New standards for administrators should parallel the new standards for teachers to some degree. As I read the standards for both, I couldn't help but notice the difference in verbiage. For teachers, there is repeated use of the verbs demonstrate, design, model and for administrators it was identify, provide, and promote. They are all powerful words and while I do feel they are appropriately placed, I also feel that an essential role of an administrator is to be an instructional leader. Administrators cannot have a do as I say, not as I do attitude. In order to support and inspire educators moving into a digital world, administrators must demonstrate and model their uses of the latest technologies. Administrators need not only to provide technology staff development, but attend the sessions. As a future administrator, I will not expect my staff to demonstrate, design, or model anything I cannot do myself.
Overall I think the current administrator standards cover the bases pretty well. However, I do see the need for a monitoring of practices piece that should be incorporated in the revised standards, and the only way for administrators to accurately monitor practices is if they themselves have participated in the same training as their teachers. I don't necessarily think that participation in staff development needs to be a mandatory standard for administrators. I feel it is personal choice that effective instructional leaders should make.
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13 comments:
Tracey,
I agree with your comments. Adminstrators are instructional leaders. Although you stated that the administrators participation in staff development should not be manadatory, it is important that administrator knows how or at least have an understanding what they are requiring the teachers to do. How effective can we be if we can not perform the tasks? "We have to practice what we Preach".
ExceptionalRichleader
I noticed the verbiage, too. It definitely pointed out the roles of administrators as opposed to the roles of teachers.
I've posted a thank you to you! :) And, have revamped my site. I so appreciate your input, please keep it coming. Thanks, E
Yes, effective instructional leaders should make a personal commitment to becoming more proficient in technology. If they are proficient or at least have a working knowlege of what is available, then they will be able to provide must more to staff and students.
I agree with your comments. I thought the same thing as I was reading the standards. Verbs used for what the teachers were supposed to do were alive, interesting and creative. Words describing what administrators were to do were not. Adminsitrators should lead by example when it comes to the use of technology. Administrators today will have teachers who are both digital natives and digital immigrants. It would be good to be prepared for both.
I do think that the administrators should participate in the staff development of their teachers. It is important for the administrator to have an idea of what their teachers are being taught and how they are being taught. This also sets a precedence of importance by the administration.
I like your addition of administration attending staff development. What a great way to lead by actions! I will most definitely have to remember that one.
As many of our colleagues have already replied, I too feel that administrators should not just plan professional development in technology, but they should participate in it as well. This way they can show their true commitment to enhancing technology in our school systems.
Yes!
True leaders serve by example. Instructional leaders do well to know,understand and most importantly be able to implement technology and share it's meaningfulness with teachers. Teachers are much more confident in their leader and themselves when he/she walks in their shoes.
I agree with your comments. As administrators I feel we need training to be taught how to use new technology, much like teachers are asked to attend throughout the school year in various workshops. If we are spending money on technology we should know how to used it. However, time is an issue that often comes into play. As administrators we have to decide what tasks are more important.
Verbiage is very important. I think we all know that from writing lesson plans and developing higher level thing questions in our classrooms. Use of correct verbiage here could also inspire administrators to answer to higher order thinking skills when developing a new technology within theri school!
Since administrators are instructional leaders, I think we should do as the name suggests...lead!! If I am going to lead you somewhere, hopefully you will be confident enough to know where I'm going. Administrators must have some knowledge and awareness of technology tools available so we can LEAD and inspire our teachers to take full advantage of them. We cannot have the blind leading the blind!
Earlier you asked, didn't I feel administrators need to lead by example. Yes, by all means. If you recall, I was stating how it would be virtually impossible to evaluate performance of teachers if the administrator does not have enough knowledge in each area expected of teachers. That's why I feel administrators standards should parallel the teachers standards. Each individual should practice what he preaches. Meaning a principal would not get the staff support, in my opinion, if he or she is trying to implement standards to staff that he has less knowledge of than the staff. He should at least have the same but really needs to have more to assure the best instruction possible is being carried out successfully.
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