InTASC+10+Leadership+and+Collaboration

 Effective teachers do not instruct in isolation; rather, they utilize and actively participate in the rich school community. Within the school, teachers should collaborate with other content teachers, the department head, special educators, administrators, guidance counselors, and school nurses. Other content teachers are valuable resources when planning lessons and examining grade-wide achievement data. Especially for new teachers, fellow content teachers can provide a wealth of information on how best to teach instructional units, assess student performance, and monitor student behavior. Similarly, special educators are a valuable asset for content teachers with inclusion classes because they can explain students’ accommodations, co-teach classes, or provide individualized instruction. When teachers encounter at-risk students, guidance counselors, administrators, and school nurses can assist in intervention. For example, if a student is exhibiting signs of depression, content teachers should speak with a guidance counselor or school psychologist because their professional training will better prepare them to help the student. Outside of the school building, local communities have an array of specialists who can be brought into the classroom to enrich instruction. For example, a local poet could be a valuable guest speaker during a poetry unit. While teachers should capitalize on the resources offered by their schools and communities, collaboration is a two-way street. Teachers should participate in team and department meetings, school improvement plans, and community development. All teachers should regularly attend team and department meetings, working with their colleagues to develop instructional plans, behavioral interventions, or interdisciplinary themes of study. Likewise, content teachers should participate in IEP meetings because they provide insightful information about students' abilities in the inclusion classroom. In addition to attending these vital meetings, teachers should actively participate and encourage school improvement plans like character education or anti-bullying campaigns. These themes should be modeled by teachers, brought into the classroom, and discussed with students. Outside of school, students should see their teachers volunteering and participating in community events. By working to be an active member of the community, teachers model good citizenship. Although first year teachers should not overwhelm themselves with many extra activities, experienced teachers should take leadership roles such as sponsoring a club, coaching a team, or mentoring new potential teachers. By collaborating, participating, and leading the school community, teachers give and receive valuable resources that increase the overall learning of the school.

The child study I completed during my internship at Owings Mill High School proves that I am able to collaborate effectively with other school personnel. For a more information on this project, my observation notes, interview transcriptions, research, and reflections can be found in Appendix I of this Wiki. When I first began this child study, I collaborated with my mentor teacher in order to obtain knowledge about her experiences with and knowledge of the student. I also worked with her to plan observation days when I could watch RM in her classroom. In addition to collaborating with my mentor teacher, I also contacted another general education teacher in order to obtain permission to observe RM in his classrooms. Furthermore, with the assistance of my mentor teacher and the guidance department, I reviewed RM’s cumulative file to obtain valuable background information. Finally, I contacted RM’s Itinerate Resource Teacher and set up an interview with her. By talking with her, I was able to better comprehend RM’s needs and discuss instructional strategies that may assist this student in my classroom. By collaborating with other school personnel, I increased my knowledge about RM and his needs, allowing me to become a more successful teacher to him.