures the new hire will mesh with the staff at the school.

CEDO 565--What Kind of Leader Am I?

     This week I spent some time looking at what kind of leader I am.  It was hard to evaluate myself as I like to think that I am the best and would do only what is right and "noble."  But in the situations given I think I will react one way, but in the momoment, in the face of the Superintendent, would I really say that his family member is not fit for the job?  I would like to think I would say this is not best for kids, but could I say no to the top of the power chain?  
     As I looked at my qualities of leadership I found that  adaptive aggressive is my highest score.  I do realize that I am very organized and give everything I do 100% effort.  This did not surprise me to much.  I was also not surprised by the dynamic supportive as I have a hard time saying no to people when the come to ask for help.  Similarly I was not surprised to see that in the Virtues of a leader I was strong in Empathy and imagination.  Both of these are ones I thought I would score well in.  I pride myself with my imagination and taking others into consideration.  But it is important to that I understand that my strength can also be a weakness.  Feeling bad for others cannot get in the way of a necessary task and my imagination can make a simple problem much more complex than it needs to be.  
     In taking time to look at leadership has been eye opening and I have found that there are many roles of a leader and I wish to fulfill more than what I am currently doing.   Others may see me as a leader, but I am not sure I would always feel the same way.  Self evaluating is much harder than I imagined, but it is good to look at to see what things I need to improve on.