STANDARD #10: Leadership And Collaboration

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

Narrative: Working at Creek Elementary School in Ms. Garland’s class allowed me the
opportunity to teach numerous lessons on my own, as well as lead small group settings for
reading and math. The students in this class hold a special place in my heart, and so do the
teachers. Ms. Garland and her paraprofessionals were very helpful and willing to let me take
the reigns and gain more experience.
 Reflection: Working alongside Ms. Garland
and her team, I was able to help lead a field
trip to the Tulsa Zoo and to the district-wide
track meet. She allowed me to take over small
groups and teach an entire school day in her
steed. This was a great experience for me, and
allowed me the opportunity to see how
important collaborating with the other
teachers in the room is. The paraprofessionals
you have in a special education classroom are
remarkable people and valuable to the
everyday functioning of the class. I was also
able to sit on transition meetings for some of
the sixth graders who are moving on to middle
school. Ms. Garland demonstrated how in-tune
she was with each student and each family.
Two out of the three parents who were
hesitant on Ms. Garland’s recommendation
that their children have a ‘normal’ middle school experience rather than remaining in a self-
contained classroom were hesitant, but both trusted Ms. Garland’s recommendation enough
to agree with it. She truly taught me the importance of placing value in the families, the
students, and other professionals in your field.