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TEXES Principal Exam

Terms in this set (89)

Remember
Sometimes the TEXES provides what seems to be an excellent answer choice but doesn't answer the questions to which it refers.

Underline the important words in the prompt and question to keep you focused.
Overview of Domain 1
School and Community Leadership - 33% of the Test

Culture-Climate-Vision

What a principal should do to develop and nurture a climate, culture and vision that is supportive of all stakeholders.

KEY: Getting as many people on board as possible. THE MORE THE BETTER.
Competency 1: The philosophy of Learner Centered Leadership and Culture
Shape-Facilitate-Develop-Nurture-Support Campus Culture

DO NOT Dictate or be Tyrannical

Shape Campus Culture by: developing, articulating, implementing and being a steward of a vision for learning!
C1 Principal - knows how to create a campus culture that...
sets high expectations, promotes learning, provides intellectual stimulation for ALL!
C1 Principal - ensures parents and other members of the community are an integral part of the campus culture.
Guarantees by welcoming, appreciating, respecting ALL... even when they may not "deserve" it.
C1 Principal - implements strategies to ensure the development of collegial relationships and effective collaboration.
To implement strategies, collaborative planning must have already occurred.

FAMILY - picks each other up, sticks together, nurtures, and does not give up on one another.
C1 Principal - responds appropriately to diverse needs in shaping campus culture.
Positively-Proactive in responding Appropriately to different kinds of people and communities.

Respond: Embracing - Cherishing - Lovingly
C1 Principal - uses strategies for involving all stakeholders in planning processes to enable the collaborative development of a shared vision focused on the teaching and learning!
Focus on: teaching and learning.

Involve all stakeholders in the planning process! This enables a shared vision!

hard work, collaboration, planning, development, implementation of specific strategies designed to make the vision happen
C1 Principal - facilitates collaborative development of a plan that clearly articulates objectives and strategies for implementing a campus vision.
The plan is collaborative!!!

1. Develop the vision and articulate it!!!
2. The objectives and strategies are developed, articulated, and implemented!

This is the roadmap to success.
C1 Principal - aligns financial, human and material resources to support the implementation of the campus vision.
People-Money-and other stuff: Match the Vision!

Resources necessary to attain the vision must be in the budget.

Resources in the budget must help the campus attain the vision.
C1 Principal - establishes procedures to assess and modify implementation plans to ensure achievement of the campus vision.
Procedures must be in place to assess and modify the plans and the implementation of the plans if they are not working to meet the vision.

This is a continual process - ongoing - all the time!

Assess and modify everything!

Even if it is working, make it better!

No sacred cows allowed!
C1 Principal - supports innovative thinking and risk taking within the school community and views unsuccessful experiences as learning opportunities.
See everything as a learning opportunity!

Especially when there are failures in innovation.

Always support innovation!
C1 Principal - acknowledges and celebrates the contributions of students, community members, staff members, and parents toward the realization of the campus vision.
Acknowledge and celebrate: in view of the campus vision.

People making contributions toward the vision should be celebrated and acknowledged.

Give clear and specific feedback FOR ALL involved!

Amazing job on X, Y, and Z!!!
C1 Principal - uses various types of information to develop a campus vision and create a plan to implement the vision.
Use multiple sources of data in all types of decision making processes to:
-gather input
-verify results
-draw conclusions

Once you have a vision use those collaborative collegial relationships with all members of the school community to WORK THE PLAN of the vision.
C1 Vision - Vision
Makes you reach for the moon.
- it's where we want to be, not where we are
- it's the ideal school
- it's believing that miracles can happen
- it's collaborative
- it's the dream of the school

A vision is marked by passion and commitment, involves everyone and empowers others in the brainstorming process.
C1 Vision - Articulating the Vision
Clearly communicating!

Marketing it!

Selling it!
C1 Vision - Implementation of the Vision
Walking the walk with fidelity!
C1 Vision - Stewardship of the Vision
We must find ways to tend, nurture, and support everyone who is a part of the vision while seeking to involve those who are not on board.

Prove you are interested by lending an ear, a shoulder and your heart.
C2 Principal - Knows how to communicate and collaborate with all members of the school community, responds to diverse needs and interests, and mobilizes resources to promote student success.
Communicate and collaborate with everyone and don't leave out people who you don't like or don't agree with you.

You need EVERYONES input.
C2 Principal - Communicates effectively with families and other community members.
In varied contexts.

It is not other's job to listen better, it is your job to communicate more effectively.

Solutions to communication problems take analysis and input from families and other community members.

Talk to the people most closely affected to the situation.
C2 Principal - applies skills for building consensus and managing conflict.
Conflict: Diversity of Opinion (WE WANT THIS)

We want varying opinions to avoid statusquoism.

But we don't want people upset because they feel their opinions arent' respected.

These opinions should be actively sought.
- Middle ground must be found
- After thorough, respectful consideration of multiple suggestions - middle ground must be reached.
C2 Principal - implements effective strategies for systematically communicating with and gathering input from all stakeholders.
Communication must be done on a systematic and regular basis with ALL stakeholders.

Have a system -> AKA a plan where diverse opinions are welcome.

Collaborative on every issue.
C2 Principal - Develops and implements strategies for effective internal and external communication.
Develop - Create
Implement - Put to use.

Must communicate with all stakeholders.

Circulate news letters, meet with community groups, visit people and places outside the school.

Contact the media and use other collaboratively developed strategies for communicating effectively... essential to getting your vision's message out.
C2 Principal - Develops and implements a comprehensive program of community relations that effectively involves and informs multiple constituencies, including the media.
Collaboratively develop and implement this plan:
- the plan if for community relations
- diversity of opinions is needed
- includes the way the community will view the school
- solicit good working relationships with the media
- be careful what you say
C2 Principal - provides varied and meaningful opportunities for parents/caregivers to be engaged in the education of their children.
Open door, warm and welcome, the school belongs to the community not the people who work there.

All parents/caregivers deserve to be engaged.
We don't give up just because this is hard to do.
KEEP TRYING.
C2 Principal - Establishes partnerships with parents and caregivers, businesses, and others in the community to strengthen programs and support campus goals.
Establishing partnerships is what collaboration and collegiality is all about:
- everyone being involved in strengthening programs and supporting campus goals
- addresses strong collaboration and partnerships with others outside the campus
C2 Principal - Communicates and works effectively with diverse groups in the school community to ensure all students have an equal opportunity for educational success.
Working effectively with diverse groups is paramount to success.

Input from lots of people of varied backgrounds and experiences helps you ensure equal opportunities for all.
C2 Principal - Responds to pertinent political, social, and economic issues in the internal and external environment.
Keep your eyes open, be aware of what is going on inside and outside of the school.

The outside world effects your school. World affairs - Local affairs.

Everything is connected.

Have a systems approach to the life of your school.
C3 Principal - acts with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical and legal manner.
Do what is morally right at all times.

Walk must match the talk.

Do the harder right verses the easier right.
C3 Principal - models and promotes the highest standard of conduct, ethical principles, and integrity in decision-making actions and behaviors.
Promote and model integrity in
- decisions
- actions
- behaviors

May be the most difficult competency.
C3 Principal - Implements policies and procedures that promote professional educator compliance with the code of ethics and standard practices for Texas Educators.
Stuff you should already know as an educator.
C3 Principal - applies knowledge of ethical issues affecting education.
Model ethics both in and out of school.

Everyone is watching everything you do.
C3 Principal - applies legal guidelines to protect the rights of students and staff to improve learning.
Protect the rights of students and staff to improve learning opportunities.

Follow IEPs
Watch for discrimination
ESL Students

Follow educational law.
C3 Principal - applies the laws, policies and procedures in a fair and responsible manner.
Be fair.

Don't play favorites.

Be legal and moral.

Don't do things that set yourself up for criticism.
C3 Principal - articulates the importance of education in a free democratic society.
Put voice to the importance of education in everything you do.
C3 Principal - serves as an advocate for all students.
Don't write off kids. Never give up on them.

Speak for the oppressed and down trodden.

Give every chance at an education.
- not just a second chance
- remove obstacles to success
C3 Principal - promotes the continuous and appropriate development of all students.
Continuous means ongoing.

Never give up seeking to mentor and guide the development of every student with whom you have contact.

Nurture every student continuously.
C3 Principal - promotes awareness of learning differences, multicultural awareness, gender sensitivity, and ethnic appreciation.
Not one person learns the same as the next.

Promote the student and their interests: culture, religion, and learning style.
Overview of Domain 2
Instructional Leadership - 44% of the Test

Curriculum-Instruction-Professional Development

Selling curriculum and instruction through staff development.

Awesome principals nurture and develop everyone. Dream big! Get staff to be the arms and the legs of curriculum and instructional development. Create a better more educated society.
C4 Principal - facilitates the design and implementation of curricula and strategic plans that enhance teaching and learning; ensures alignment of curriculum, instruction, resources and assessment; and promotes the use of varied assessments to measure student performance.
Principal does not do this alone.

Collaborative leadership style
- delegate others
- empower others
- involve others

Identify campus strengths and weaknesses
- systematically analyze how strengths can be used to support and develop weaknesses.
C4: Designing/Creating - Implementing/Putting to use
Curriculum, instruction, resources and assessment -> must work together in the design and implementation.

Assessment measures:
- instruction -> how it is taught,
- resources -> funds, people, and materials
- curriculum -> what is taught
C4: Collaborative identification of campus, grade and subject goals.
Detailing the identification of campus, grade and subject goals.

- Defined timelines for benchmarks
- Formative and summative assessment to monitor progress.
- Continuous modification to correct and enhance.
- A plan to address EVERY weakness.
- A basic framework for all stakeholders to focus through.
- There must always be a systematic campus improvement plan.

All of this MUST be documented in the campus improvement plan (CIP), lesson plans and budget.

If any piece is missing, the system will not work efficiently and will result in a lack of appropriate teaching and learning.
C4 Principal - facilitates effective campus curriculum planning based on knowledge and various factors (emerging issues, occupational and economic trends, demographic data, student learning data, motivation theory, teaching and learning theory, principles of curriculum design, human development processes and legality)
Find people with these strengths and work with them to facilitate collaboratively.

Read the words in parenthesis (emerging issues, occupational and economic trends, demographic data, student learning data, motivation theory, teaching and learning theory, principles of curriculum design, human development processes and legality).
C4 Principal - facilitates the use of sound research based practice in the development, implementation and evaluation of campus curricular, co-curricular, and extra curricular activities.
All programs need to be analyzed and researched using researched based "best" practices.

Ongoing professional development is paramount.

Develop yourself and everyone else.
C4 Principal - facilitates campus participation in collaborative district planning, implementation, monitoring and revision of curriculum to ensure appropriate scope and sequence, content and alignment.
Everything must match up to ensure it is going to do what it is supposed to do (help students learn what they are supposed to).

Scope - where you are going.
Sequence - path to get there.

Begin with the end in mind.

Working with the district and the school.
C4 Principal - facilitates the use of appropriate assessments to measure student learning and ensure educational accountability.
if it is appropriate then it is truly aligned and accountable

A true test.

Reliable because it tests what should be done or learned.
C4 Principal - facilitates the use of technology, telecommunications, and information systems to enrich the campus curriculum.
it is the role of the principal to facilitate the use of all forms of technology within the curriculum appropriately
C4 Principal - facilitates the effective coordination of campus curricular, co-curricular, and extra curricular programs in relation to other district programs.
principal is responsible for tying all of the different programs and facets of the school together making sure they are aligned and not in conflict

ensuring congruence with the campus vision
C4 Principal - promotes the use of creative thinking, critical thinking, and problem solving by staff members and other campus stakeholders involved in curricular design and delivery
All curriculum and instructional techniques should be geared toward the development of creative thinking, critical thinking, and problem solving from students and the entire community.
C5 Principal - knows how to advocate, nurture and sustain an instructional program and campus culture that are conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.
You cannot just leave the school community with a curriculum guide and hope for the best. You have to nourish and protect it.
- Comfort
- Discipline
- Nurture

Because you love them.

You must be the iron hand with the velvet glove.

Encourage and reward staff.

You must advance -> don't settle or stop!

sustain focus on current research based curriculum, instruction, assessment and growth for students and staff.

NURTURE ALL
C5 Principal - facilitates the development of a campus learning organization that supports instructional improvement and change through ongoing study of relevant research and best practices.
Share knowledge -> lifelong learning

Do it because our hearts are in it.

Love learning and want to share that passion.

Never settle for the status quo.
C5 Principal - facilitates the implementation of sound, researched based instructional strategies, decisions and programs in which multiple opportunities to learn and be successful are available to students.
Quality is defined by student learning.

Lead the campus to continuously question new ways to help every student (motivated or not) to learn.

All students - Never stop - Never quit!
C5 Principal - creates conditions that encourage staff members, student families/caregivers and the community to strive to achieve the campus vision.
Nurturing and supportive to all.

Long term effectiveness
Nurturing and supportive
Productively encouraging out-of-box thinking
Taking risks

Collaborating
C5 Principal - ensures that all students are provided high-quality, flexible instructional programs with appropriate resources and services to meet individual student needs.
Guarantee... things will work out.

All will get a high-quality education.
- Supportive
- Integrity
- Fairness

ALL STUDENTS!
C5 Principal - uses formative and summative assessment data to develop, support, and improve campus instructional strategic goals.
Use both formative and summative assessments so the campus improvement team can make better decisions -> get a clearer picture.

We must know where we are to get where where we are going.

Improve everything you do based on the formative and summative assessments.
C5 Principal - facilitates the use and integration of technology, telecommunications and information systems to enhance learning.
Facilitate new and innovative ways to integrate the use of technology to enhance for everyone, including yourself.
C5 Principal - facilitates the implementation of sound research based theories and techniques of teaching, learning, classroom management, student discipline, and school safety to ensure a campus environment conducive to teaching and learning.
Sound researched based...

EVERYTHING!

to ensure top-notch teaching and learning.
C5 Principal - facilitates the development implementation, evaluation and refinement of virtually everything (student services, activity programs... to fulfill developmental, social, and cultural needs).
values of school
tradition
what is appreciated
what makes us unique

Programs need to be appropriate for meeting the needs of the students in all ways.
C5 Principal - analyzes instructional needs and allocates resources effectively and equitably.
You must study the instructional needs of the students.

Use the data to make decisions

Goals and strategies -> Budget
Curriculum -> Assessment
Campus Individual Needs -> Staff Development
C5 Principal - analyzes the implications of various factors (e.g. staffing patterns, class scheduling formats, school organizational structures, student discipline practices) for teaching and learning.
Analyze everything - so you can make a better decision in teaching and learning with the data you collect.
C5 Principal - ensures responsiveness to diverse sociological, linguistic, cultural and other factors that may affect students' development and learning.
Make sure to...

respond to and be proactive with factors that may affect students' learning and development.
C6 Principal - 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 personal management.
Purpose: Improve performance.

Evaluate and develop accordingly

must nurture and grow the staff

communicate and share what you are learning

be legal and document with staff
C6 Principal - works collaboratively with other campus personnel to develop, implement, evaluate and revise a comprehensive campus professional development plan that addresses staff needs and aligns professional development with identified goals.
campus needs -> staff development -> goals -> vision

Work collaboratively with others to decide on what your staff development needs are based on your analysis of data unbiasedly.

1. determine actual vs. perceived needs
2. collaborate with personnel to develop, implement, evaluate and revise your plan
3. implement it
4. evaluate it
5. revise according to the data
C6 Principal - facilitates the application of adult learning principles and motivation theory to allow campus professional development activities, including the use of appropriate content, processes and contexts.
Adults have unique motivators and inhibitors.

Relevant-meaningful-purposeful

Interesting-Intriguing

Related to campus goals.
C6 Principal - allocates appropriate time, funding, and other needed resources to ensure the effective implementation of professional development plans.
Time must be dedicated to professional development.

Funding and other resources must be allocated for professional development.

The principal must ensure it is effectively done.
C6 Principal - implements effective, appropriate legal strategies for the recruitment, screening, selection, assignment, induction, development, evaluation, promotion, discipline and dismissal of campus staff.
LAW and POLICY - Basic school operational structure

Everything you do is legal

Recruit and hire the best and brightest

Help new employees acclimate to the life campus culture and values of the school

(Induction) win-win - supportive mentoring
C6 Principal - uses formative and summative evaluation procedures to enhance the knowledge and skills of the campus staff.
Be in and out of the classroom at all times.

Always looking to enhance staff performance with data gathered from formative and summative assessments.

Not just summative!!!
C6 Principal - diagnoses campus organizational health and morale and implements strategies to provide ongoing support to campus staff
Strategies for increasing and maintaining morale
- Nurture it
- Support it
- Be creative with it

it is organizational health and morale.
C7 Principal - Engages in ongoing professional development activities to enhance one's own knowledge and skills and to model lifelong learning.
Other will value what they see you value.

You love learning so you learn more.

Life long learner.
C7 Principal - knows how to apply organizational, decision making, and problem solving skills to ensure an effective learning environment
Collaborative

Expect conflict and handle it rightly.

Resolve the conflict.

Address problems.

Identify problems with research.

Regroup to do things better.
C7 Principal - implements appropriate management techniques and group process skills to define roles, assign functions, delegate authority and determine accountability for campus goal attainment.
Have procedures in place to help others understand their roles.

Make sure to get buy in.

Train people before holding them accountable for something they don't know.

Principal must provide practice and techniques to ensure those goals are reached.
C7 Principal - Implements procedures for gathering, analyzing and using data from a variety of sources for informed campus decision making.
Data fro a variety of sources to make informed decisions.

Look to many sources.

Have procedures for gathering analyzing, and using data from a variety of sources.
C7 Principal - frames, analyzes, and resolves problems by using appropriate problem solving techniques and decision making skills.
Clearly define, spell out, study to find the conflicts.

Welcome all input.

Try till you get it right.

Frame-Analyze-Resolve
C7 Principal - Uses strategies for promoting collaborative decision making and problem solving, facilitating team building and developing consensus.
Don't shut others out - collaborate in decision making.

Serious planning and resources must be put in to place.

Create strategies that promote collaborative decision making.

Conflict resolution.

Give the collaborated plan 100% support.
C7 Principal - Encourages and facilitates positive change, enlists support for change, and overcomes obstacles to change.
Be a cheerleader!

Regardless of what happens encourage all on a daily basis in a positive way.

Busy-Proactive

This mindset:
At our school change is in the air... and we are here to make it happen.
C7 Principal - Applies skills for monitoring and evaluation of change and making needed adjustments.
Evaluate change with formative and summative assessments.

Action research.

Have a plan
work it
assess it
make changes where needed.
Overview of Domain #3
Administrative Leadership - 22% of the Test

Resources-Facilities-Safety

The business of running a school.

Management of the daily school operations, budget, resource allocation, financial management, personnel management, facilities and safety.

A balance between leadership and management.

Always looking ahead having practiced emergency plans in place. Never stop improving this. Never give up.
C8 Principal - knows how to apply principles of effective leadership and management in relation to campus budgeting, personnel, resource utilization, financial management and technology use.
Leadership looks at the future (visionary)

Management looks at daily operations.
-Finances
-Facilities
-Safety

Plan: Budget, Personel, Resources all used appropriately
C8 Principal - applies procedures for effective budget planning and management.
Planned collaboratively and aligned with the campus goals.
- Prudence
- Legality
- Procedural
C8 Principal - works collaboratively with stakeholders to develop campus budget.
Not a secret.

Collaboratively Planned.

Principal is ultimately responsible and accountable.
C8 Principal - acquires, allocates, and manages human, material, and financial resources to district policies and campus priorities.
All according to campus vision and district policies.
C8 Principal - applies laws and policies to ensure sound financial management in relation to accounts, bidding, purchasing and grants.
Enforce and follow all laws and policies
C8 Principal - uses effective planning and organization of personnel to maximize attainment of district and campus goals.
Plan for time to plan.

Maximize time management.

Be efficient.
C8 Principal - develops plans for using technology and information systems to enhance school management.
Facilitate technology integration in to all areas of the school process, legally.
C9 Principal - 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.
Try every day - every way to make schools safe and orderly places where teachers can teach and student can learn.
C9 Principal - implements strategies that enable the school physical plant, equipment, and support system to operate safely, efficiently and effectively.
Everything has to be safe, working and clean.
C9 Principal - applies strategies for ensuring safety of students and personnel and for addressing emergency and safety concerns.
Make sure there is a plan and policy for all safety concerns, and the people in your school in an emergency situation.

Be calm.

You are in charge.
C9 Principal - develops and implements procedures for crisis planning and for responding to crisis.
Have the plan. Work the plan.

Be calm.

Everyone has a defined role.

Practice the plan, hope to never use it, but follow it to a T if something happens.
C9 Principal - applies local, state, and federal laws and policies to support sound decision making related to school programs and operations (student services, food and health services, and transportation).
Stay legal. Be ethical.

Live & breath - integrity, ethics and fairness.
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