Entry 4.

2: Leadership, Participation, and Collaboration

The candidate seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility
for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families, colleagues, other school
professionals, support staff, and community members to ensure learner growth, and to
advance the profession.

The candidate should complete a reflective essay detailing how they participated in the
school in terms of leadership, collaboration, other school professionals, support staff, and
community members. Three artifacts detailing these relationships and activities should be
included.

During the student teaching semester I made many efforts to seek out leadership roles and
opportunities to assist in both schools. I feel that exceeding expectations both during and
following this student internship are vital inside the classroom and the school. Even the slightest
bit of extra effort given can exceed the expectations of a cooperating teacher, colleague at the
school, and students.
In my time at the high school, my cooperating teacher created a new course covering the
topics of college (music and theatre) auditions and preparations for college. As this is a new
course, I provided input and ideas about what may be included in the content, what goals may be
set for the students, and what activities and assignments may be included during the semester. At
the midpoint of the semester, it was noted that the students may benefit from a lesson about
music theory. I had the opportunity to construct an inclusive lesson that covered important
foundational ideas in theory, that would assist the students in this Auditions class, as well as in
other choirs and music courses.
At the elementary school, I was able to take on several leadership roles throughout the
school. A small, but important role that I was able to assist in was during the arrival and
dismissal process. I was able to support the staff members during bus duty, escorting students out
of the school and to their correct buses, as well as assist during the morning announcements and
taking attendance of tardy students. Another important role played at the elementary school was
in the schools 5th grade drumline. While my cooperating teacher took the lead role of the
ensemble, I was able to better observe, correct students playing, and lead a small ensemble. The
small ensemble included a dozen singers that would perform, and would be accompanied by the
rest of the drumline at a performance during a national conference.
In my time at both schools I was able to wear many hats, assisting throughout the
schools. In all of these roles, I was better able to connect with more staff members and students.
These opportunities allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone at times, and fill whatever
role was needed. The appreciation shown by cooperating teachers and school staff shows how
important it is for teachers and staff members to take on any role and job that needs filled.