Path to HOS

[shadowjack]

danielleu91 - if you think that's what makes school leadership (coaching and newspaper and committee), the only one that might be valuable is the committee. Coaching isn't, school newspaper isn't.

You know what else helps? Learning different curriculum. Expanding your teaching repertoire. Teaching different grade levels. All of those things, which usually don't happen in two years, help make a well-rounded administrator. Look for opportunities that involve those and get involved in things like curriculum development, all-school activities, committee leadership roles, etc and that will help.

[daniellu91]

shadowjack wrote:
> danielleu91 - if you think that's what makes school leadership (coaching
> and newspaper and committee), the only one that might be valuable is the
> committee. Coaching isn't, school newspaper isn't.
>
> You know what else helps? Learning different curriculum. Expanding your
> teaching repertoire. Teaching different grade levels. All of those things,
> which usually don't happen in two years, help make a well-rounded
> administrator. Look for opportunities that involve those and get involved
> in things like curriculum development, all-school activities, committee
> leadership roles, etc and that will help.


More so indicating that I'm not simply resting on the fact I have a classroom role, but rather trying to immerse myself in enhancing the school culture, and leading programs beyond the classroom. I think I could spin the newspaper experience, especially if it involves building a relationship with local businesses to help sponsor the paper. At the very least, it can't hurt to have on the resume.

I'm going to try to see if I can work my way into some curriculum development, and intend to continue doing cross-subject, grade, observations of more experienced teachers at the school.

[sid]

Be careful. It could hurt if it reads as if you equate a school newspaper with school leadership. Spin it, or leave it off. Don't just drop it there for a random reader to interpret on their own.

[shadowjack]

The type of international school that would bite on the "this guy got an outside sponsor for the school paper" is the type of school you want to beware of. Unless, of course, you want to get into community outreach and alumni relationship building admin type stuff. There are some schools with that type of position out there...

[daniellu91]

sid wrote:
> Be careful. It could hurt if it reads as if you equate a school newspaper
> with school leadership. Spin it, or leave it off. Don't just drop it there
> for a random reader to interpret on their own.


Hadn't considered that perspective. I believe I know how to spin it. It's not going to be a key factor that would get me job x or y. More so I see it as a tangible example of different strengths I hope to convey. I'm not doing this because I think it will be some gamechanger on the cv. Frankly, I just think it'll be a fun challenge to take on.

[PsyGuy]

@daniellu91

Concur with @SJ, thats going to be one amazing spin job, because ASPs (which newspaper, coaching, and even volunteer committees are) arent really worth anything in leadership. They are ordinary tasks that DTs/ITs do.

What you need is responsibility roles with peers or that give you reports. The committee work could have potential IF you become chair of the committee and its success (or failure) is something you can take responsibility for that delivered a desirable outcome for the DS. Even then, while I dont know what a "house program" is in the context your using it, unless its way more important (and volunteer anything usually isnt), you need something with easily understood outcomes, X budget, Y reports, Z improvement. The rest is just fluff.

Even if you create the best DS newspaper in the world, that will be a strong line item for a literature or media IT appointment not leadership. The same with sports you could be one of the top 10 coaches in the country and at best athletic director or AP/VP/DP of athletics, which might be your in, but unless your team and DS is performing at the national level and winning state level, its a great story for a PHE IT appointment and not leadership.

As far as community outreach and alumni relations you need to be working for a charity or ideally a private/independent DS and have a demonstrated record of substantial contributions to the organizations endowment and securing long standing relationships with donors. Doing that is likely going to take you to an after school or weekend job/career that will have little if any overlap on your current DS appointment. Getting a local business guy to sponsor a paper is going to be worth all of nothing in the realm of alumni and community relations.
if you want something at your DS and DT level thats going to be of any interest as a development officer, get a couple tech companies to sponsor a 1:1 program for your DS and district with creation and management of new curriculum meds/peds/asst to support it. Show a recruiter you went from some tired desktop machines in classrooms and a media lab with file cabinets stuffed full of years old paper too iPads or Chrome-books and a curriculum where everything is done using that technology with video and presentations to sell it, that you can spin and sell.

[daniellu91]

Thank you all for the advice and insight. Gives me plenty to consider and strive for these next few years.