Clinical Field Experience A: Shaping School Culture Interview and Observation

Kirk Summers

Grand Canyon University

EAD-13: Shaping School Culture

Dr. Daphne Lowe

November 10, 2021,

 Clinical Field Experience A: Shaping School Culture Interview and Observation

Kirk Summers

During this field experience, I was able to collaborate, observe, and interview coworkers

as they performed their duties in the academic setting. This activity was given 2 hours to observe

and interview two different teachers. The interviews were conducted with the math teacher Mrs.

Grover and the agriculture teacher Miss Dalling. In this paper, I will be going through the

interview and the pertinent things observed in the classrooms.

The first class that I had the pleasure to observe was the math classroom. I chose the math

teacher due to that math is a subject that is difficult to maintain student interest and I wanted to

see how the mission and vision statements are being addressed. Mrs. Grover has the statements

visibly posted in the classroom and referred to them as needed throughout the class to help

motivate students. The class was very respectful and demonstrated the desired positive school

culture. The teacher demonstrated, through their interaction and presentation, the desire and

knowledge needed to continue to promote the mission and vision statement.

Interviewing Mrs. Grover was also very interesting and educational for me. She has been

teaching in this school for over 15 years and continues to keep a positive attitude about education

as she did when she started her career. Grover also is the head instructor for the GEARUP

program, which is a program sponsored by the University of Idaho, to promote post-secondary

education and application help. This program also provides opportunities for students to visit and

tour the colleges, and help in applying to the school, along with advanced courses be offered to

students still in high school, at no cost to the students.

This active interaction with students, colleges, parents, and staff is a great demonstration

of promoting the mission and vision of our school district. Parents are involved in the classrooms
and in the activities that are offered to students, as chaperons and as guest speakers on local

industries and skills. The GEARUP program allows for those that work in the industries to be

able to present information to students about careers and opportunities in the fields of interest.

These activities definitely promote and follow the mission and vision of my school district.

Miss Dalling, the agriculture instructor, advises our local chapter of the FFA program.

This facilitation of the FFA completely falls in line with the districts mission and vision

statements. The FFA program promotes leadership skills among its member students and is a

student ran organization. FFA is also a community and parent run organization that uses the

stakeholders to help the students succeed in the leadership activities. Miss Dalling has constant

interaction with stakeholders to ensure students are working with local leaders and learning how

to be better leaders in society.

PSEL Standard 1 states: “Effective educational leaders develop, advocate, and enact a

shared mission, vision, and core values of high-quality education and academic success and well-

being of each student.” (2015). My belief is that these teachers are in alignment with standard 1,

and they continue to do what is best for students. The future profession practices that I plan to

implement into my leaderships skills is to continue to promote the mission and vision among all

stakeholders. The stakeholders have all had an input on the mission and vision and will continue

to have input in the culture of the school.

 References

Clark County School District 161, 2021, District Website. Mission and Vision Statements.
https://www.clarkcountyschools161.org/domain/20

National Policy Board for Educational Administration (NPBEA). November 2011. Educational
Leadership Standards ELCC Building Level.
https://www.npbea.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/ELCC-Building-Level-Standards-
2011.pdf

National Policy Board for Education Administration (2015). Professional Standards for
Educational Leaders 2015. VA: Author.
https://www.npbea.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Professional-Standards-for-
Educational-Leaders_2015.pdf