Internship Plan Revisions

After consulting with my internship supervisor, Superintendent John Hartgraves, I decided to change activity 24 to a more in depth activity regarding budget supervision.  With the declining enrollment at HISD and current financial restrictions, it is imperative that our district examine current staffing patterns and areas where campuses could be combined and staff could be cut.  We have been through RIF situations for the past three years and must continue to make cuts anywhere possible.

The following change was made to my draft internship plan based on feedback from Mr. Hartgraves.

24. Budget Supervision

Competency 8

Examine the school budget and the various accounts under the discretion and responsibility of the principal.  Analyze the extent to which funds are directly related to increasing learning.  Include a brief analysis of major responsibilities, plans, reports, and concerns. Through an Action Research Plan, determine the minimum number of staff necessary in our school district.  Develop a plan which shows “layers” of staff assignments from the minimum staff required to the current staffing situation.  Include logistics of teachers, buildings, classrooms, etc. as well as the impact on the district budget and finances.

Keith Elrod Jon Hartgraves

May 2013

Vita Revisions

My peers were very positive and helpful with their feedback.  Their remarks gave me confidence that I was on the right track with the vita.  The recommendation to increase the information about my activities in my current position was very helpful.  I realized that I had included more info in the previous positions that I had in my current position.  Although this may be due to the fact that I have only been HS principal for two years, there are numerous activities I could include.  I appreciated the encouragement to do so.

I added the following bullet points to the Hico High School Principal section of my vita at the recommendation of my peers:

• Implemented a Positive Behavior Support program which has reduced absences and tardies, as well as improved school spirit and teacher morale.
• As campus testing coordinator, I have organized all state assessment testing dates, groups, etc.
• Successfully, hosted the District UIL Academic Meet two years in a row.

Thanks to those of you who offered input and helped me improve my vita!

Professional Vita

Shelli Dyann Stegall

913 N. Kirk Street, Hico, TX 76457

(254)485-4984; sstegall@hico-isd.net

Education/Certification

M.Ed. – Education Administration, Lubbock Christian University, Lubbock, TX, 2004

BS – Elementary Education, Math specialization, West Texas A & M University, Canyon, TX 1990

Superintendent Certificate – Lamar University, Beaumont, TX (Expected completion June 1, 2013)

Principal Certificate – Grades EC-12, Lubbock Christian University, Lubbock, TX, 2004

Texas Teacher Certificates – Elementary Self Contained (Grades 1-8); Elementary Mathematics (Grades 1-8); Secondary Mathematics (Grades 6-12);  Educational Aid I

Administrative and Leadership Experience

Principal, Hico High School, Hico ISD, Hico, TX, 2010 – present.

·         Led the implementation of instructional technology in the form of iPads and netbooks in the classrooms at HHS.

·         Led teachers in the implementation of the CSCOPE curriculum.

·         Provided district-wide training on the incorporation of the book, The Fundamental 5, by Sean Cain and Mike Laird, and led teachers in the implementation of the concepts presented.

·         Provided training in data analysis programs such as AEIS-It and Eduphoria.

Principal, Hico Junior High School, Hico ISD, Hico, TX, November 2005 – present.

·         Implemented the Positive Behavior Support Initiative by designing a comprehensive PBS program that rewarded students for positive behavior, attendance, etc.

·         Utilized the PBS initiative to improve campus morale and teamwork among teachers.

·         Led teachers in the implementation of the CSCOPE curriculum.

·         Created a positive learning environment which resulted in HJH moving from an acceptable campus (2005, 2006) to a Recognized Campus (2007,2008) and finally an Exemplary campus (2009, 2010)

·         Wrote and successfully implemented the TEEG grant which provided monetary bonuses to teachers for improved student test scores. (2007)

·         Provided training in data analysis programs such as AEIS-It.

Assistant Principal, Hico Junior High and Hico Elementary School, Hico ISD, Hico, TX, August 2005 – November 2005.

·         Assisted the junior high and elementary principals with various activities until being named Junior High Principal in November.

·         Served as textbook coordinator the district.

·         Served as testing coordinator for the junior high school.

Math Department Chairperson, Watson Junior High, Muleshoe ISD, Muleshoe, TX, 1996 – 2004.

Teaching Experience

Math Teacher, Hico Junior High, Hico ISD, Hico, TX, 2004-2005.

·         Taught 6^th grade math, 7^th grade problem solving and 8^th Grade Algebra I.

·         Served as AEIS-It contact for the district and trained teachers in the use of the data analysis program.

·         Served as UIL Director and hosted the District Academic UIL meet.

Math Teacher, Watson Junior High, Muleshoe ISD, Muleshoe, TX, 1994-2004.

·         Taught 7^th grade math, 7^th/8^th grade Pre-Algebra and 8^th grade Algebra I.

·         Co-taught the Gifted and Talented class.

·         Assisted counselor with campus TAAS/TAKS administration.

Fourth Grade Teacher, Dublin Elementary School, Dublin ISD, Dublin, TX 1991-1993.

Related Experience

Paraprofessional, Gilbert Intermediate School, Stephenville ISD, Stephenville, TX, January 1991 – May 1991.

Substitute Teacher/Stay-at-home mother, Dublin ISD, Dublin, TX, August 1993 – May 1994.

Presentations

Eduphoria Training (district-wide), Hico ISD, Hico, TX, 2011 – present.

AEIS-It Training (district-wide), Hico ISD, Hico, TX, 2005 – 2011.

District PDAS Trainer, Hico ISD, Hico, TX, 2005-2008.

District PDAS Trainer, Muleshoe ISD, Muleshoe, TX, ?? – 2004.

Elementary Mathematics Academies, ESC 17, Lubbock, TX, 2001 – 2002.

Professional Affiliations

Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, 2005 – present.

Texas Classroom Teachers Association, 1994 – 2005

Honors and Awards

Delta Kappa Gamma Administrator of the Year, Stephenville Chapter, Stephenville, TX, 2010

Secondary Teacher of the Year, Muleshoe ISD, Muleshoe, Texas, 1995

Community Involvement

Civic Club Board of Directors, Hico Civic Club, Hico, TX, 2011 – present

·         Organize community service events that maintain a positive relationship between the school and community.

·         Organized and supervised a High School and Junior High Dance as well as a 5K Run during the Hico Old Settler’s Reunion Week.

Civic Club Member, Hico Civic Club, Hico, TX, 2006 – present

Provide student and HISD faculty volunteers for various community service events.

·         Provide student volunteers to deliver United Care gift boxes at the Senior Citizen Center each month.

Volunteer for Texas Steak Cook-Off, Hico, TX, 2005 – present.

·         Provide, train and organize volunteers for the event.  Most volunteers are HISD employees.

·         Served as an Assistant Director in 2011-2012.

Volunteer for Hico Six Man Super Saturday, Hico, TX, 2005 – present.

·         Organize student groups to work the concession stand.

·         Assign volunteers (HISD employees) to work the gate throughout the day.

·         Provide a list of contributing organizations to the Super Six organizers.  Each contributing organization is provided with a monetary donation from the Super Six fund.

Professional References

References will be included on a separate page, if requested.

An Interview With Jon Hartgraves

The superintendent interview was a valuable learning experience.  It allowed me the opportunity to ask a variety of questions and analyze the leadership style of my superintendent.  Mr. Hartgraves has been superintendent of Hico ISD since May.  In that short time, I have developed a respect and admiration for his leadership style.  I appreciated the opportunity to ask him specific questions and learn from his experiences.

 

(#4, #5) As I interviewed Mr. Hartgraves, one common theme emerged: Lead by example.  In every answer, he stressed the importance of being an example of integrity, ethics, consistency, fairness and transparency.  As the “face of the district”, Mr. Hartgraves believes in being visible on every campus and keeping the lines of communication open.

 

(#2) When asked about the positive aspects of being a superintendent, Mr. Hartgraves stated that he gets great satisfaction from seeing progress in the entire district.  Having influence over the “big picture” is rewarding because you see how your decisions impact every member of the district.  Interestingly, he alluded to the Transfer Theory of Learning.  He said that one of the positives is being able to take the strategies that worked at other levels of administration and applying them to leading the entire district.  It is obvious that Mr. Hartgraves is a teacher at heart and enjoys leading educators at the superintendent level.

 

(#3) One of the negative aspects of being superintendent, according to Mr. Hartgraves, is knowing that the buck stops with you.  Generally, when a problem makes it through the chain of command and reaches the superintendent office, it means the problem is a big one.  Dealing with “big problems” means that you are about to make a decision that affects many people.  Also among the negative aspects is the stress in the area of finance.  The superintendent has the ultimate responsibility and decision making when it comes to fiscal management.  This leads to stress because he says, “You NEVER stop thinking or worrying about money, facilities, etc.”  It is a never ending stress that is difficult to abate.

 

(#12) In regard to the management of everything from budgets to technology, Mr. Hartgraves believes in constant evaluation and long range planning.  One must consider the following: where the district has been, where the district is, and where the district is going.  It is critical to build on the current snapshot of the district. This evaluation and planning must include all stakeholders involved. Mr. Hartgraves also believes in developing a written plan of action which includes specific and measurable goals.  He stressed the importance of evaluating data daily in order to stay current on the state of the district.  Requesting regular reports from principals, technology directors, business manager, cafeteria manager, maintenance staff, etc. is the key to making clear and effective decisions.

 

(#15) When asked to give additional advice, Mr. Hartgraves again stressed the importance of being visible, personable and open with students, staff, parents and community members.  He reminded me to be open to new ideas and willing to listen. Networking is also critical to the success of a superintendent.  Knowing who to call, developing a contact list, and attending events with other superintendents is imperative. Learning about the practical things: Rules vs. Rules of Thumb, will help the superintendent make better decisions.  This type of knowledge is gained from spending time listening to and learning from the experiences of other superintendents.  Most important, don’t be afraid to ask questions.

 

I consider myself fortunate to serve alongside such a respected, ethical and effective superintendent.  I look forward to learning from Mr. Hartgraves throughout this internship process.

Using Blogs as Educational Leaders

If used in a professional manner, blogs are an extremely effective networking tool.  They provide a way of sharing ideas and soliciting feedback in every area of the school system.  Whether it is simply explaining a new program or celebrating the successes of your school, using a blog can enhance communication between administrators and all stakeholders: parents, students, staff and community. 

Action Research

Action research is a challenging, but extremely effective educational tool.  It requires learners to evaluate their school, report strengths and weaknesses, and then create a plan of action.  The action plan is detailed and specific as to the activities you will use to enhance the success of your district.  Perhaps the greatest benefit of Action Research is the accountability it provides.  As administrators, we are continuously looking for ways to improve our schools.  However, we do not always put our plans in writing which may cause us to be less focused on making improvements.  Developing a specific plan and evaluating your progress on the plan is critical to implementation.      Through this action research plan, I will use a variety of methods to evaluate my school as well as evaluate my effectiveness as a leader.  The activities included in my internship plan will be focused around specific areas in need of improvement, namely those competencies Domain III.  I will include many activities that enhance my knowledge of budgeting, facility management and personnel management.  I have no doubt that this action research plan, although challenging, will give me the training necessary to become an effective school superintendent.