Pre-k Teachers Demonstrating Leadership for Standard One

It is important for new pre-k teachers to have an understanding of how to document artifacts for their state teacher license teaching portfolio to move from one level to the next one in professional growth.  The article will focus on Standard 1 teachers demonstrate leadership and element B – “teachers demonstrates leadership in the schools for North Carolina teachers.  There are four (4) different levels for teacher to document current status.  Below are documented ways teachers can move from “developing” to “distinguishing”.

1.      “Developing” – attends professional learning community (PLC).  You only attend the PLC and place the agenda in the teacher portfolio (Standard 1B – developing),

2.      “Proficient” - participates in PLC.  There are several different options to document participating in a PLC.  First, if you attend face-to-face meeting talk with the facilitator of different topics you would like to present on at upcoming meetings.  After date is set, place the agenda with your name, date and topic of presentation.  It is good to include any handouts distributed and/or power point slides used.  And second, if online such as blog (http://drbkw-ece.blogspot.com ) or Face Book (Dr. Williamson – PLC closed group) take a snapshot of your posts and/or replies to different topics then place copy in teacher portfolio Standard 1 at proficient level,

3.      “Accomplished” – assumes a leadership role in PLC.  One can assume a leadership role in PLCs by securing presenters for face-to-face facilitators and/or set up listserv through email or use text system such as www.Remind.com to members updated periodically. If the PLC is online create blog page (www.blogspot.com) and/or Face Book page to start posting topics, articles and so forth for people to respond to with their input.  Also let people know of the PLC to be active through attending and/or participating to make information and conversations more in-depth. Teacher can take a screenshot as evidence of setting up PLC and people are actively participating.  Provide documented evidence in teacher portfolio for Standard 1B as accomplished, and 

4.      “Distinguished” – collaborates with colleagues to improve the quality of learning in the school.  Set up face-to-face meeting with colleagues (age/grade) and if in child development center include all teaching staff and non-teaching staff to participate toward discussion on specific child concerns and resolution steps so all are implementing strategies and articulating same message, review upcoming study theme topics for input from whole school to have active role for implementation or discuss cultural development age appropriate techniques through discussing school policies, challenging behaviors and modifications as needed for all to understand and share as needed when asked.  Provide documented evidence in teacher portfolio for Standard 1B as distinguished.   

If you have questions or not quite sure how to set up your teacher portfolio review this YouTube clip “Setting up teacher portfolio according to NC teacher evaluation” at http://youtu.be/yJyfh3lKs3I .  The goal has been to stimulate your thought process of what is currently being implemented for demonstrating leadership in the school moving you on the professional development continuum from “developing” to “distinguished”.