Table+of+Contents

The video presented in this portfolio was taken during a class debate on cloning.

Page 2: Inspirational Video
Throughout my studies at UNE, and when considering best practices in the classroom, I have often reflected upon the words of Sir Ken Robinson. The video presented is his speech regarding creativity in schools.

====//Standard 1: An education leader promotes the success of every student by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by all stakeholders.//====

//__Artifact 1: Staff Evaluation Plan__//
Artifact Description: The supervision and evaluation process described in the presented artifact is designed for use within a school building. Instructional personnel will follow a three-year evaluation cycle which includes informal walk-through observations, formal observations, peer review, and the compilation of a professional portfolio. The system is designed to compliment a myriad of teaching and supervisory styles. It is also intended to provide opportunities for professional development and foster meaningful discussions regarding best practices within the school building. //Date Created: May 5, 2009 Created for Course EDU 704 – Evaluation and Supervision of Professional Staff//

//__Artifact 2: Action Research Project__//
Artifact Description: The title of the action research project presented is "Literacy Strategies to Enhance Student Understanding of Non-Fiction Science Texts in the Eighth Grade". This document presents a description of the project, my initial hypotheses, an analysis of the collected data, and the resulting action plan. //Date Created: April 2010 Created for Course EDU 690 - Action Research//

//Standard 2: An education leader promotes the success of every student by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.//

__//Artifact 1: Motivation to Learn Paper//__
Artifact Description: One of the most significant variables when considering the learning process is student motivation. For an educator the most rewarding aspect of the job is finding their students actively engaged in an activity, taking risks, and making choices that motivate them to do their personal best. The paper presented as an artifact for ISLLC Standard two discusses the five cognitive theories of motivation as described by Eggen and Kauchak (2007). The theories are supplemented with examples of motivational strategies that are currently used in an eighth grade science classroom. Attached to this paper is also an example letter addressed to parents that explains the theories of motivation and how they will enhance the students’ learning experiences. //Date Created: February 11, 2009// //Course: EDU 615 – Motivational Theory and Classroom Management//

//__Artifact 2: Compacting Powerpoint__//
Artifact Description: The purpose of this presentation is to share my experience with “Compacting” as a method for differentiating instruction. I was searching for a way to enrich the learning experience for all my students, no matter their readiness level. This portfolio defines compacting and provides steps and suggestions for implementing this strategy in the classroom. I have also provided my energy sources unit throughout which compacting was used. //Date Created//: //December 2008// //Course: EDU 610 - Differentiation Theory and Strategies//

====//Standard 3: An education leader promotes the success of every student by ensuring management of the organization, operation, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment.//====

//__Artifact 1: Educational Finance Project__//
Artifact Description: In order to investigate what efforts my school system uses to promote the budget to the school board and voters, I interviewed my building principal. I then compared my notes with the interviews of fellow UNE classmates. The resulting narrative demonstrates my proficiency with monitoring and evaluating management and operational systems. //Date Created: June 2009 Course: EDU 709 - School Finance//

__//Artifact 2: Final Leadership Reflection//__
Artifact Description: My mission as a school leader is to create an environment in which all members of the school community are engaged in the multi-faceted issues regarding education. If successful in my mission, a climate will be established which promotes success through collaboration and fosters the leadership qualities of others. The document presented as an artifact for ISLLC standard three, analyzes my strengths, areas for improvement, and beliefs regarding educational leadership. Based on this analysis, I have developed goals regarding leadership opportunities. //Date Created: August 2009 Course: EDU 701- Educational Leadership//

Page 6: Artifacts for ISLLC Standard Four
====//Standard 4: An education leader promotes the success of every student by collaborating with faculty and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources.//====

//__Artifact 1: Website and Blog__//
Artifact Description: This website was created in 2009 to better inform my students and their families as to my classroom expectations, the learning goals, exciting events happening in the classroom, and provide copies of and guidance with class assignments. Members of the school community may also view this website and be provided with a glimpse into a middle school classroom; such a tool has been helpful in building positive relationships with community partners and encouraging school and community collaboration. //Date: Created 2009 and updated daily//

//__Artifact 2: Literature Review__//
Artifact Description: The media landscape for today’s student is ever-changing; on a daily basis they are inundated with new technology devices and information. Students enter classrooms that are filled with traditional resources and methods while preoccupied with thoughts of what they will post on their Blog or what they will tweet on Twitter. In order to engage the twenty-first century learner and provide them with the necessary skills, schools must integrate technology in such a way that enhances student mastery of curriculum and state standards. The literature review presented in this portfolio discusses and compares current literature of the impacts of technology in the classroom. //Date Created: July 2009 Course: EDU 701 - Educational Leadership//

//__Artifact 1: Observation Cycle and Feedback Loop__//
Artifact Description: This document describes my experience with observing a lesson and conferencing with another educator. The skills that I developed while completing this assignment were those to necessary to ensure a system of accountability for every student’s success. The observation cycle and feedback loop assignment also demonstrates my ability to be self-aware and engage in reflective practice. //Date Created: March 2009 Course: EDU 615 - Motivational Theory and Classroom Management//

//__Artifact 2: Staff Development Guide__// Artifact Description: The purpose of this guide is to inform eighth grade teachers of strategies that may be used in the classroom to prevent negative behaviors and create an environment that is conducive to learning. //Date Created: February 2009 Course:// //EDU 615 - Motivational Theory and Classroom Management//

Artifact Description: This artifact is a presentation that was created by a colleague and myself. After collecting data in our own classrooms, we discovered that an area for improvement was students’ science literacy skills. In response to these findings, we created a unit of study entitled “Working Like a Scientist”. When it was concluded that this unit promoted student success, we believed it was our responsibility as educators to share what we had learned. In October of 2009 my colleague and I presented the unit and our findings at the annual MAMLE conference. //Date: October 2009//

__//Artifact 2: Compendium Notebook//__
Artifact Description: The Compendium Notebook is a guide to Maine State Education Laws. It is a useful reference tool for school personnel and it demonstrates my ability to advocate for students as well as promote the success of every student by understanding the legal context of schools. //Date: December 2009 Course: EDU 702 - School Law//

Page 9: Mission Statement & Educational Philosophy
//This document explains my philosophy regarding education and how that philosophy impacts my classroom practices.//

Page 10: Podcast and Blog
//This page describes my technology philosophy as well as the link to my class website and a sample audio podcast.//

Page 11: Reflective Discourse
//As an Education Leadership student at the University of New England, I reflected upon the principles of leadership and organization that I will consider as I create and implement a shared school vision of learning, positive school culture and connections to the wider community//.

// The reflective summary presented as an artifact shares what knowledge I have gained while a learner in the MSEd Program as well as specific areas of growth I have experienced. The summary also includes my plans to further my professional development.//

Page 13: Resume
//The professional resume presented details my education, career experiences, and the leadership responsibilities that I have held.//