Week One Reflections

This week's assignment allowed me to gain insight to my actions as a campus principal and instructional leader.  I believe that modeling is the best practice for involving a staff in ongoing professional development.  I was able to focus on the concept of Administrator Inquiry, an approach to leading the study of reflective practice through questioning.  Staff development should be long-term, planned, and job-embedded while focusing on student achievement, practice, and collaboration with peers - all guided by inquiry.   Principal inquiry has many benefits that create a campus culture of learning, using the following steps: diagnosis of a problem, formulation of action strategies, implementation of strategies, evaluation of strategies, and identification of improvement areas.  Because all staff members play a part in the action research process, this makes them more likely to research change, lead change, and continue to pose questions.
As a principal-inquirer, I can use action research and become part of a community to better understand, inform, and shape school practices.  Working in this capacity, I will not be isolated because collaboration and networking are the foundation of any action plan.  I can be a model for teachers and students by engaging in learning as the "head learner," and completing my own action research project.  When I plan time for reflection, I can slow down and take control of my daily practices.  This will allow me to feel proactive.   I can strengthen school improvement and culture by building relationships through communication and fostering new ideas.  I can support best practices to grow on the campus when I commit to making inquiry a part of normal administrative practice.  Normal administrative practice should include looking, thinking, acting, and reflecting.  By enrolling in university coursework, participating in meetings that devote time to action research, maintaining and working with leadership teams, and participating in professional learning communities, I can grow to be an effective principal-inquirer and model for the staff. 
 
Using blogs is a great start at reflective journaling.  By serving as an online diary, blogs can capture thinking.  By combining text, images, and links to other blogs, they can be a powerful tool for reflecting on the thought process.  Blogs can capture thinking over time which can lead to insights into our personal practices and habits.  Blogs can also serve as a memory device that stores thoughts and recollections safely for deeper insight and later use.  One of the most powerful tools from blogging is feedback provided in the comment feature.  In addition blogging time can model a love of writing for students, teachers, and administrators!