Final%20/%20Group%20Project

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Final / Group Project

• Educational Leadership
• ED7304 Fall 2005
• A Review of the Principal
• and Superintendent
• TExES Exams

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Group Members

• Malcolm Best
• Darrell Ericson
• Zach Gibson
• Heidi Gromatzky
• Greg Hatch
• Steve Merrill
• Joel Rodgers
• Donald Rominsky
• Bryan Shipman
• Roberta Stanaland

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Purpose of this Project

• To provide
• An overview of the Principals and
  Superintendents TExES Exam
• Optional test taking strategies
• Samples of the Standards for the Principalship
  and Superintendency
• Sample scenarios and questions
• An opportunity for success

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Overview of the Principals TExES Exam

• An examination to test the content and
  professional knowledge required to obtain
  standard principals certification.
• The principals exam consists of one five-hour
  session.
• The session will consist of the application of a
  general knowledge base to many different
  educational situations.

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Overview of the Superintendents TExES Exam

• The superintendents exam consists of two
  five-hour sessions.
• The morning session will base all test items on a
  District Profile pack.
• Organize this information before beginning to
  answer all the questions.
• Packet consists of mission statements, newspaper
  articles, sticky notes, letters, school report
  cards, AEIS campus and district reports, school
  improvement plans, minutes from board meetings,
  district budgets, facilities reports, memoranda
  from district staff, and agendas for campus and
  district site-based committees.

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Overview of the Superintendents TExES Exam

• The superintendents exam consists of two
  five-hour sessions.
• The afternoon session will be a series of
  questions that will not be related to the
  questions from the morning sessions hypothetical
  school district.
• This session will consist of the application of a
  general knowledge base to many different
  educational situations.

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Test Taking Strategies

• Answer every question as if you were in the
  ideal educational setting.
• Read all the questions carefully.
• In multiple response questions, pick the choice
  that is most inclusive.
• Dont spend too much time on difficult questions.
  Skip them and come back.
• Never leave a question unanswered.

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Test Taking Strategies- Eliminating the
Incorrect Choices

• Usually two choices are obviously incorrect.
• Avoid answer choices that use such words as
  never and always.
• In multiple response questions, eliminate the
  choices that have an obviously incorrect choice.
• Eliminate choices that are not learner-centered.

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Competencies

• Principal Competency 001
• Superintendent Competency 002
• The principal/superintendent knows how to shape
  campus culture by facilitating the development,
  articulation, implementation, and stewardship of
  a vision of learning that is shared and supported
  by the school community.

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Question 1 Scenario

• A new principal, Mr. Smith who was eager to get
  started, took a job with Isolated Independent
  School District. He was hired as the principal
  of the local middle school. During the interview
  process it was explained to him that the district
  has been performing poorly on the TAKS test. The
  elementary has consistently been acceptable and
  recognized in rating, but once the students hit
  middle school the scores start to slide and by
  the time they reach high school the scores are
  simply dismal. The superintendent also noted
  that on the bright side that about 25 of the
  parents were active members in the parent teacher
  organization and that there were very few
  discipline problems.
• After the first week of school the principal made
  some observations. Teachers were obviously
  uncomfortable around him. When he began
  suggesting workshops for teachers the typical
  response was negative because teachers took the
  suggestion as a personal attack on their teaching
  ability. Teachers obviously did not want anyone
  in their class room observing nor did they want
  suggestions that could improve student learning.
  The last thing he noticed is that teachers could
  not envision improved student learning. Teachers
  made periodic statements that suggested that
  these kids just could not do any better.

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Answer Choices

• Which of the following is the best example of
  what Mr. Smith could do to ease the teachers
  tension when he is around
• Make sure all teachers know he can document any
  improper behavior into their permanent file.
• Reassure his teachers that his role is to aid
  them in their process of becoming better
  teachers.
• Try to stay away from the staff as much as
  possible.
• Establish clear guidelines for teachers to follow
  at all times when on campus.

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Competencies

• Principal Competency 002
• Superintendent Competency 003
• The principal/superintendent knows how to
  communicate and collaborate with all members of
  the school community, respond to diverse
  interests and needs, and mobilize resources to
  promote student success.

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Question 2 Scenario

• Mr. Rufus Sellers is the new superintendent of
  Eulogy I.S.D.  Upon reviewing disaggregated test
  data for the district, Mr. Sellers noticed a gap
  in the achievement levels of Hispanic students
  and White students.  Mr. Sellers held meetings
  with each campus principal to determine what has
  been done to address this issue and to determine
  what else should be done.  The following is a
  list of key facts that came out of those
  meetings
•  
• An effective ESL program is in place
• The ratio of bilingual teachers and
  para-professionals is adequate
• Staff development on differentiating instruction
  is being utilized in the classrooms
• Communication with Spanish speaking parents has
  been limited at best.

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Answer Choices

• In an effort to improve communication and
  collaboration between Spanish speaking parents
  and the school, Mr. Sellers should
•  
• I.    Write a scathing letter to all Hispanic
  parents condemning them for not caring about
  their childs education
• II.  Send a letter home in English and in Spanish
  inviting parents to meetings addressing the needs
  of their children
• III.  Provide adult ESL classes at night with
  child care services
• IV.  Send a memo to all teachers telling them
  they should work harder to help Hispanic students
•  
• A. I and IV only
• B. II and III only
• C.           I and II only
• D.           III and IV only

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Competencies

• Principal Competency 003
• Superintendent Competency 001
• The principal/superintendent knows how to act
  with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical and
  legal manner.

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Question 3 Scenario

• Mr. Jenkins, Superintendent of Sierra ISD, has
  been developing the budget for the up coming
  school year. In reviewing the budget and
  expenditures for the previous year he determined
  that much of the money budgeted for curriculum
  development went unspent. The district was rated
  an acceptable district by the Texas
  Accountability Rating System, and they met
  Adequate Yearly Progress. Some of the more vocal
  people in the community would like to see
  baseball added for the following year. In order
  to add baseball the district will have to budget
  40,000 in additional dollars to the athletic
  department in order to purchase uniforms, and
  equipment. This does not include building a
  baseball field. The district maintains a fund
  balance of five million dollars, and has an
  additional 1.5 million dollars in designated
  funds.

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Answer Choices

• Which of the following options would be the best
  solution to the funding situation?
• Work within the projected revenue earned for the
  upcoming school year, and lower the budgeted
  dollar amount for areas to the amount they spent
  in order to fund the baseball program.
• Utilize funds from the fund balance and
  designated funds and build a new baseball
  facility and buy the uniforms and equipment to
  start the new program.
• Hold a public meeting to determine the interest
  in starting the new baseball program. If the
  interest is there fund the start up for the
  program with fund balance and designated fund
  money.
• Look into the reason the designated money was not
  spent for the curriculum development, and
  determine the needs of the district as far as
  curriculum is concerned. If more money is needed
  to help the district meet the educational goals
  of the district, try to budget that money.
• A. I
• B. II
• C. II and IV
• D. III and IV

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Competencies

• Principal Competency 004
• Superintendent Competency 005
• The principal/superintendent knows how to
  facilitate the design and implementation of
  curricula and strategic plans that enhance
  teaching and learning ensure alignment of
  curriculum, instruction, resources, and
  assessments and promote the use of varied
  assessments to measure student performance.

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Question 4 Scenario

• Mr. Mathis, principal for Texas High School,
  checked  the TEA website for the newly released
  AEIS report.  As he scrolled through the results
  he noticed that the state average for science was
  65 and Texas High School's average was 56.   He
  quickly called the science department together to
  develop plans to improve student science
  achievement.  Everyone agreed that they needed to
  look at curriculum.  That day the Science
  Curriculum Committee was formed.

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Answer Choices

• Mr. Mathis attended the first meeting of the
  Science Curriculum Committee.  Which of the
  following responses would be the best way for Mr.
  Mathis to show leadership and support to the
  committee?
• Inform the committee of the latest research
  findings on science curriculum.
• Conduct a survey about the positive and negative
  aspects of the science department.
• Ask the committee to devise a questionnaire to
  gather parent and community opinions about the
  current science program.
• Meet with the committee to encourage them with
  their quest for improvement and to help them
  clarify goals, guidelines and procedures.

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Competencies

• Principal Competency 005
• Superintendent Competency 006
• The principal/superintendent knows how to
  advocate, nurture, and sustain an instructional
  program and a campus culture that are conducive
  to student learning and staff professional
  growth.

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Question 5 Scenario

• Mrs. Smith, an elementary principal, is concerned
  about racial and ethnic tensions between students
  in her school and students in a more culturally
  diverse elementary school in the district. She
  considers a variety of strategies to address the
  problem, including an exchange program that would
  allow students from each school to visit the
  other school for a day. The program would pair
  each visiting student with a student volunteer in
  the host school.

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Answer Choices

• Which of the statements best explains how the
  proposed exchange program is likely to benefit
  students?
• Exposing students to unfamiliar educational
  environments improves their understanding of
  diverse learning styles.
• Increasing contact among diverse students helps
  them recognize the difference between equal and
  equitable treatment.
• Exposing students to diverse learning
  environments allows them to observe and apply
  effective conflict resolution techniques.
• Increasing contact among students with diverse
  cultural backgrounds can help eliminate
  stereotypes and promote mutual respect.

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Competencies

• Principal Competency 006
• Superintendent Competency 007
• The principal/superintendent knows how to
  implement a staff evaluation and development
  system to improve the performance of all staff
  members, select and implement appropriate models
  for supervision and staff development, and apply
  the legal requirements for personnel management.

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Question 6 Scenario

• Mr. Jones, a seventh-grade teacher, comes to Ms.
  Winston, the new principal at Raleigh Middle
  School to discuss an issue that he says is of
  growing concern to classroom teachers. Mr. Jones
  says that the Admission, Review, and Dismissal
  (ARD) committees are more frequently determining
  that students with special needs should receive
  services in regular classrooms and that many
  teachers believe that they are not prepared to
  provide appropriate instruction for these
  students. Many of us believe that the special
  education teachers are the ones who should be
  mainly working with these kids, he says.
  Theyre the ones who have the specialized
  training.

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Answer Choices

• Ms. Winston believes that the larger issues
  raised by Mr. Jones must be addressed if students
  with special needs are to be served
  appropriately. Her encounter with Mr. Jones
  suggests that the school is in need of stronger
  leadership in the area of
• Establishing formal communication channels
  through which teachers concerns can be
  addressed.
• Preparing and supporting teachers so they can
  meet the needs of all students.
• Providing increased opportunities for teachers to
  participate in school governance.
• Identifying more accurately the students who are
  in genuine need of special education services.

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Competencies

• Principal Competency 007
• Superintendent Competency 010
• The principal/superintendent knows how to apply
  organizational, decision-making, and
  problem-solving skills to ensure an effective
  learning environment.

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Question 7 Scenario

• South Monroe High School has been an
  under-achieving educational institution that
  rarely receives accolades from the state and is
  often deemed below average.  In an attempt to
  revitalize the school the principal has put in
  place a vision statement and an improvement plan.

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Answer Choices

• The greatest benefit of forming a team, or teams,
  of teachers who will formulate a plan to address
  certain problems in the school or achieve goals
  relating to the campus vision statement would be
  
• That the educational staff will assure that
  curriculum guides are firmly in place in order to
  meet higher learning standards.
• Encourage creative problem solving among teachers
  and foster an innovative work environment.
• Student learning will directly relate to specific
  teaching practices.
• Facilitate the identification of certain faculty
  members willing to spearhead efforts of a greater
  importance or magnitude.

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Competencies

• Principal Competency 008
• Superintendent Competency 008
• The principal/superintendent knows how to apply
  principles of effective leadership and management
  in relation to campus budgeting, personnel,
  resource utilization, financial management, and
  technology use.

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Question 8 Scenario

• Mr. Morris, principal at Crystal High School, has
  been meeting with the schools math teachers,
  several concerned parents, and the region's math
  specialist. After reviewing data from state
  testing and local benchmark scores, the group has
  recommended a format and curriculum structure to
  address the students' needs. This project would
  require a large investment in supplies for the
  campus that was not budgeted for that year. Mr.
  Morris has an unexpected surplus of money in
  capital outlay due to the campus being awarded a
  grant. How does Mr. Morris fund the supplies for
  this curriculum change?

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Answer Choices

• Mr. Morris can address the funding of supplies
  for the math curriculum change by
• Not using capital outlay funds for supplies and
  informing the committee that the curriculum
  changes must wait until the next years budget.
• Using the excess capital outlay money to purchase
  supplies needed for the new math curriculum.
• Filing a budget amendment with the districts
  school board to transfer money from capital
  outlay line item to the supply line in his campus
  budget.
• Requesting an increase in supply money from the
  district.
• A. I
• B. II and IV
• C. III
• D. II

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Competencies

• Principal Competency 009
• Superintendent Competency 009
• The principal/superintendent knows how to apply
  principles of leadership and management to the
  campus physical plant and support systems to
  ensure a safe and effective learning environment.

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Question 9 Scenario

• Mr. Pickett is the new principal at East Manor
  High School. The school has approximately 2400
  students. Since Mr. Picketts arrival to the
  school, he has made the building appearance and
  sanitation his primary concerns. The school is
  already short approximately four custodians and
  due to budget constraints he will not be able to
  employ any more. However, he wants to make sure
  that the schools appearance and sanitation needs
  are being met.

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Answer Choices

• Which would be Mr. Pickett's best approach for
  seeing that the schools needs are being met?
• Advise teachers to contact the principal
  immediately if classrooms and common rooms are
  not properly maintained.
• Conduct regular walk-throughs of the building
  using a checklist to note the status of all areas
  of the building.
• Make frequent unannounced inspections of
  different sections of the building and grounds in
  the early weeks of each school term.
• Meet with the head custodian at the end of each
  week and ask him to summarize the previous week's
  activities.

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Competencies

• Principal Competency - none
• Superintendent Competency 004
• The superintendent knows how to respond to and
  influence the larger political, social, economic,
  legal, and cultural context, including working
  with the board of trustees, to achieve the
  districts educational vision.

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Question 10 Scenario

• In the midst of a quiet afternoon Mr. Russell, a
  school board member, frantically dashes into
  Superintendent Gardners office. Mr. Russell
  affirms that he is very concerned over some talk
  that he overheard while eating breakfast uptown
  at the cafe. He stated to Superintendent Gardner
  that several community members were discussing
  the remodeling changes that have been taking
  place since the bond election had passed. He
  also exclaims that the community members feel
  that they should have some kind of say in what
  happens to the school.

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Answer Choices

• Superintendent Gardner could handle this
  situation best by
• Seeking the input of the community members in
  regards to the remodeling.
• Inviting community members to express their
  feelings at the next school board meeting.
• Ignoring the community members, even if they are
  taxpayers.
• Offering to meet individually with each and every
  concerned community member and explain what the
  plans for the facility are.

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Answers

• 1. B Principal Competency 001
• Superintendent Competency 003
• 2. B Principal Competency 002
• Superintendent Competency 003
• 3. D Principal Competency 003
• Superintendent Competency 001
• 4. D Principal Competency 004
• Superintendent Competency 005
• 5. D Principal Competency 005
• Superintendent Competency 006

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Answers

• 6. B Principal Competency 006
• Superintendent Competency 007
• 7. B Principal Competency 007
• Superintendent Competency 010
• 8. C Principal Competency 008
• Superintendent Competency 008
• 9. B Principal Competency 009
• Superintendent Competency 009
• 10. A Principal Competency - none
• Superintendent Competency 004