Esmeralda M.
Collazo
Culminating Written Experience/ Practicum Experience Journal
EDUC 5385
Fall 2016
This first semester internship was quite an eye opening experience. Though I had been
previously involved in a few committees in the past and had a great communication relationship
with my administrators, I had never been as involved as I was this semester. I gained such a
deeper perspective in knowing the underlying issues involved in providing great leadership in
order for the school to run effectively. I was also more observant of how the administrators
carried themselves and the different hats they wear.
As a teacher I felt like I was making a great impact on my students and that
administrators really could not do that because they didn't have that rapport with students or
parents. However, after a heart to heart conversation with my assistant principal and the
shadowing that I did, I learned that I could positively impact a greater number of students as an
administrator than I ever could as a teacher. Even though I wouldn't be able to know each one of
the students at school on a personal level, I could advocate for them, give them a safe school
atmosphere, and provide them with the best teachers and thus learning experiences.
I gained such a deep respect for my administrators as well. I use to feel that it was the
teachers who put in all the hard work and were alone fighting in the trenches for student success.
I felt that the principal's role was merely to allocate money, sit in on meetings, and evaluate
teachers. However, this semester I learned that our administrators are more than just managers.
They are right there with us in the trenches, they are our number one cheerleaders helping us
grow as teachers. They take one for the team in front of the superintendent and the board. They
are the ones that take the toll when students do not perform as expected and are usually the ones
to get cut first. They provide us with the most effective resources and professional development,
they take up for teachers when parents come to attack their teaching styles or decisions. They
also work as mediators between school employees. They are an extraordinary breed of people.
Last year the assistant principal was in charge of student council, but this year I was
awarded the great honor of overseeing it. At first I thought of how exciting and easy it would be
to allow our students to be a part of shaping our school and community. I couldn't wait to get
started and get student campaigns going. However, I soon realized all the planning, teamwork
and time it actually takes to sponsor student council. I had to create a schedule of events,
construct student council applications, and rules for campaigning. I also had to get other teachers
to commit to being sponsors. Additionally, I had to meet with the principal, STEM Coordinator,
PTA president and the students. Once elections past, it was time to begin focusing on actual
student involvement and planning for school wide events. I learned that there is so much
planning and approving before ideas can be implemented. However, this role is very important to
me as a future leader because it allows me to see how much student involvement affects the
school climate.
Being able to plan and participate in afterschool programs such as Observe the Moon
Night, Literacy Night, and STEM Night were also very rewarding to me not only as a teacher,
but also as a future administrator. I was able to meet many of the parents of our students and help
build a positive school climate.
I was also given the great opportunity to be part of the Site Based Decision Making
committee and the District Leadership Team committee. Both of these committees gave me a
greater perspective of the vision for my campus as well as my school district. I was able to see
the bigger picture and work towards more than the success of my students. I got to analyze the
district data, identify our problem areas, brainstorm root causes for these problems, and work
towards creating solutions. I loved being able to cooperate with other teachers, administrators,
coordinators and even the assistant superintendent to create a district plan of action that would
help us get out of the negative stages we are in with TEA and focus on increasing student
performance vin all student population groups served. I really felt knowledgeable and that my
opinions and suggestions were valued. I am extremely excited to continue attending these
meetings throughout the year and applying the knowledge I've gained in my courses.
Though I enjoyed every internship activity, I would have to say that my favorite was
working with the bilingual coordinator. I loved being able to analyze the bilingual parent surveys
and presenting my findings with the rest of the bilingual teachers. I absolutely enjoyed planning
for parent involvement opportunities and be part of the decision making process that would
involve students, parents, and other professionals. I feel that as a future curriculum administrator
this is something that I would really feel called to do.
Many of the experiences I had in my internship helped me grow as an administrator. I had
the opportunity to observe great leaders and gather much useful information from them.
However, I really wished I could have observed them perform their different jobs for a full
working day.
I am really looking forward to this new journey in my life and hope to grow even more as
a leader in the following semester.
Date: August 30, 2016
Hours:1
Running Total:1
Description: Call out
SBEC Competencies: 1.2, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2 2.5, 3.5, 3.7
Brief Summary: Planned, translated, and made a call out to inform parents the procedures for
morning drop off. These procedures will ensure that children are getting off in a safe, quicker
manner and that the car lines are not held back.
Date: September 14, 2016
Hours: 1
Running Total: 2
Description: Observed Assistant Principal
SBEC Competencies: 1.3, 3:1-9, 7.1, 7.3, 7.5
Brief Summary: Observed assistant principal facilitate a meeting about grammar. A third and
fourth grade teacher presented, but the assistant principal was the facilitator and made sure the
meeting ran smoothly. She also informed teachers of the vital role they play in applying these
new concepts in their own teaching so that students are better prepared for the STAAR in the
fourth grade.
Date: September 15, 2016
Hours: 5
Running Total: 7
Description: Curriculum Night
SBEC Competencies: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.6, 2.8, 3:1-9,
Brief Summary: Planned, translated and presented to Hispanic parents during curriculum night.
Date: September 19,2016
Hours: 1
Running Total: 8
Description: Conference/ Half day Call Out
SBEC Competencies: 1.2, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2 2.5, 3.5, 3.7
Brief Summary: Planned, translated and made a call out to inform parents about conferences
and that students would be released at 12:00.
Date: September 20-26, 2016
Hours: 5
Running Total: 13
Description: Domain 1 questions
SBEC Competencies: 1.5, 2.1, 6.1,
Brief Summary: Interviewed several people to answer domain questions such as principals,
members of SBDM, Team Leader, and PTA president.
Date: September 26, 2016
Hours: 1
Running Total: 14
Description: Team leader meeting
SBEC Competencies: 7.1-7.6
Brief Summary: I sat in on the team leader meeting and observed how the principal addressed
and interacted with the team leaders. He gave them information to share with their teams as well
as information about the school board. He also allowed the teachers the opportunity to address
the other member and state any concerns they may have.
Date: September 26-30 ,2016
Hours:5
Running Total: 19
Description: Student Council Sponsor
SBEC Competencies: 2.1, 2.2, 2.3
Brief Summary: Worked on schedule of events, student applications, teacher evaluation forms
for students, and a list of events for student council.
Date: September 27, 2016
Description: Walk a thon
SBEC Competencies: 2.6, 9.2,
Hours: 3
Running Total: 22
Brief Summary: Helped plan for the event and ensured children were safe throughout the walk.
I also made sure that children that were injured were taken care of and that no children got left
behind.
Date: September 30, 2016
Hours: 2
Running Total: 24
Description: Meeting with PTA President
SBEC Competencies: 2. 7, 2.8, 8.1, 8.3,
Brief Summary: Discussed with PTA President the budget for Student Council and the events
that student council members could help with. We also worked on a tentative schedule for events
that would involve PTA.
Reflection: As we learned in class, having good human relations is the key to being a successful
administrator as well as networking. I feel that the PTA president was so willing to help because
we have such a good relationship.
Date: October 6, 2016
Hours: 2
Running Total: 26
Description: Meeting with Bilingual Coordinator
SBEC Competencies:1.7, 1.3
Brief Summary: We discussed how the bilingual program is doing now, what we need to
improve, and analyzed the goals for MISDs bilingual education program. We also discussed the
implementation of Latino Family Literacy Night for South Marshall and David Crockett.
Reflections: I have had the wonderful experience of seeing this program through many lenses. I
have been a bilingual paraprofessional, a bilingual teacher, a parent, and know Im finally getting
the opportunity to see it in an administrative point of view. The literature review that I completed
for my curriculum class really helped me understand the different models and gave me insight of
what cause ELLs to be successful and best practices that teachers should implement in the
classroom. When Im in these leadership meetings I feel very knowledgeable and can work
towards planning a better future for my school district.
Date: October 7, 2016
Hours: 2
Running Total: 28
Description: Teacher Observation
SBEC Competencies: 6.1, 6.5
Brief Summary: Observed and scripted bilingual teachers lesson. I also conferenced with her
afterward and discussed the attributes of principals of learning that were observed.
Reflections: Effective practice makes perfect. Im not where I need to be in scripting, and I need
to find a method that will help me more efficient and effective when it comes to documenting
evidence.
Date: October 8, 2016
Hours: 3
Running Total: 31
Description: Observe the moon night
SBEC Competencies: 4.6,
Brief Summary: Helped set up and assist in this afterschool program. I ran a booth where
students were to create a moon habitat.
Reflection: Involving parents
Date: October 10, 2016
Hours: 2
Description: Observed Assistant Principal
SBEC Competencies: 1.3, 3:1-9, 7.1, 7.3, 7.5
Running Total: 33
Brief Summary: During this Staff development day I observed the assistant principal address
and collaboratively work with the teachers to ensure that they understood how to implement our
new writing curriculum. She was prepared and knew her material. She transitioned smoothly
from one activity to the next and made sure to address any questions or concerns.
Date: October 11, 2016
Hours: 2
Running Total: 35
Description: Student council meeting with committee and then with students
SBEC Competencies: 2.8, 3.7
Brief Summary: The committee and I discussed matters to be addressed in our first student
council meeting. I constructed an agenda as well as a PowerPoint that would be used when
meeting with prospective student council members. I addressed the students about the
expectations and the rules for running for student council.
Date: October 13, 14, 17, 2016
Hours: 4
Running Total: 39
Description: Student council videos
SBEC Competencies: 1.11, 2.8,
Brief Summary: Recorded student campaign speeches in front of a green screen to be shown to
the entire school the days prior to voting.
Date: October 15, 2016
Hours: 4
Running Total: 43
Description: Bilingual Parent Surveys
SBEC Competencies: 1.5, 1.10,
Brief Summary: I was to distribute and gather completed bilingual parent surveys that focused
on parental involvement. Then, I was to sort the results. I created a spreadsheet to present the
results and analyze the data.
Date: October 16, 2016
Hours: 1
Running Total: 44
Description: Meeting with principal, STEM Instructional coach, and other members of the
student council committee.
SBEC Competencies: 2.1, 2.6, 2.8, 3.7
Brief Summary: We discussed the procedures in which students would present their campaign
speeches, trained on the app we would use, set up the green, and agreed on the dates the videos
would be viewed by the voters.
Date: October 17, 2016
Hours: 1 hour 30 minutes
Running Total: 45 h 30m
Description: Bilingual Parent Survey Data and Meeting
SBEC Competencies: 3.4,3.9, 5.9, 6.7, 7.2
Brief Summary: Shared findings from data collected to bilingual coordinator and bilingual
teachers, discussed solutions to current problems, and observed the way the bilingual coordinator
interacted with the bilingual teachers.
Date: October 18, 2016
Hours: 3
Running Total: 48h 30m
Description: Met with Principal about student council and worked on final touches
SBEC Competencies: 4.7,
Brief Summary: We discussed dates, ballots and addressing teachers about voting. I then emailed teachers reminding them to show the campaign videos to students and to address voting
etiquette with them as well. Finally, ballots were created and passed out.
Date: October 20, 2016
Hours: 3
Running Total: 51 hours 30min
Description: Student council procedures and announcements
SBEC Competencies: 3.3, 3.7, 4.6
Brief Summary: Distributed I voted stickers to fourth grade teachers, had teachers turn in
ballots by 1:30 pm, and sat with the committee to count. We also decided when and how to meet
with the students chosen.
Date: October 20, 2016
Hours: 30 minutes
Description: Literacy Night translation and call out
SBEC Competencies: 1.2, 2.1
Running Total: 52
Brief Summary: We used the call out system as well as remind 101 to invite students and
parents to participate in our annual literacy night.
Date: October 24, 2016
Hours: 2 hours
Running Total: 54
Description: Literacy Night
SBEC Competencies: 1.1, 4.6
Brief Summary: Worked on organizing and helping students transition from one literacy
activity to the next. Students worked on literacy skills while having a good time gathering candy.
Date: October 25 and 27, 2016
Hours: 2
Running Total: 56
Description: Student council meeting preparing for Bully Proof program
SBEC Competencies: 1.1, 3.7, 4.6, 7.1
Brief Summary: Meet with student council members, discussed their part in the Bully Proof
Program, created an acronym poem for Bully Proof and guided student council members in
program.
Date: November 3, 2016
Hours: 1
Running Total:
Description: Student behavior and Student Council meeting with Assistant Principal
SBEC Competencies: 1.1, 9.2
Brief Summary: Reviewed with the principal the expectations for ensuring teachers are
proactive in preventing opportunities for students to misbehave and if they do, how to properly
document it. We also discussed consequences for a student who was in student council and who
received a referral.
Date: November 3, 2016
Hours: 30 minutes
Running Total:
Description: Meeting with principal about benchmarks and procedures during benchmarks
SBEC Competencies: 4.4, 7.1
Brief Summary: The principal of the school planned this meeting in order to address the third
and fourth grade teachers about the procedures that must be set in place when testing. He also
gave the teachers the opportunity to share their experiences and to ask any questions.
Date: November 4, 2016
Hours: 2
Running Total:
Description: Domain 2 Questions
SBEC Competencies: 4.1-4.7, 5.1-5.11, 6.1-6.7, 7.1-7.8
Brief Summary: I was able to converse with many different administrators like our principal,
assistant principal, and counselor over instructional leadership. I gained a greater insight as to
how evaluations are administered, what their roles as leaders are, and the procedures they set in
place provide an effective learning environment.
Date: November 3, 2016
Hours: 1 hour 30minutes
Running Total:
Description: DLT/PBMAS Committee Meeting
SBEC Competencies: 5.9, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3
Brief Summary: This was our first district leadership team of the year and we started it with a
short introduction of each of the members and then the organizer stated the purpose for this
committee. We analyzed data and school report cards and identified problem areas. We worked
to identify root causes for low student performance in areas such as writing and social studies.
After identifying the causes we brainstormed interventions to that would ensure student success.
Reflection:
Date: November 14, 2016
Hours: 1 hour 30 minutes
Running Total:
Description: Bilingual meeting
SBEC Competencies: 5.4, 5.5, 5.9
Brief Summary: In order to use our meeting time wisely, we had to have writing samples from
our students rated as well as other diagnostic data readily available. During this meeting, I
observed how our bilingual coordinator addressed the bilingual teachers and how well she had
planned for the meeting. The meeting began with a brief introduction of every teacher and then
continued to the reasoning of a data wall for our ELLs. We then proceeded to analyze the data
and create our data walls. The bilingual coordinator is making it a point to meet with all bilingual
teachers once a month to ensure that we have the support needed to prepare our students
adequately and help them succeed.
Date: November 14, 2016
Hours: 2
Running Total:
Description: Planned and prepared STEM night activities
SBEC Competencies: 2.6, 4.5
Brief Summary: I planned STEM activities for the fourth grade teachers to do for STEM night.
I also set up for the activities such as setting up the green screen and making copies for the 30
hands activity. Parents were to experience STEM first hand and use the resources their students
use on a daily basis.
Reflection: I feel that it is integral for parents to understand what it is that STEM is and
empower them to be engaged in the education their students are receiving.
Date: November 15, 2015
Hours: 4
Running Total:
Description: Latino Family Literacy Project
SBEC Competencies: 5.1, 5.2, 5.3,
Brief Summary: I attend this training to help implement this program in my district. The goal is
to teach parents strategies and language skills so that they may help their children. We had some
great discussion on the way to the training and on our way back that involved how the bilingual
program is doing, where we want it to go, the need for this Latino Literacy program and how we
plan to implement it.
Reflection:
Date: November 16, 2016
Hours: 30 minutes
Running Total:
Description: Observe principal during faculty and staff meeting
SBEC Competencies: 3.1, 2.2
Brief Summary: Before the Thanksgiving break, the school principal called for a faculty
meeting. The faculty meeting was to reiterate important information such as how to request for
leave, classroom and school expectations, and to build a better school atmosphere. I observed his
methods of providing positive rewards to teachers who had perfect attendance and his use of a
rope to demonstrate how we are stronger together.
Date: November 17, 2016
Hours: 30 minutes
Running Total:
Description: Bully Proof Assembly
SBEC Competencies: 9.1, 9.2
Brief Summary: I discussed with assistant principal procedures for ensuring school safety. I also
observed her deliver the second bully proof assemble where she delivered a student friendly
presentation about what bullying is and what students should do if they are bullied or see anyone
get bullied.
Reflection: Addressing student safety in this manner was an excellent idea. The students were
engaged and since this was something new to them, they absorbed all the information. I have to
keep those principals of learning into consideration when Im looking at how teachers present
lessons and how I address the students.
Date: November 17, 2016
Hours: 3
Running Total:
Description: Observed Professional development trainers
SBEC Competencies: 6.1
Brief Summary: On this early release day, I observed four of our curriculum administrators
deliver trainings to improve our instruction. The majority of the presentations had multimedia
presentations, handouts, and resources to go with the training.
Reflections: The trainings provided were done with the intention of giving teachers valuable
resources to place in their toolbox and use in their classrooms. Most were well thought out and
planned while others seemed to be put together at the last minute. As an administrator I need to
take into consideration that instructional time for teachers is precious and if this time is spend on
PD than it needs to be great PD.
Date: November 29, 2016
Hours: 1 and 30 minutes
Running Total:
Description: STUCO meeting
SBEC Competencies: 7.1
Brief Summary: As a sponsor, I led the students from Student Council into brainstorming ideas
for assisting in charitable events. After students came to a consensus, I assigned jobs to student
council members in order to make sure each one had an opportunity to participate. I also
searched and purchased the necessary items to begin our charitable event.
Reflection: Allowing the students to participate and plan school wide events helps them feel
pride and take ownership of the school climate.
Date: November 30, 2016
Hours: 30 minutes
Running Total:
Description: Planned meeting and met with principal in regards to STUCO
SBEC Competencies: 8.3
Brief Summary: I discussed with principal the suggestions that the students from student
council had in regards to participating in a charitable event and agreed on how we would be
implementing the event, Change for Childrens, at our school. We even planned to provide our
Student Council members with a meaningful experience and arranged for transportation and
subs.
Date: November 30, 2016
Hours: 30 minutes
Running Total:
Description: Site Base Decision Making Meeting
SBEC Competencies: 1.2, 1.3, 1.7, 2.7
Brief Summary: Observed the principal interact with parents, teachers, members of the
community, and administration. He stated the purpose for the SBDM committee, gave insight
about the three year plan for South Marshall STEM, Academy, and gave us updates about the
new building.
Reflection: Its important for the leaders to share their vision with the stakeholders. Our
principal did a fine job presenting the 3 year plan for STEM in such an organized simple manner.
I was also very impressed by the way he addressed parent questions.
Date: October 31, 2016- December 2, 2017
hours and 30 minutes
Hours: 10
Running Total:87
Description: After School duty
SBEC Competencies: 9.1,9.2,
Brief Summary: After school duty runs so smoothly thanks to the leadership of our principal.
The students are arranged in lines by grade level and are supervised by five teachers. The other
teachers are lined near the road and assist the students in getting in their vehicles. The principal
has a few students, who would usually get in trouble if just standing idle, help open doors. He
allows teachers to leave duty at about 3:20 and he stays with the remaining students. At about
3:30 he brings any remaining students in and waits for the parents to come pick them up from the
office. They are asked to sign them out in order to keep documentation.
Reflection: In class I learned that leaders should be visible and our leaders are visible every day.
They are visible in the morning and afternoon. This is such a great opportunity to build positive
relationships with parents and members of the community.
