Hello everyone!  For my topic of discussion I chose the importance of professional branding. 

Coming from a business background this is something that I place very high value in.  Branding is essentially having all of the different processes and activities completely unique but having a spoken, or sometimes unspoken, message about what an organization stands for.  

A leader knows that the branding has really taken hold when participants begin to use the branding message in their own processes. 

In education an administrator may see this when they have been working to get buy in towards the branding through a message of unity when a teacher begins to use this term in their syllabus to parents, in their discussions in class, and interacting with parents. 

If I had to choose one word to summarize my professional brand it would have to be collaborative. 

In any organization collaboration is key.  If any one person goes in to an environment appearing to know everything, the organization will be weakened and the structure of the organization is then at risk.

Respect and understanding with a focus on organizational goals are key to the success of an organization and collaboration amongst the employees and leaders of an organization ensure the wellness of the foundation of an organization. 

It is important to keep in the forefront of all stakeholders minds that every student has a right to a quality education.  That can be achieved through dedication, hard work, and collaboration amongst all stakeholders.  There are many instances where an educational professional can look to where odds were overcome by involving many and collaborating to get the job done. Most often we see this in schools that have had to overcome difficulties related to socio-economic related concerns. 

The brand would be evident visually by having posters that reflected the collaborative message, it would be on the website, on flyers home, and referenced at every gathering directly and indirectly. 

In order for a brand to be solidified and successful it must be completely integrated into the culture.  

In order to accomplish this it would be important to have a motto or slogan that helps to make the branding more deeply integrated into the culture. 

The motto that I would use would be “Collaborative Community in Action”.  

This would speak to not only the value that is placed on collaboration in the school, but would provide opportunities to share the value of collaboration in the classroom. 

It would be very important to ensure that the staff believes in the brand and the message. 

Being genuine, being perceived as being genuine, and integrating the brand into the very essence of the school and programs within the school provides a platform for success!

Communication Plan

I have chosen to focus on the development of a communication plan for my school district.  First and foremost there needs to be a website that is user friendly and contains links to all pertinent information that stakeholders would be interested in. 

This should include links to district and school specific social media via Twitter and Facebook.  Teachers will have access to the creation of a free website through the districts website. 

The district will create a survey that can be conducted online or at registration that is designed to better understand what apps and platforms are most commonly used by stakeholders. 

A technology team will focus on compiling and assessing results for implementation of policies that focuses on ensuring that information is being disseminated through modern and traditional formats.  The technology team should be made up of teachers, administrators, parents, and support staff. 

Professional development will be offered to teachers and administrators concerning new ways to use these communication tools, the benefits of going digital whenever possible, and exploration of new technological tools that can be helpful in the classroom. 

As Eric Sheninger wrote in Digital Leadership, it is important to understand how stakeholders communicate and meet them where they are. 

Instructional sheets will be offered on the district website for setting up and using these technologies as well tables with this information at registration and open house events. 

Communication is key to success, and the combination of traditional communication methods such as emails, notes home, and phone calls in conjunction with new technologies such as Twitter and Facebook, our school district can realize success as the team that we create.

Sheninger, Eric. 2014. Digital leadership: changing paradigms for changing times. Corwin.

Sheninger's Seven Essential Skills

In Digital Leadership, changing paradigms for changing times, by Eric Sheninger there is great importance placed on creating a culture that is rich with creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, technological proficiency, and global awareness. 

In education we face the challenge of preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist.  The question is and always will be how to give students skills for careers that we don’t understand. 

Sheninger uses these seven skills to highlight the main focus of a balanced education.  As educators and administrators we have to determine when, where and how these skills will be implemented. 

What most people don’t realize is that all of these skills can be instilled from the youngest ages in a school setting.  It is important to remember that children can learn whatever you take the time to teach them.  All skills should be taught according to the way in which students learn at any given developmental stage. 

The skills should continue to be taught throughout school with appropriate tasks to assist in building the skills at each level. 

For example, creativity with a pre-school age student could be an activity where they are asked to draw a creature of their imagination on a drawing tablet whereas, a high school student could be asked to create a 3-D image of a magical creature using Adobe Illustrator. 

One aspect of Sheningers seven essential skills that I find most compelling and least implemented in todays public schools is global awareness. 

There are definitely teachers that are passionate about instilling this skill in students however this is largely neglected. 

One question that educators and administrators could answer is what is the catalyst for the lack of focus on this topic? 

Increased focus on standardized test scores, Common Core Standards, and budget cuts, to name a few, are likely the culprit, however with our technological advances as a society global awareness is right at the fingertips of those who seek it. 

This is a tool that can also be exposed to pre-schoolers by teaching them basic terms in different languages and showing images of children in the areas where those languages are spoken.

At the high school level students can adopt classrooms from another country, have skype conversations, and exchange emails with a student in a different nation than themselves.

Communication is another skill that we must take the time to deliberately teach in our schools and classrooms.

Sheninger references the typical classroom with straight rows of desks where students are quietly taking notes and listening to the instructor lecture. 

This is also seen as an environment where students are learning and engaged and students are respectful of the learning environment in a more traditional or otherwise outdated educational setting. 

The reality is that this is not how most workplaces are set up.  To go into a workplace and not collaborate with others is most often viewed as arrogant and these types of people will not typically receive the best outcomes because it is unrealistic for a person to know everthing they need to know with out getting a different perspective. 

Ultimately, all of these skills are important skills in a workplace, in developing a well rounded view on how to handle situations in life, and prepare students for their futures.  

Our shift as educators and administrators needs to be on ensuring students are engaged in learning that is meaningful for their futures. 

Reference:

Sheninger, Eric. 2014. Digital leadership: changing paradigms for changing times. Corwin.

Introduction for EDUC 638

Hi everyone.  My name is Kristen and I currently live in Arizona.  I am pursuing a Master's Degree in Teaching and Leadership.  This is the last course I need as I pursue my degree, however I am planning to complete a practicum following this course.  I am currently a Marketing and Entrepreneurship Teacher at our local public high school.  I am also the lead for a career exploration course and the mentor to new employees.  If I had to choose a life scripture as it applies to the role that I am in it would have to be 1 Peter 5:3, "not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock" (ESV).  My goal is to lead in a selfless way that provides an example to those that are under my charge.  I enjoy doing anything with my family as well as gardening and taking of my chickens and ducks and am love the I am looking forward to the opportunity to apply all of the information I have gathered working towards the completion of this degree to help give confidence to the teachers that I mentor and to create tools to help teachers that are interested in integrating technology deeper into their lessons.  I have a passion for finding ways to meet students where they are and gain their interest to ensure that they are gaining all that they can from instruction.  If my life were a movie the star that would play me would be Jennifer Garner.  She has a tendency to play roles that are quirky and fun, she is kind, and still no nonsense when it comes to getting things done.  I am ever the optimist with a tendency to be more realistic as I grow older but strive to never lose the optimism that makes me, me.  Jennifer Garner usually plays a fun but classy lady, and for those reasons I would choose her to play me in a movie.  I look forward to getting to know all of you better throughout this course.  Have a blessed day!