Running head: PRACTICUM PROPOSAL

PRACTICUM PROPOSAL Brad Burleson Texas Christian University

PRACTICUM PROPOSAL Service and the opportunity to make a positive difference were the guiding factors which brought me to a career in public education. During my first deployment to Iraq, I came to realize that it was these two elements that provided the greatest motivation and offered the highest level of satisfaction to me. I entered into public education with high expectations and lofty goals for myself. I came into the classroom knowing that I could have the opportunity to impact over one hundred lives each year, yet desired to impact hundreds more as an administrator. I believe that the decisions of an administrator shape the environment in which teacher and students operate. From their vision and mission to their hiring and policies, administrators greatly affect the climate of the school. My objective for obtaining my Master of Education in Educational Administration and my Principal Certification is to expand the scope of my influence, therefore multiplying my opportunities to impact students in a positive manner and serve the community. I feel that my experiences, both inside

and outside of education, have groomed my leadership abilities and serve as valuable lessons learned. I am interested in broadening my knowledge base with regard to campus operations and interactions with the various stakeholders. It is my hope that I will garner a sufficient level of experience in and understanding of each facet of administrative life throughout the coming year and be better prepared as I move forward in education career. I plan to gain specific insight from all four of our Campus Administrators as well as other front office and classroom staff with regard to administrative duties and interactions in general. I will utilize one-on-one and small group conversations to garner perception and understanding from staff, staying away from personalized comments and focusing on generalizations. I will take advantage of open lines of communication between our Campus Administrators and myself to discover motivations for and hind sights of decisions taking into consideration lessons learned.

PRACTICUM PROPOSAL I look forward to gaining a clearer image of what it is to be an administrator: expectations and challenges, balancing the professional and the personal aspects of life, and the rewarding nature of implementing actions which improve the educational climate of the school. I will work towards an understanding of the professional and personal distinctions which exists between the various levels of

staff as well as the need for transparency across this line. Though I am still in the position of a classroom teacher, I will try to place myself in the shoes of the administrator by looking at situations from both perspectives and acquiring appreciation for the demands of both positions. The experience garnered throughout my Practicum will certainly impact my career in education and will provide a foundation from which to continue my growth. Practicum Activities Weekly Leadership and Administrator Meetings Sporting Event Game Manager Bus and other before/after school duties School Walkthroughs and Teacher Observations ARD, 504, and other student hearings Key log database Scheduling and Planning with Counseling Department STAAR Test Administration Discipline Committee Plan/Oversee Professional Development Leadership Development Academy

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