Blog Post #11

  Budget Reflection

I had just submitted the Mt. Whitney High School Budget. It was impressed how detailed and accurate a school budget has to be. I have never been part of the decision making for a school budget, and can only imagine how difficult it is to decide how to allocate funds. The decisions that are made in a school budget affect so many students.  A big chunk of this budget is classified salaries (instructional aides) and benefits. It causes me to wonder if these educational aides are cost effective in the classroom. My personal experience is that it all depends on the competence of the aide. I had some very helpful classroom aides and some that were not helpful. I would definitively like to look into some research on this.  Is there a more effective way to use the funds that would be more beneficial to ALL of the students?  

Face to Face – Nov. 4th and 5th.

Blog Post 10

The Human Resource representatives presenting on Friday were honest and candid and this was appreciated.  Some of the advice was as follows:

·        When hiring a new employee make sure to check references.

·        When you become an administrator DO NOT to fall into the “paper work trap”.

·        Get into the classrooms often.

·        If you are going to talk to reprimand a member of your staff be open for them to take a representative with them.  Just make sure the staff member is the one answering the questions and not the representative.

·        When there are problems with a teacher or staff, ask the following questions: You can’t, you won’t or you do not know how?

·        When hiring a principal you are looking for an instructional leader and not a manager.

·        It is important to work on relationships with your staff.

CADA (California Association of Directors of Activities) had also useful activities that I may well use in my classroom and with the ELAC (English Language Advisory Committee) at  my work site.  The information provided on Saturday was excellent.  I now know much more about school finances. I like the following presenter’s statement, “If a school is failing financially, it is probably failing in every other way.”  It was overall a very productive weekend.  I am grateful Dr. Wise and Dr. Buster took the time to schedule such knowledgeable presenters.

Relationships -Blog Post #9 -

What a great way to finish the book.  The story of Jeff is really inspiring. He was not perfect, but most remember him as a giving and caring person that built great relationships at his school.  As a teacher I know I am most likely to accept and receive criticism or feedback after an evaluation of an administrator of which I feel connected with rather than from one that I have not.  If I hear criticism from a trusted administrator I am more likely to change, because I know that this administrator means well and wants me to be a better teacher. If I hear feedback from an administrator I do not know well, I may second guess his/her motives. I may think the administrator just wants to look good and find something wrong in my lesson, or that he or she is just singling me out. Trust and having strong relationships is crucial if we want to have a strong staff.  At my school there is a strong principal who values relationships and trust at our school.  Recently I had a family emergency and he did not hesitate to show his support and never made me feel guilty for having to leave a whole semester to care for a member of my family. As a result I feel a sense of loyalty to my school and principal.