EDLU 5342 Week 5 Part 3

EDLD 5342

Week 5 Part 3

Final Reflections on Lessons Learned Overview

Competency 8 states that the superintendent knows how to apply principles of effective leadership and management in relation to district budgeting, personnel, resource utilization, financial management, and technology applications.  There have been ways presented in this course to help me become more aware of exactly what this competency entails. Learning about the history of school finance and my interview with Dr. Creel allowed me to have a better working knowledge as to why and where we are today in school finance.  Our current financial situation, I believe, will have a major impact of the future of school finance as well. I look forward to keeping current of the law suit that is being created at this time. It was very informative to visit with Dr. Creel and his involvement in the Orange Grove suit.  I have gleamed a better knowledge of the importance in the development of the district plan and all that is involved in utilizing a goal driven budget.  I appreciate the involvement of all the stake holders and committees that are a part of this process and look forward to continuing to develop my understanding in how all of this correlates to a successfully run district. I look forward to working with my campus site-base as well as my district site base to continue to provide what our students need.  The Texas Education Agency Summary of Finance Template was a source that helped me to understand the magnitude of all that budgeting process. This tool will be something that I plan to keep close by as I continue to study, learn and grow.  When learning about the Maintenance and Operations Program Funding, Revenue Targets, WADA, and types of students enrolled, I realized there was much to be looked at in regard to where all the moneys are derived and just how each program affects the overall financial status of the district.  This has helped me to better understand the financial picture for my own district and campus.    In regard to issues impacting expenditures for the district, I have a much better working knowledge of the components and accountability of FIRST.  Having only taught in two districts in my educational career, economy of scale was helpful for me to analyze and compare. I plan to utilize some of the knowledge that I acquired in the differentiated staffing.  The area of staffing has been influenced during these difficult financial times and I look forward in continuing to create different ways to utilize my staff to their fullest potential.  In examining the Annual External Financial Audit, I can say I never fully appreciated all the steps that my district takes to make the audit successful.  Several years ago, we had to implement many changes of how things were purchased, reported, processed, etc.  I now see the wisdom in revamping what had been done to what is now being done. I plan to continue to become more proficient in the area of budget and finance. In interviewing my district’s Financial Officer, it became very clear that he truly has a gift for numbers and putting all the pieces in place to help our district be financially successful.  My superintendent carries the financial knowledge as well and also the implementation from the educational side. It takes all stake holders to be involved in the financial success of a district.

              Competency 8 Self-Assessment- throughout this course my knowledge was strengthened. In looking over all the parts of this competency, I believe this to be my biggest challenge in understanding all the components involved, but I also believe it to be one of the most interesting. I have never had to plan a budget to date, but now as I look to the future better understand all that will be needed to be successful. I can see how it is important not only to have a working knowledge of my campus but of the district as a whole.  I look forward to working with my teachers to help them implement expenditures that are necessary and relevant to today’s financial situation. Our district now implements EDPRO to help with financial accountability. I better understand the importance of how this can be helpful in keeping up with the financial side and providing documentation for the audit procedures as well. I will continue to utilize this tool.  In examining the funding sources and the management of how those sources are spent, I will be able to correctly purchase what is needed in the utilizing the correct funding source.  In learning more about how and where the money is appropriated I truly know have a much better feeling what I need to do. The management of time will always be a challenge to me, but seeing the importance how it affects all those involved from campus to district, will continue to help me look for better ways of time management for all.  Technology is continuing to make everything more efficient and effective.  Technology although ever changing is here to stay and I plan to continue to embrace the knowledge and lead my staff in area we have not been before.  The legal concepts, regulations, and codes have always been an area I want to keep current in and understand.  I definitely understand from the financial point how important it is to know how to effectively manage the financial side of a campus and district.

The lectures, interviews, reading and resources were very beneficial in this class.  I learned a great deal from the knowledge presented in the lectures.  I always start with the lectures and then read the transcripts. One of the points, Dr. Lu made was that this is to expose us to the materials.  I appreciated the fact that we were not going to be experts after the end of this course.  There is so much to learn in this area and I know it will come when working first hand with those who are already there. The interviews are always helpful, because I learn first-hand from a source. I am grateful to Dr. Creel for his insights to this topic and am glad my conferences were scheduled during this class. I now I have another source to use as needed. My finance officer was very helpful and of course knows this topic well. His expertise will continue to aid me in my journey of knowledge.  I plan to continue to work with him as I learn how to run my campus and help the district. I gleaned much insight from the suggested reading in the School Leadership Internship text. The explanations of the three levels of decision making skills were right on in where I feel I am in this topic. I plan to use this information to my staff as well in relating to our new STAAR testing. We all must first learn about something to learn how to use it to be able to fine tune it.  The resources provided are wonderful sources to have at my fingertips.  The websites will be a great tool to access as needed and to keep me informed of the most current events in education.

              Our weekly assignments were very challenging to me.  The comparison activities to help us see economy of scale and funding sources aided me in seeing the big picture of how school districts are so different.  We have been working on ways to improve our attendance at our school. I think seeing the overall picture of how it affects not only our campus, but our district will be a good strategy in the overall importance.  I enjoyed the goal drive budget assignment and seeing how all the stakeholders are so very important in the budgetary process. I look forward in continuing to implementing our campus plan and district plan, but now with an even better overall understanding of the total process that is affected.

              The web conferences with Dr. Creel have been very beneficial.  He has provided me with much information that will help as I continue to develop my leadership skills and abilities. I am becoming more confident in using the blogs and wikis.  The exchanging of information in this way provides a faster delivery of information.  I learned many facts by reading other cohort members comments and experiences. I found it interesting as we compared our districts to see the similarities and differences. It was good to work with specific people. I now have professional administrative sources that I look forward to continuing to learn from. The one thing that I found difficult was the time. Schedules were not always the same and trying to get together was not always easy, but the concept is fascinating.  I am planning a book study for my staff and am looking at the possibility of doing it thorough a campus blog. I can see the future of how this can be used.