ELCC Standards for District Leadership: Standard 6
Standard: A district-level education leader applies knowledge that promotes the success of every student by understanding, responding to, and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context within the district through advocating for district students, families, and caregivers; acting to influence local, district, state, and national decisions affecting student learning; and anticipating and assessing emerging trends and initiatives in order to adapt district-level leadership strategies.
My Interpretation of the Standard: Standard 6 represents the district leader's ability to effectively advocate for public education including policies and funding that support innovative learning strategies. Standard 6 speaks to the reality that public schools are just that... public, and as such district leaders have a responsibility to ensure that communities and policy makers at every level - local, state, and national - understand our student's needs.
Functions:
- Candidates understand and can advocate for district students, families, and caregivers.
- Candidates understand and can act to influence local, district, state, and national decisions affecting student learning in a district environment.
- Candidates understand and can anticipate and assess emerging trends and initiatives in order to adapt district-level leadership strategies.
Evidence of Mastery:
- Fund the Future Advocacy Campaign: During the 2015-16 school year our advocacy efforts changed to hear more from students about the value of funding public education. We created a video and sent 7 students to Juneau to advocate after they learned how to advocate and the current bills in play.
- Keep the Promise Advocacy Campaign: During the 2014-15 school year the Sitka School Board decided to start an advocacy campaign for the Alaska Legislature to share the good things happening in the Sitka School District. The campaign consisted of emails sharing a brief message and a picture of students, and a link to a website with additional information and often a video we produced. We had an open and click through rate that was almost double the industry standard, and no legislator choose to opt out of receiving the emails.
- League of Innovative Schools: The League of Innovative Schools is an organization designed to honor and inspire superintendents and school districts who embrace digital-rich, innovative learning strategies. In addition to biannual face-to-face gatherings, League members interact in various ways to support each other in League and district initiatives. The Sitka School District is the first and currently only school district in Alaska to be included in the League.
- Making IT Happen (MIH) Award: In 2010 I received a MIH award from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) due to my role in developing effective advocacy efforts at the state and national level regarding policy and funding to support educational technology use in our public schools. ISTE awards 6-8 MIH awards a year, and each ISTE affiliate has the opportunity to award 2 MIH awards a year. I was the first MIH award recipient from Alaska. Please visit the ISTE website to learn more about the MIH award.
Summary: In summary, given the evidence I have presented, I believe I have met or exceeded the expectations for Standard 6.