Updated Meeting with Site Supervisor about my Intern Plan

This past week, I had the opportunity to visit with my site supervisor about revising my intern plan.  He felt that I included some interesting activities that will be beneficial for me to understand the superintendent experience.  He also suggested for me to be part of a committee that is responsible for reviewing our district policy regarding fundraising, which is part of my intern plan.  There is a major concern with the different organizations and campuses in our district and fundraising.  Our district is looking to do some revisions to clarify and simplify the fundraising process in our district.  There are many more activities that I will have the opportunity in order to get the full experience of serving as a superintendent.  He stated that he focuses on “why not” and think that all thirty-eight activities are all great ideas for me.  In other words, these activities answer the question:  why shouldn’t I be able to focus on these activities that will benefit me and our district? 

What my Peers though about my Intern Plan!

I am ecstatic to know that my peers from my EDLD 5396 class thought I had a well-developed intern plan.  In comments to me, it is stated that all of my competencies are covered and I use a wide range of resources.  I wanted to make sure that I used a variety of personnel members from my school district.  I think that this will help me gain a more depth understanding by including everyone so that I get that much needed communication with a variety of departments.  One of my peers specifically stated that she gives me thumbs up on my 34c competency 5, which states to interview with an administrator who’s responsible for vocational education.  This ties in with career readiness the ultimate goal as we move to STAAR testing. 

            I did revise my intern plan by adding to my thirty third activity.  It originally stated that I would attend as many board meetings as possible.  I have included that there are times where I will present to the board pertaining to my campus, Dayton High School.  I will submit my revised intern plan to my superintendent so that he and I can visit I finalize it.  Once again, I am excited that my peers feel that I have a great plan put together for my internship.  I look forward to a great year with some wonderful new experiences.

Vita: Revised

 I received some exceptional feedback regarding my vita from my peers. It seems I was having some editing and formating issues. Thanks to all for assisting. I will continue to make revisions as needed. The newly revised vita is reflected below.

                                               
                                                                  Travis Young


                                                          16915 Caldwell Pointe Ct.

                                                               Humble, Texas 77346

                                        (936) 258-2510 EXT. 4105(w) (936) 402-7061(c)

                                                          travis.young@daytonisd.net

Education

M.Ed.                  Prairie View A&M University, 2006, Education Administration,

                            Educational  Administration, Prairie View, Texas

B.A.                   Stephen F. Austin State University, 2000, Communications,

                          Nacogdoches, Texas

Certification

Principal Certification School Principal, Grades K-12, Texas, 2006

Teacher Certification Communication Applications, Grades 6-12, Texas, 2001


Continuing Education

Internship/Practicum in Superintendent Administration, Lamar University, Fall 2011.


Professional Experience

2009-Present      Dayton High School: Principal, grades 9-12.
Daily coordinator of operations of all faculty, staff, and students. Facilitator of campus cohort program. Collaborator with district leadership team focusing on campus improvement, budget, and student programs. Serves as PDAS evaluator and ARD facilitator. Member of District Education Improvement Committee and Student Health Advisory Council.

2007-2009         Dayton High School: Associate Principal, grades 9-12.
Served as sole administrator for campus 9th Grade Initiative Program. Coordinator of master schedules for 9th grade courses. Implemented student code of conduct and disciplinary consequences. Served as PDAS evaluator and ARD facilitator. Safe schools coordinator. Title I Parent Involvement coordinator.

2006-2007        Dayton High School: Assistant Principal, grade 10-12.
Implemented student code of conduct and disciplinary consequences. Served as PDAS evaluator and ARD facilitator. Safe schools coordinator.

2001-2006       Dayton High School: Communications Application Teacher/Coach.
Provided training for teachers to integrate speaking into the classroom. Coached football, basketball, and track. Awarded Rookie Teacher of the Year in 2001 and Teacher of the Year in 2006.


                                                             Professional Affiliations

Texas Association of Secondary School Principals- Region 4 Board of Director (TASSP)

Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA)

Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE)

Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA)

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.


                                                             Professional Development

Sheltered Instruction, Dayton, Texas, July 2011

Developing ELPs for ELL Learners, Dayton, Texas, July 2011

Rigor, Relevance, and Relationship Conference (concurrent sessions), Cy Fair ISD, June 2011

Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (concurrent sessions), Austin, Texas, June 2011

PEIMS Data Plus, Dayton, TX, October 2010


                                                                    References

Mike Kuhrt, Superintendent of School, Dayton ISD

100 Cherry Creek Road, Dayton, Texas 77535

Phone: (936) 258-2667



Greg Hayman, Retired Superintendent of School, Dayton ISD

100 Cherry Creek Road, Dayton, Texas 77535

Phone: Available upon Request



Jerry Stewart, Athletic Director, Dayton ISD

3200 N. Cleveland Hwy 321, Dayton, Texas 77535

Phone: (936) 258-2510

Vita

Travis Young

16915 Caldwell Pointe Ct.

Humble, Texas 77346

(936) 258-2510 EXT. 4105(w)    (936) 402-7061(c)   

travis.young@daytonisd.net

Education

M.Ed.                          Prairie View A&M University, 2006, Education Administration,

                                    Educational Administration, Prairie View, Texas

B.A.                             Stephen F. Austin State University, 2000, Communications,

                                    Nacogdoches, Texas,

Certification

Principal Certification        School Principal, Grades K-12, Texas, 2006

Teacher Certification          Communication Applications, Grades 6-12, Texas, 2001

Professional Experience

2009-Present               Dayton High School: Principal, grades 9-12. Daily 

                                    coordinator of operations of all faculty, staff, and students. Facilitator of campus cohort program. Collaborator with district leadership team focusing on campus improvement, budget, and student programs. Serves as PDAS evaluator and ARD facilitator. Member of District Education Improvement Committee and Student Health Advisory Council.

2007-2009                   Dayton High School: Associate Principal, grades 9-12.  Served   

                                     as sole administrator for campus 9^th Grade Initiative Program.      

                                     Coordinator of master schedules for 9^th grade courses.

                                     Implemented student code of conduct and disciplinary

                                     consequences.  Served as PDAS evaluator and ARD facilitator.

                                     Safe schools coordinator. Title I Parent Involvement coordinator.

2006-2007                                     Dayton High School: Assistant Principal, grade 10-12.  Implemented student code of conduct and disciplinary

consequences.  Served as PDAS evaluator and ARD facilitator.

                                    Safe schools coordinator.

2001-2006                                     Dayton High School: Communications Application

                                    Teacher/Coach. Provided training for teachers to integrate  

                                    speaking into the classroom. Coached football, basketball,

                                    and track. Awarded Rookie Teacher of the Year in 2001 and

                                    Teacher of the Year in 2006.

Continuing Education

Internship/Practicum in Superintendent Administration, Lamar University, Fall 2011.

Professional Affiliations

Texas Association of Secondary School Principals- Region 4 Board of Director (TASSP)

Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA)

Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE)

Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA)

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Professional Development

Sheltered Instruction, Dayton, Texas, July 2011

Developing ELPs for ELL Learners, Dayton, Texas, July 2011

Rigor, Relevance, and Relationship Conference (concurrent sessions), Cy Fair ISD, June 2011

Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (concurrent sessions), Austin, Texas, June 2011

PEIMS Data Plus, Dayton, TX, October 2010

References

Mike Kuhrt, Superintendent of School, Dayton ISD

100 Cherry Creek Road, Dayton, Texas 77535

Phone:  (936) 258-2667

Greg Hayman, Retired Superintendent of School, Dayton ISD

100 Cherry Creek Road, Dayton, Texas 77535

Phone:  Available upon Request

Jerry Stewart, Athletic Director, Dayton ISD

3200 N. Cleveland Hwy

321, Dayton, Texas 77535

Phone:  (936) 258-2510

Superintendent Interview

            The opportunity I had to interview my school’s district superintendent was delightful.  My superintendent has only been in our district for one year. He has served as a superintendent to various school districts for a total of seven years.  His first focus, along with our school board of trustees, was to help move us from a good district to a great one. He created administrator buy-in through reviewing data and conducting a book study, which will be discussed in detail later.

            According to my superintendent, leadership is getting people to do something that they otherwise would not have done, as well as, helping people to see a different reality.  He refers to Stephen Covey’s theory stating, “That you are going through the forest and chopping away at trees and the leader job is to climb the tallest tree and make sure that you are in the right forest”.  As principal, I believe it is my job at all times to stay focused on the goal and make sure our campus is working together to achieve that goal.  Of course, this means we have to collaborate and use innovative ideas to see our goals turn into reality. 

            One positive aspect of leadership is that he enjoys the community relationship with the school board of trustees.  He quoted Bob Thompson, a professor from Lamar University, in regards to the school board and its operation: “it is their kids, their schools, and their money.  As a superintendent you share the positives and negatives of issues and materials that need to be covered before voting.  Ultimately, it still falls that it is their kids, their schools, and their money.”  My superintendent also mentioned that he enjoys helping the school board, principals, coordinators, and others to make good decisions.  He always continues to build on the relationship with others.  These relationships are ongoing as board members have certain things that they are passionate about and a superintendent needs to know how to keep these relationships balanced in order to meet the needs of the district.

            The attributes of a good superintendent is that you have to see the big picture as best you can.  His philosophy is always “why not” instead of “why”.  In most cases, when our district does certain procedures or routines his response is why not or why can’t we.  In other words, being able to validate why we do things a certain way.  He also believes in serving as an advocate for kids.  His focus is to always work to do what is best for our students.  Additionally, he also emphasizes that superintendents must have guts and there are times he or she has to take a stand in what they believe in.  A question that he posed to me was knowing what a person is passionate about and would you be willing to die on a hill for it.  In other words, be careful what you will take a stand on because if you take a stand and things go wrong, are you prepared to die on that hill.

            Since arriving, my superintendent has continuously focused on moving our district from good to great.  Last year our district leadership team, which consists of superintendent, assistant superintendents, directors, principals, and assistant principals, did a book study called Good to Great by Jim Collins.  His purpose for us doing this book study was to help us all have a shared vision.  He has commented that in order to have a shared vision, you have to focus on “the who” and then “the what”.  He is referring to a chapter in the book which refers to stakeholders selecting the right people to sit on the bus and also sit in the correct seat. This is all while the bus is moving toward greatness.  Also, the wrong people sitting on the bus have to get off so that the bus can continue to move forward.  The district is signified as the bus. Once that is accomplished then you can focus on the what.  The what is to focus on the leadership team and make sure that they coincide with one another.  It is imperative that the board, community, teachers, and all stakeholders buy into what is happening in the district.  The superintendent believes that once the right people are on the bus, then it becomes a “we” thing.   Working together with a shared vision is an outstanding way to build on the district and community.  He did refer to a previous 5A school district that he worked for. He mentioned that anytime a big deal was made at a board meeting, the board and administrative leaders would all shake hands to seal the deal. I feel this is a great way to show team building and a sense of ownership.

            It is pretty simple that we must spend money, according to my superintendent, on what it takes to promote and sustain a district culture that emphasizes student learning and professional development.  Of course with all of the budget cuts across the state of Texas, districts have to do a better job of managing money.  Our professional development will have a focus and money will be related to it.  This year, we have placed emphasis on sheltered instruction, differentiated instruction, and technology instruction.  This is due to a growth in the areas of certain populations and the need for research based instructional practices.  He shared that we have to focus on spending money wisely.  As superintendent you always have to make it important to everyone so that they know that this is serious.

            This will serve as another beneficial lesson that will enhance my learning through my superintendent internship plan. It was great to interview my superintendent and I just enjoyed the opportunity of him sharing knowledge with me through real-world experiences.  It is imperative to have the right people on the bus and a great relationship with the board, faculty, and community leaders.