Reflective Practice

Jennifer Steadham


Reflective Experience

Throughout the coursework completed for this internship, the practice of reflective writing is expected of students. Prior to this course, I have not spent much time writing reflectively. As a mathematics teacher, my tendencies lie in analyzing data and programs for effectiveness. My reports have been technical and data driven. I have learned that reflective writing is an important skill and must be used by leaders and educators in general to develop an understanding of knowledge gained and what still lies ahead.

Writing reflections was a difficult task for me at the beginning of this coursework. Reflections should be personal in nature, scholarly in writing, and accurately demonstrate the skill or knowledge gained. A reflection should also include insight gained or insight sought. Insight gained is easy to reflect upon in writing. One can always find ways to describe what has been learned and proved useful by learning. Insight sought is altogether different mode of writing. Part of learning is to understand one’s weaknesses or deficiencies and identifying ways to correct the weakness or deficiency. I do not have a problem recognizing what I do not know, but in writing what I have learned, I usually find that I have found a source of information to combat the weakness. This is the greatness of reflective writing.

In the beginning of this superintendent internship, I wanted to record the facts about whatever I had done or learned, list something that I had learned, and move on. Very quickly, I realized that not only in the internship were professors expecting reflective writing from me, but every book I read about leadership, principals, or schools has a reflection portion at the end of each section or chapter. Gray (2008) states that reflections are a part of learning and what is required for good schools to become great. My own experiences with reflective writing before this internship were limited to devotional books and study.

In completing the reflections for the logs of each activity completed during the internship, I learned that in order to become a great leader, I must model the practices of other great leaders. Business executives reflect on progress and deficiency in order to manage successful corporations; principals should model this behavior according to Gray (2008). I have learned that I can identify a solution or source of information through reflection of knowledge gained. I am able to strengthen my skills and find reflective writing to direct my path to success. For example, I felt that I was not knowledge in certain areas of school law. After reading and reflecting, I found that I knew more than I realized about school law, and I could find the answers to questions using my research skills.

Prior to writing reflections during this internship, I thought that my conflict resolution skills were fairly good. In working through a situation on our campus as a part of my internship, I realized that my skills were tested. Upon reflection, I found a weakness that I did not know existed. After writing about this experience, I found that I would need more experience in this area, and I sought other opportunities to hone my skills in the area of conflict resolution. I thought that I could handle adults in the same manner as I did when I worked in my own business. Public school leaders must resolve conflict is a more diplomatic manner, and I developed strategies to add to my repertoire.

Through my major project for this internship, I have worked with many stakeholders in our district. Our Chapter 41 and bond elections have developed consensus building skills; working as an administrator, I employ conflict resolution and consensus building every day, but during this internship project, my skills have been honed. If I had been asked about my skill in these areas two months ago, I would have stated with confidence that these were an area of strength for me. In the previous two weeks, an organized PAC has developed in opposition to our Chapter 41 and bond elections, and I have attended more meetings than I thought humanly possible in the midst of TAKS/STAAR testing. I have been quoted in the local newspaper and by the local radio station more than I ever thought I would be. My skills have been polished as my patience has been tested. After spending years working with students and parents, this project has forced me to deal with adults not interested in our school or its future. This has been a transition for me, but I have been commended by my superintendent for my diplomacy. My blood pressure has seen new highs while two of my staff members have been amused watching me work to build consensus.

Creating research based professional development for our staff has been a challenge on a limited budget. In working with the school board, SBDM committee, and other staff members as well as outside consultants, I have spent time reflecting and researching my prior reflections to discover new professional development opportunities for our staff. As a small, rural school district, FISD is limited by funds and location so distance learning and the use of educational service center has been vital. In reading my prior reflections, I remembered some collaborative groups available at our educational service center and have worked with them to provide some training for our staff. Our local community college has also helped to provide some professional development with supplies from grant funds. Reflecting in my journal brought this to mind for me; it has been a great boom for our staff.

Work smarter, not harder, has become my mantra so that also applies to reflective writing. By spending time reflecting on my own practice each week, I can recognize ways to work smarter. I still work long hours as an administrator and educator, but I now try to find sources to provide me with the skills needed to create an exemplary school rather than forcing the exemplary model upon my students and staff. In reading what makes a great leader, I have found that many sources agree that reflection is vital. When a task is vital to success, one must make time for the task. I will make time each week to reflect on readings, work, and situations in order to better my practice. Without reflecting upon learning, I will only work harder which contradicts my mantra. Working smarter involves reflection on a timely basis; my intention is to spend each Tuesday afternoon in a reflective mode as an administrator. As a competitor, I want to win; reflecting is practice for winning.