Reflection of R.A. 9155(Championing Change and Innovation for School Success)

Capitol University

Cagayan de Oro  City

Professor:      Olga Alonsabe, Ph.D.

Student :       Linda D. Saab

Subject :        Management of School Leadership

Date  Assigned:  Dec.4,2010

Reflection on Republic Act 9155

Championing Change and Innovation for  School  Success

With the acceleration in the implementation of  School-Based Management (SBM)  a key component of Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda of  BESRA (R.A .9155), it becomes a challenge to all school administrators.  School-Based Management is the decentralization of decision-making authority to schools. At the school level, school heads, teachers, and students work together with community leaders, and local government, officials and other stakeholders to improve school performance. School improvement and school effectiveness have become a major concern of education authorities, policy makers, administrators and teachers seeking to reform existing education systems. The  authority ,responsibility  and accountability  (AURA ) is a challenge given to empower principals.

Q. Your leadership as principal in a low performing school due to mismatch, lack of supervision  lack of teacher’s commitment and lack of parents support.

According to the research school effectiveness has a high correlation with the principal . It has been said that : “Where the principal goes, goes the school” An effective principal  is considered to be a necessary precondition for an effective school.  It is expected that the change in incremental . The changes for school improvement and development plan is  reflected in the mission and vision crafted by stakeholders   . As principal I have abide  system  for the good of  all through a series of small steps  but not to  depart from the past.

In a situation where in the school has mismatch teachers, I have to conduct assessment as to their strength, weakness, opportunities and threats . With the result, it is expected that the change is incremental . Assessment result  will be made as baseline for learning management programs like the training needs. I made  use of  Competency Based Teaching Standard (CBTS) .Teaching staff will convene as to    their teaching loads. I  have to re arrange the loads that would pave the way in line with their area of expertise .This year as part of school innovation, I implemented change though teachers concern are resistant for the change but I insisted to push through for the improved performance and betterment of school as a whole . I re arrange teachers but not in all grade levels , to suit to their level of capabilities and potentials. Say for instance as  per observation and result of performance she’s not effective teacher in grade one and the other one is not effective in grade six  so there’s a need to implement change . I believe learning is a continuous process so  I have to guide them by providing  necessary materials for her to study or  recommend for trainings and seminars in line with her present load and also encourage to enroll course in line of her present teaching loads. It would be embarrassing on her part to display unethical behavior because of  being mismatch .

As elementary school principal, I felt that I still have to study and learn more to acquire more knowledge and skills for I cannot give what I do not have.  I  have been trying to demonstrate skills to influence teachers , internal and external stakeholders. The best thing I can do is to help by mentoring, coaching and collaborating.   Leithwood, Louis , Anderson, & Wahlstrom (2004) suggest that effective leadership plays a significant role on pupils’ achievement. As  perceived , among the reasons is the different ways of seeing or perceiving things that take place at school as part of the supervisory activities . The acceptance of and interaction with the supervisory practice, i. e the techniques, methods, and models become a challenge as empowered principal.    As a  routine checking of teachers  lesson plan is done daily. Monthly  schedule for daily classroom observation is being posted in the bulletin . In practice , I was not able to observe always  teachers as scheduled due to other activities to be attended to in line of my work. I adopted Walkthrough approach for the performer teachers and clinical supervision for the teacher who needs it. To reduce   the drop out rate, retention rate ,survival rate and participation rate , needs serious concern. To improve the  academic performance, like innovations for reading , academic activities like MTAP, YES-O, and others . Quarterly assessment in reading was conducted to make innovations for the improved performance in reading from non-reader to a reader, remedial readings   from frustration level to instructional enforce enhancement activities  and from instructional to independent the  enrichment activities. For the school updates and  other things are  being posted in bulletin board like  teacher’s absences, percentage of enrolment , accomplishments, class schedules, teachers’ teaching load. Every good performance is owned by them ,I felt that they  are  very proud of  being part of an organization that is performing well.

          As expected, the result of assessment will be compared to actual classroom situations. I have to monitor her strength and weakness . They are provided copies of Criterion-Referenced Supervision so it is expected that teachers  comply some if not all during observation. Per observation, for the teacher whom I observed to be devoted , committed  who tried her very best to teach and produce good performance not only academic but also building character, I have a walkthrough supervision. For  the teacher whom I observed need clinical supervision, I do so.   For the mismatch teacher, I influence her to have positive mental attitude towards her loads.  

Internal and external stakeholders’ support and cooperation depends upon how the principal influence them. I believe  by being honest in our daily lives,  practicing  what we preach, and  we walk the talk would radiate to others. If the principal is transparent, has credibility , integrity and capability then knowingly and unknowingly would influence stakeholders ,contaminating others in the community for possible support needed for the improvement pupils ‘ performance  and the  development   school  as a whole.

As mentor I have to go father to discharge  duties and responsibility to educate parents during meetings that they are partners for quality  education  and that education starts at home.  Internal stakeholders would influence external stakeholders the concept that education is everybody’s business; tripartite (school, home and community) hand in hand work together  for the realization of the common goal.