Standard 10 Leadership and Collaboration
The teacher seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession.
Reflection
An effective teacher embraces collaboration with other educators and participate in leadership in order to promote student learning and personal growth. They also have the important responsibility of working with coworkers, administration, students, families and other members of the community. Through teamwork, it can create a healthy positive learning environment for all learners.
Artifact 1 -
Wapato Fine Arts Showcase
Last year, the music teachers and I collaborated with the art and theater teachers in the Wapato School District. We periodically came together and conducted meetings during our Professional Learning Community (PLC) days, which were on Wednesdays. We planned an event that would feature the Fine Arts and the importance it has for students within our community.
During this process, we communicated with our administrators and district office. We were able to propose a date after we had looked through our district’s activities calendar and confirmed that the event wouldn’t conflict with any athletic sporting event. Our administrators were then able to approve this.
Those of us at the elementary level made decisions on which grade level each building would perform. I concluded that for Camas Elementary School, my 2nd grade students will perform “Improvise It” by QuaverEd.
Once we had received confirmation, I communicated with the staff in my building and asked the 2nd grade level team for their support in handing out these letters to students to bring home to their families. The letter informed them of the event and the process of checking in their child with me. We all put in our personal time setting up for this because we wholeheartedly believe the Fine Arts being a safe space for our students to be themselves as well as supporting them academically. It is also where it is inclusive of all learners.
I am proud to say we were able to have this event for the second time and hope to have many more in the future. If I had to change something about this letter, it would be adding bullet points to show the timeframe so that it would be easier for parents/guardians to read. In addition to notifying families a month or two before which would promote a higher attendance rate.
Artifact 2 -
Music Programs
As the music specialist at Camas Elementary School, it is my responsibility to prepare my students for their grade level music program. Through this, I carefully selected songs that were relevant to my students as well as highlighting the concepts we learned in music. I send out reminders via flyers and ParentSquare/Remind app to the families in the community of when the program will take place.
When preparing for the program, I collaborated and communicated with the grade level team through emails and meetings. In addition to me providing the grade level teachers access to the songs through Google drive and requesting them to practice if they have a bit of free time in their class. My reason for this request was because this year we only had music once a week for 45 minutes on our school’s schedule. I informed the staff on the dates of the program through calendar invites so that everyone is on the same page. Throughout this process, the staff is supportive and acknowledges the importance of bringing enrichment to our students and community.
When setting up rehearsal times, I collaborate with the custodial staff, specialist team, and the cafeteria manager. I lead the grade level teachers on where their students will be on the risers and the order of the songs that will be presented in the music program.
Lastly, I create the music program pamphlet, have the paraeducator that has been assigned to translate Spanish to proofread what I have provided, and then send my request for copies at our district’s print shop.
I’m getting comfortable each year preparing for these music programs. The next thing I would like to explore is having a live feed during these performances. This will be for those family members who are unable to come, that way, they won’t miss out on these precious moments.
