Part B- Connecting Self-Assessment

How does awareness of your own biases, experiences of privilege, and personal values inform your chosen Capstone Project?

My capstone was an obvious choice because of the need during COVID teaching. We started the school year with students onsite 2 days a week and offsite 3 days a week. I also had 9 of my 24 students strictly offsite all year. So online teaching, learning platforms, meaningful enrichment programs; were a MUST for learning and teaching. I know I have biases when it comes to technology because for me it comes easy to learn new programs. I have also done the research to know the benefits of technology in my classroom and have used many enrichment programs throughout the years. Technology is accessible and easy to use for me which is not the case for all my colleagues. I value helping others understand technology and create. Therefore, my choice of creating professional development to teach my colleagues the learning platforms and digital tools to be successful, informed my capstone decision.

At the beginning of the TLI program, at which level (emerging, developing, performing, or transforming) in the progressions did you place yourself for each of your four chosen competencies? Provide a rationale for each claim.

Overarching Competency #1: Adult Learning- I placed myself at pre-developing as I was building awareness on what the needs in my building were, and learning/ researching ways to address adult learners’ needs. I started to think about the most meaningful PD I had attended, and how to structure trainings in a way that would benefit the diverse range of learners amongst our staff.

Overarching Competency #2: Technological Facility- I placed myself at developing because I am currently working and expanding my knowledge or the technology given to our school building, but also looking at new ways and other technology to benefit our students who are both onsite and offsite. I am working with a team of tech coaches on my capstone idea. I have also been collaborating on many social media sites focused on teacher learning and offsite instruction.

Foundational Competency: Explore and Challenge Inequity- I placed myself at emerging as I have identified my own personal background and understand that I personally have never been questioned or treated differently because of my race or class. I have been in situations where I am the minority and felt uncomfortable, which helped me identify how others from different backgrounds can feel, but never able to truly understand. I also identify that my town and district lacks diversity in cultural groups, which highlights more of an importance in having rich diverse curriculum.

Leadership Pathway Competency: Instructional Leadership Competency- Coaching and Mentoring- I placed myself at Emerging as I strive to develop professionally outside of my classroom. I work to collaborate with colleagues and attend all workshops offered. I have volunteered for others to come into my classroom and have hosted student teachers.

Part C- Connecting Assessment of Diverse Stakeholders

My stakeholders consist of teachers and paraprofessionals grades kindergarten through fifth. Our diversity arises from years of teaching experience, level of teaching, and position. Between our three elementary buildings teachers have a range of 1 year teaching experience to 25 years. About 42% of the staff have been in Livingston School District since their first year, with the majority having other school or state experience. Our three buildings serve different grade levels- Washington is pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, Winans is first and second grade, and East Side is third, fourth, and fifth grade. Those attending and needing the technology professional development that is the basis of my capstone are also ranging from classroom teachers, specialist teachers (PE, Music, Library), paraprofessionals, and special education teachers.

This is my diverse group of stakeholders which is what lead me to the method in which we organized the trainings to fit everyone's learning style and needs for the group of students they are serving. Being aware of everyone having different backgrounds in technology platforms and a range of comfort levels, were the foundation on the training lesson plan. I believe knowing who my stakeholders are helped me grow as a leader in my instructional pathway as I created meaningful, multileveled professional development.