Standard 5: Teachers Demonstrate Leadership
Element a: Teachers demonstrate leadership in their schools.
Classroom: As a classroom leader, I model correct behavior, manage the classroom, and teach students to be learners.
School: Within the school, I have been a leader in the following ways over the last few years:
Classroom: As a classroom leader, I model correct behavior, manage the classroom, and teach students to be learners.
School: Within the school, I have been a leader in the following ways over the last few years:
- Department Chair: I spent the last 6 years as the World Language Department Chair at Monarch High School.
- Professional Learning Communities: every week I lead/participate in World Language PLCs. Our department was one of the first to request this and we have aligned our instruction within each level. Having common assessments has really helped us focus on essential curriculum for students and how to make sure they are meeting the standards.
- Curriculum Council: I am a member/leader of the World Language Curriculum Council for the district. I am able to bring back information from the district to the members of my department to make sure we are aligned with other schools in the district.
- Textbook adoption: I was a member of the textbook adoption committee a few years ago. We reviewed all available textbooks to determine what was best for schools and students. We are up for adoption again in the next two years and I hope to be part of this process again.
- Hiring committee: Help with hiring new members of the World Language department.
Element b: Teachers contribute knowledge and skills to educational practices and the teaching profession.
Over the last few years, I have started trying to give back to the World Language education community. I have been involved in the following ways:
Over the last few years, I have started trying to give back to the World Language education community. I have been involved in the following ways:
- Sponsor practicum students from the University of Colorado: these students spend about 50 hours in the classroom during the semester and also teach a few lessons throughout their time with me. I strive to get them as involved as possible with students and planning.
- Sponsor student teachers from the University of Colorado: these students essentially work my schedule for an entire semester and I help them understand what it takes to become a World Language teacher. Although this is a lot of work, I have found this to be some of the most rewarding work I have done in years. I also love the new ideas that younger teachers bring to education, which helps to inspire me to try new methods.
- Curriculum Project with the Colorado Department of Education: for the last two years I have worked with CDE to create curriculum units that will be available to teachers in the near future. The overarching units are already available online, but the next phase will help break those units into daily lessons that also provide resources. This experience has really given me an understanding of what the state expects for curriculum and how to develop thematic units.
- World Language Teacher Leader for BVSD: I have been a Teacher Leader for the past three years. Through this position I have been able to attend more conferences and trainings and have brought those ideas back to the teachers in Boulder Valley. I help plan and lead the district Professional Development days and lead the World Language Curriculum Council.
Element c: Teachers demonstrate high ethical standards.
Although this is difficult to find specific evidence, this is something I strive to do and hope to continually improve upon because of its importance. In addition to modeling ethical behavior, I believe it is important to hold students to high ethical behavior as well. This can range from anything in honesty about class work, cheating on tests, and simply treating others well. I try to look for "teachable" moments during class time and make it obvious to students when they are not behaving ethically in addition to celebrating when they do behave ethically.
Although this is difficult to find specific evidence, this is something I strive to do and hope to continually improve upon because of its importance. In addition to modeling ethical behavior, I believe it is important to hold students to high ethical behavior as well. This can range from anything in honesty about class work, cheating on tests, and simply treating others well. I try to look for "teachable" moments during class time and make it obvious to students when they are not behaving ethically in addition to celebrating when they do behave ethically.