Learn

Describe your Capstone Challenge and how you identified it.

Learn Artifacts 1 and 2: Survey Results. I received 50 responses from Building Reps on the survey I conducted. Of those 50, 21 could not recall visiting the BEA website. Of the 29 who had visited the website, 28 answered the question "Do you feel the BEA is in need of an updated website?" Of those 28, 27 felt the BEA is in need of an updated website.

Describe your diverse stakeholders and how you selected them, such as colleagues, parents, students, association members, community members, state or local partners, etc.

The main stakeholders in this project are the Association’s “Building Reps.” Because our school district is large, with twenty-two elementary schools, six middle schools, and four high schools, each building has elected representatives who meet monthly with the BEA President and Board to review Association business and discuss current issues impacting BEA members. These elected Building Reps will be the members of our District most likely to access the website and will need to have a site they are comfortable using. There are approximately 75 Building Reps in our Association, who represent all grade levels, a variety of subject areas and specialties, and various career stages.

Learn Artifacts 3 and 4: Demographic Information. 50 Building Reps filled out my Needs Assessment survey. Results show that the Reps who filled out the survey were spread fairly evenly across grade levels and number of years they have taught.

Why is it important for your diverse stakeholders that the Capstone Challenge be addressed?

The current BEA website is outdated to the point that it deters members from using it. It has broken links, outdated forms, and an inaccessible format. In such a large school district, it is important for our members to be able to find out information about the Association for themselves, as it is impractical to expect the president or our office administrator to constantly answer basic questions from members or Building Reps about topics that could easily be addressed on an accessible website.

Learn Artifacts 5 and 6: Survey Comments. Building Reps voiced a number of different concerns regarding the old website and had some good suggestions for how to make it more useful for them and the other BEA members.

In what ways will addressing the Capstone Challenge promote or support the foundational competencies?

Creating a new BEA website supports the Foundational Competency I am focusing on for my Capstone - Explore and Challenge Inequity. Currently, the website is not ADA-compliant and may be challenging or impossible for many of our members to utilize. With broken links, non-functioning dropdown menus, and small text, the BEA website may in particular discourage any educators with disabilities from becoming more active in the Association. It may also prevent members who are less comfortable with technology from finding what they need, and it may be off-putting to members who are technologically savvy, as they may find it to be unprofessional. By updating the website to make sure it is sleek, modern, and ADA-compliant, I hope to encourage all BEA members to use the website as a valuable resource.

Is it your intention to broaden the existing vision, values and/or culture of the association or to create a cultural shift?  Explain.

I intend to broaden the existing vision, values, and culture of the association. The current website, while outdated in format, is still relevant in the sense that the values it expresses are still the values of the BEA. Ideally, the new website will be a tool to help Building Reps and members to find information about the BEA more easily and encourage engagement from educators across the District.

Why might this strategy be a viable solution for your Capstone Challenge?

Our association already has strong engagement from its Building Reps and members. As a large school district, we have many resources, and together with over 1,100 members, we have a strong voice. Creating an updated website that reflects that shared vision and voice will help unify the association further.

On which two Overarching Competencies will you focus in addressing your Capstone Challenge?  Why are they relevant? 

The two overarching competencies I will focus on are Communication and Technological Facility. Both are very relevant to my project as I will need to improve both my tech and communication leadership skills in order to create a successful website. In the area of communication, I will need to take information from the old website and draft messages that are clear and concise to convey the shared vision of the association. In the area of technological facility, I will work to use technology in a way that supports the messages conveyed on the website. When it comes to creating an updated website, communication and technological facility definitely go hand-in-hand.

Which Leadership Pathway competency will you focus in your Capstone Challenge?  Why is it relevant? 

I will focus on Association Leadership, specifically Organizational Effectiveness- Leading with Skill. This is particularly relevant to my project as I hope to use my skills to strengthen the capacity of the BEA and improve its resources for our membership. By creating an updated website,I hope to encourage member engagement and involvement.

With whom will you work in addressing your Capstone Challenge?  Who else might you recruit beyond your own cultural and/or professional identity group?

Initially, I will work most closely with the BEA President, our statewide union (MFPE) field consultant, and the Building Representatives to get input about what should be on the website and how it should be formatted. I also plan to consult with one of our District’s Indian Ed for All coaches to get her input regarding how the BEA can best acknowledge the history of the land on which we live and work.

Which resources (such as, people, money, programs, time and space, etc.) do you have to address in your Capstone Challenge?   What resources will you need?  How will you obtain them? 

As a member of the BEA Board, I have the support of the BEA leadership in creating this new website. This is crucial to my success, as I need their permission to work on the website. I will also be working with the BEA’s tech consultant, who will help migrate the new site once it has been designed. I will need login information, updated forms, and photos to post on the website. I will work closely with the BEA’s Office Administrator, the BEA President, and consultants from MFPE, to obtain all of these resources.