Week 4 Reflective Assignment

Life is a collection of reflections. Memories of everyday people, times, places and experiences that shape the path we venture down to our final destinations. Edmund Burke, a British statesman and philosopher stated, “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.” As a leader, it is important to know your history and that of the organization which you lead. Being reflective about the activities you have completed and the decisions you have made are extremely important to stay on track with the mission statement and goals of your district and its campuses. As a leader, we will be charged with making decisions, putting programs in place, and recommending the allocation of funds that will directly impact the lives of thousands of people. It is imperative that we examine our actions to be sure that we are utilizing the resources available to us in the most efficient and beneficial manner possible. Good leaders reflect on the major issues in their sphere of influence. Great leaders reflect on the daily processes that influence the processes, the people, and the direction of the path they are on.

During the course of study for this program, the process seems to have promoted and fostered our ability to look at the many different facets of a superintendent’s job and reflect upon how they come together, or in some cases how they don’t, over a period of time. Through interviews, documents, processes in place at various districts, me and my fellow cohort members have reviewed and reflected over the decisions and practices in some of the most progressive districts in the state. In school finance, we looked at the history of the finance system for the state of Texas and tried to determine which areas are the most important to better improve the system for the future. In reflecting on the history of education in Texas, it was apparent, even as far back as the days of Mirabeau Lamar, that the funding of public education has always been an issue. In school facilities, studying the maintenance and construction of the buildings that enable district to function as learning centers for those to whom we are charged with serving. With the uncertain economic times that we are in, it is extremely difficult for school boards to go to their constituents to ask for enormous amounts of money to build new or improve existing campuses in their districts. Analyzing the efforts of districts who have been successful in passing bond elections or those who have a phenomenal maintenance program will better prepare us for the time that we are faced with preparing a bond package or maintenance program for our own districts. Reflecting on the practices that are not successful also help prepare us for our roles as leaders in school districts across Texas.

Throughout the coursework, I and my fellow cohort members have been sharing our knowledge and reflections through our Wikispaces and blog spots. Having access to their papers and thoughts has enriched the knowledge I have gathered from my course of study.  Working on the group Wikispace allowed me to collaborate with my fellow group members and share our experiences and reflections with one another on a new level. The comments and critiques of my postings by my fellow classmates have deepened my reflective practices with their insight and inspiration. Many times posts are made that open up areas, programs, and processes that I had not thought of or did not fully comprehend. Our group work during the school finance course strengthened my belief in my cohort members and our ability to work together as a unit to solve, what at the time seemed impossible, any problem if we worked together.

Finally, developing and completing my internship plan has been an ever-changing process in practice and study. With input from my fellow classmates, the plan has been tweaked to help better prepare me for my professional future. Many times, in completing one activity, I have found ideas and needs for further areas of study. As a result of my studies, I am now keeping a journal that I use to reflect upon the happenings in my educational, professional and personal life.  The writing of a journal is not the entire process for reflective study. It is important to read what one has written down the road to remember the choices we have made, the results that were gathered, and the path on which we have walked. By digesting this information again, one will hopefully have a clearer vision of the road up ahead.