Competency Summary: MN Principal Licensure

Matthew S. Saferite Bethel University Competency Summary:MN Principal Licensure

Resume Education Experience: Principal – M.O. Ramay Junior High School, Fayetteville, Arkansas Supervisor: Dr. Bobby New, Superintendent July 2006 - Present Adjunct Professor - John Brown University, Rogers, Arkansas Supervisor: Dr. Gloria Gale, Director Spring 2008 - Present EDC 4334 - "Math Structures" Assistant Principal - Rogers High School, Rogers, Arkansas Supervisor: Mr. William Stringer, Principal July 2001 – June 2006 Director, Tech. Programs & MIS - Fayetteville Schools, Fayetteville, Arkansas Supervisor: Dr. Bobby New, Superintendent June 2000 – June 2001

Resume Education Experience (continued): Assistant Principal - M.O. Ramay Junior High School, Fayetteville, Arkansas Supervisor: Mr. Nick Tschepikow, Principal June 1998 – June 2000 Teaching Assistant - University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas EDAD 6103 "School Finance" Professor: Dr. Mary Hughes August 1999 - December 1999 Mathematics Instructor - Sam Walton Junior High School, Bentonville, Arkansas Supervisor: Mr. Randy Mattingly, Principal June 1997 – June 1998 Mathematics Instructor - Decatur High School, Decatur, Arkansas Supervisor: Mr. Charles Waldrip, Principal August 1995 – June 1997

Artifacts State of Minnesota Principal Competencies Click on an artifact to move to a page with more specific information.

1. Leadership • Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan • Ramay Literacy Plan

2. Information Collection • Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan • Ramay Literacy Plan • Student Needs Assessment • Staff Satisfaction Survey

3. Problem Analysis • Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan • Ramay Literacy Plan • Staff Satisfaction Survey • Department Chair Notes • Faculty Meeting Notes

4. Judgment • Ramay Literacy Plan

5. Organizational Oversight • Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan • Ramay Literacy Plan

6. Implementation Skills • Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan • Ramay Literacy Plan • "Response to Intervention" plan • Department Chair Notes • Release Time Request form

7. Delegation of Authority • Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan • Ramay Literacy Plan • Written comment

8. Instruction & Learning Environment • Student Needs Assessment • Academic Improvement Plans • Department Chair Notes • Faculty Meeting Notes • Ramay Master Schedule • Release Time Request form

9. Curriculum Design • Ramay Literacy Plan • Student Needs Assessment • Knowledge Maps • CIA diagram • PTO agenda • Ed. Leadership article • ACT Quality Core

10. Student Guidance & Development • Student Needs Assessment • Career Action Plan(ing) • PTO agenda • Student Services Plan • WRIT agenda • Student Center

11. Staff Development • Staff Satisfaction Survey • Department Chair Notes • Faculty Meeting Notes • Release Time Request form • Ramay Master Schedule

12. Measurement & Evaluation • Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan • Ramay Literacy Plan • Student Needs Assessment • Staff Satisfaction Survey • Academic Improvement Plans • Ramay Master Schedule

13. Resource Allocation • Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan • Department Chair Notes • Release Time Request form • Building Budgets (Instructional, QZAB and Title IIA)

14. Motivation • Ramay Literacy Plan • Student Needs Assessment • Staff Satisfaction Survey • Release Time Request form

15. Sensitivity • Student Needs Assessment • Ramay Literacy Plan • Staff Satisfaction Survey • Academic Improvement Plans • Department Chair Notes • PTO agenda • WRIT agenda Bethel Coursework including: Synthesis Paper (710 4.1) Reorganization Plan (745 1.1) Philosophy Paper (745.3.0) Leadership and Conflict Management Paper (745 3.1)

16. Oral & Nonverbal Communication • Knowledge Maps • "Open House" PowerPoint • Student Needs Assessment • Ramay Literacy Plan • Academic Improvement Plans • Department Chair Notes • Faculty Meeting Notes • (“live” and/or “online”) Bethel Coursework including: Henze Table/Paper (710 2.1) Conflict in the House (710 2.4) Gender Issues (710 3.2)

17. Written Expression • Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan • Ramay Literacy Plan • Career Action Plan(ing) • Academic Improvement Plans • Department Chair Notes • "Response to Intervention" plan • Knowledge Maps • Building Budgets • Ed. Leadership article

18. Philosophical & Cultural Values • Ramay Literacy Plan • ADE Ethical Standards • Bethel Coursework including: • Role of Education Paper (700 2.1) • Philosophy Notes/Paper (705 1.0) • Marx #1 Paper (750 3.1)

19. Legal & Regulatory Applications • Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan • Career Action Plan(ing) • Academic Improvement Plans • "Response to Intervention" plan • Knowledge Maps • CIA diagram • Building Budgets • District Handbook • ACT Quality Core • Student Center • ADE Ethical Standards • ACTAAP Roster • AEA • Bethel Coursework including: • Role of Education Paper (700 2.1) • Curriculum Design Paper (740 3.3) • Inclusion Notes/Paper (860 5.3) • Liability Laws Paper (860 6.3) • Student Supervision Paper (860 6.4) • Parent Letter (FERPA) Paper (860 7.4) • Contract Review Paper (860. 8.3)

20. Policy & Political Influences • Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan • Academic Improvement Plans • "Response to Intervention" plan • Knowledge Maps • District Handbook • ACT Quality Core • Student Center • ADE Ethical Standards Bethel Coursework including: Role of Education Paper (700 2.1) Political Analysis Paper (860 1.2) School Policy Analysis (Grading) Paper (860 3.5) Discipline Policy Analysis Paper (860 4.3)

21. Media & Public Relations • Staff Satisfaction Survey • Knowledge Maps • PTO agenda • "Open House" PowerPoint • Rotary Presentation • News Articles • Websites

Matthew S. Saferite Bethel University Competency Summary:MN Principal Licensure

Artifact #1 - Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (ACSIP) • The ACSIP sets the direction for all staff in the areas of math, literacy and health. These three areas have their priority established by the legislature as it determines public policy. • The ACSIP is required to be submitted annually by/to the ADE. (It is required to be submitted annually to the district office who submits it, along with the district plan, on behalf of all schools in the district.) • Resource allocation, time lines, and progress monitoring (including person primarily responsible) are required throughout. • Very specific diagnostic information for multiple years by multiple measures is required in every plan area. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #2 - Ramay Literacy Plan • The Literacy Improvement plan is an internal plan to address our "School Improvement - Year 1" status based on our previous 8th grade ACTAAP Literacy scores. It analyzes past performance data at multiple levels (building, strand, student), frames the multiple issues, identify causes, conjectures solutions and identifies measures of implementation and satisfactory performance. • It is monitored and, if necessary, adjusted several times each year for effective implementation. • It analyzes past performance data at multiple levels (building, strand, student), frames the multiple issues, identify causes, conjectures solutions and identifies measures of implementation and satisfactory performance. • Every teacher is responsible for regularly submitting components to the appropriate administrator. • The diagnostic information we looked at to develop our annual plans led to the conclusion that true reading instruction was needed for some of our students. We had up to 25% of incoming 8th grade students reading at 2nd/3rd grade levels. The reading class (using READ180) was the resultant revision. • A significant part of the original plan development was the generation of an equivalent measurement tool for use across the building (a dichotomous rubric is the tool used). • The Literacy plan is not implemented until a consensus of all faculty is achieved (tool used to measure consensus is a "consesogram"). • The Literacy plan is evidence of guidance to a full faculty that maximizes consistency in implementation. • The stress our SI-1 status has caused my staff and the conflict it has created (do we prepare kids for the test or teach them to a higher level [particularly in writing]) is an ever present, almost tangible, facet of our school building. • Our literacy plan is a direct result of current federal education legislation (NCLB). The NCLB legislation is an attempt to remedy both social (disparity in earnings and opportunities between social classes) and economic issues (the loss of our economic status in the world) in our country. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #3 - Student Needs Assessment • The Student Needs Assessment is an internal needs assessment based on national counseling standards as well as principals' standards (NASSP’s “Breaking Ranks,” etc.). This survey is administered to all students to gather essential information. Used in conjunction with the staff satisfaction survey, it is an extremely valuable tool to assist in making building level decisions and monitoring key student information and which effect students' learning. • This survey is administered to all students to gather essential information based on national counseling standards. It provides very specific data on students, including some very sensitive information (i.e. - recent death of parent). This allows us to understand our students better and more quickly and effectively make plans to address their needs. It is one of the best tools we use to obtain meaningful feedback from our kids. The data is disaggregated by ethnicity and gender (among other descriptors) to help us identify and properly address differences. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #4 - Staff Satisfaction Survey • The “staff satisfaction survey” is an internal survey for all staff (classified and certified) based primarily on the Baldrige National Quality Program criteria as well as the National Study of School Evaluation (NSSE) and other organizations. This survey is administered at the end of each semester to all staff and students to gather data on 15 essential elements of an effective school. It is an extremely valuable tool to assist in making building level decisions and monitoring key information (including an assessment of the effectiveness of professional development activities). • The survey provides an accurate, anonymous method for any staff member to communicate a concern. • It is used, in a limited manner, to recognize effective performance (i.e. - improved building cleanliness satisfaction by all staff leads to recognition of the custodial department). • Collecting "satisfaction" information is one of the most important methods utilized to interact with my internal public (students and staff). Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #5 - Career Action Plan(ing) • Career Action Planning is a time set aside every spring for two primary purposes. Those are the registration process for the subsequent school year and examining students post-high school goals and its relation to school. • The generation of a CAP booklet is a prerequisite to the CAP process. The CAP book is prepared by me every December with input from department chairs. • This is one of the few times throughout the year that a Ramay staff person sits down and discusses academics with parents. Parent teacher conferences are examples of other times. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #6 - Academic Improvement Plans • An “academic improvement plan” is an individual remediation plan for every student who was not proficient on the most recent ACTAAP exam (ACTAAP is the Arkansas Comprehensive Testing, Assessment and Accountability Program). The primary focus is on remediation of basic knowledge and skills. • AIPs are tied closely to the building "Literacy Plan.“ Significant interpretation is necessary to move from state reported data to the outcome (a working document specific to student need). • This process requires considerable tact on the part of me and my staff as we tell students and parents that they are not being successful and work with parents to develop an education plan for their child. • An individual plan condenses legislation, ADE regulations and district expectations down to one understandable page/process. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #7 - Department Chair Notes • Agendas and notes from building level department chair meetings which regularly include progress updates on building initiatives (ACSIP, RTI, Literacy/Math improvement plans, etc). All meetings utilize an agenda (sent to all staff prior to meeting) and notes (sent to all staff as soon as possible after conclusion of meeting). After each department chair meeting, I forward all staff (by email) the agenda from the meeting completed with the notes regarding the agenda items, including any decisions made and/or future considerations. • Department chairs provide essential input into adjusting the implementation of initiatives for maximum effectiveness of the overall building operations and to maximize a positive learning environment. • These meetings regularly include a focus on professional development activities (assessing past and developing future). • Department chairs are responsible for submitting an annual request and justification for a departmental allotment of the instructional budget. They are further responsible for supervising the budget throughout the school year. Department chairs also were charged with allocating the total QZAB allotment among themselves and managing their approved allotment. • Department chair meetings are a primary method for departments and administrators to get feedback from each other. These meetings are often utilized to anticipate potential conflict and proactively eliminate/minimize any conflict. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #8 – “Live” Faculty Meeting Notes • Agendas and notes from building level "live" faculty meetings. Live meetings are primarily focused on professional development (PD) type activities such as Literacy skills, questioning practices, Charlotte Danielson's Framework and others. • Agendas and notes from "live" faculty meetings which regularly include the development and refinement of building initiatives (ACSIP, RTI, Literacy/Math improvement plans, etc) in order to maximize a positive learning environment. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #9 - Ramay Master Schedule • The building’s master schedule of faculty and their teaching assignments. • The building master schedule is evidence of improved teaching and learning in several areas. For staff, each department has common planning time to work and learn together to improve teaching. For students, instructional programs such as our new reading class (Ms. Rogers) improve learning. • For the first time in my career, I have developed a master schedule that allows all departments to have a common planning time (some by period, some by lunch). This time with fellow department members and/or a departmental chairperson provides a high level of feedback and, when necessary, allows for remedial assistance by a peer (rather than evaluator). • The Literacy Improvement plan is an internal plan to address our "School Improvement - Year 1" status based on our previous 8th grade ACTAAP Literacy scores. The diagnostic information we looked at to develop our annual plans led to the conclusion that true reading instruction was needed for some of our students. We had up to 25% of incoming 8th grade students reading at 2nd/3rd grade levels. The reading class (using READ180) was the resultant revision. • The building master schedule is evidence of accommodating differences in cognition and achievement. Ramay's instructional programs include a spectrum of offerings from classes such as CBI to concurrent college credit classes and individualized study (i.e. - Swedish). Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #10 - Release Time Request form • Internal (building level) form used by faculty to request coverage of a class period(s) for PD purposes, implementation of building initiative (RTI, ACSIP, Literacy/Math improvement, etc.) or other purposes related to the CIA structure (developing lessons, assessments, etc.). • Time is one of the most consistently needed resources for teachers. This time allows for feedback, coaching and guidance from administrators and teaching peers. • It is very important that Ramay have a culture of learning for staff, as well as students. This release time reinforces that idea. I believe teachers can give each other much more meaningful feedback on performance than I can (due more to my position rather than competence). • Stimulation and innovation are most fully developed when staff can work together (including across buildings). Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #11 – “Online” Faculty Meeting Notes • This is an example of an "online" faculty meeting presentation. This format aids communication as it allows staff to view the meeting anytime from any internet connection. • This format has several advantages for staff including more efficient use of their time, consistency of message (including the ability to repeat information) and freeing time in “live” meetings for curricular work. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #12 – "Response to Intervention" (RTI) plan • Plan required by district to address "achievement gap" issues (requirement originates in state legislation). Specific steps of the plan are specific to Ramay. • Very intentional effort and significant time has been and will continue to be spent making this policy initiative a real, working process that truly benefits students (as opposed to completing a task [develop an RTI plan] to satisfy the central office and/or state department). Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #13 – Knowledge Maps • Knowledge maps are a list of the essential knowledge to be learned by students in a particular course. These maps have many benefits but a very significant one is to assist students at all levels of development learn necessary knowledge and skills more effectively and efficiently. • There are many benefits to these maps. One benefit is that by more efficiently learning the knowledge required for a given course, more time is available for skill development. • These maps are all based on national standards then tied to state and local curriculum standards and assessments. These maps are adjusted annually which provides for appropriate balance between consistency in a given year and long term relevancy. • A primary benefit of these maps is to take content expectations out of "education-ese" language and make it understandable to students and parents. This helps parents to be directly involved with the contend expectations for their students' courses. • These maps incorporate multiple instructional designs into their development. • The local education cooperative and our district have both had an initiative in place to align district curriculum. Ramay has taken that initiative to the student (and parent) level by actually making curriculum readily accessible to students in a format that is meaningful. • A significant strength of the maps is that they allow parents to be very directly involved with the contend expectations for their students' courses. These maps are one of the most effect methods of tying our primary purpose (student learning) to two of our primary markets (students and parents). Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #14 – CIA diagram • The CIA diagram is a visual representation of the three components and 6 relationships of the teaching/learning act. It is the central focus of everything that is done pedagogically at Ramay. While the 9 components are static, their implementation require appropriate adjustments to be made, including in the area of content. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #15 – PTO agenda • Included is a sample agenda from a meeting of Ramay's Parent Teacher Organization. The Ramay PTO is a primary method for communicating with families, the public and our local business community. Included is a link to Ramay's Parent Teacher Organization web page. The Ramay PTO is a primary method for communicating with families, the public and our local business community and is very active in the operations of our school. • The Ramay PTO is very active in the operations of our school. PTO supports family needs in multiple ways (i.e. raising money for fees, Angel Tree, scholarship fund raising, etc.). • The PTO provides valuable feedback to me on various perceptions of the school (operations and effectiveness). • Ramay's PTO is one of the most active and formal ways parents are involved with the school. (links to respective websites can be found from the main Ramay page) • My primary, frequent external public interaction occurs with my PTO (and multiple booster clubs [athletic, band & choir]). Their are links to these clubs and our interactions through the main Ramay webpage. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #16 – Student Services Plan • Written, building level plan to address student needs based on national counseling standards and feedback from student needs assessment. It is the compliment to the ACSIP in terms of providing a comprehensive written plan to addressing all aspects of student needs (ACSIP-academic, Student services plan-social/emotional). Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #17 – WRIT agenda • WRIT (We aRe IT) team is a unification of many different building, district and community resources to address students with multiple, often overlapping needs. The WRIT team meets as necessary but no less than twice per month. • Our WRIT meetings are one of the toughest aspects of my job. This is where staff work to come to solutions for kids who may not have another chance for success (due to influences such as abuse, medical factors, etc.). The work of the WRIT team is always stressful (by nature of the work) and can, at times, produce conflict both internally and externally. As the building leader, managing the people and process requires significant sensitivity. • The primary purpose of WRIT meetings is to advocate for families and their Ramay kids that aren't being successful and have extensive needs that require the involvement of multiple groups (school, external counseling agencies, health care, law enforcement, etc.). Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #18 – Ramay Budgets • Building Budget - Approximately $60,000 per year for instructional items. This amount does not include any “activity” accounts. • QZAB Budget - Ramay was awarded approximately $650,000 in QZAB (Qualified Zone Academy Bonds [through US Dept of Ed]). The primary use of the funds was to improve educational technology on campus (including computer hardware, computer software, calculators, projectors, wood/metal shop equipment (lathes, saws, welders), PE equipment (i.e. – new archery program component), and more. • Title IIA Budget - This budget is the building allotment of the districts Title IIA budget (federal money designated for professional development of certified staff). Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #19 – "Open House" powerpoint • This is a PowerPoint presentation I used for an open house presentation to parents (Sept 2008). • It includes prompts to several significant issues which I addressed in significant detail. It also prompts questions from parents in attendance. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #20 – District Handbook • Student handbook provided by district. Includes all district policies and rules as well as many state and federal laws and precedents. • Includes all district policies and rules as well as information from many political systems that affect schools. • This handbook is the primary reference/guidance point for recognizing and appropriately dealing with policy issues (i.e. - drug use, athletics, Constitutional issues [i.e. - free speech, distribution of literature, etc.]). • In my role as building principal, I consider it a high priority to review the policies constantly and work with my other administrators to affect policy change (as necessary). • Student misbehavior is an ethical issue that is primarily dealt with using this handbook as the objective reference point for acceptable behavior. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #21 – Written comments • Comment #1 – In order to realize more effectiveness from my office staff, I rearranged 4 different staff members physical workspace. For example, our attendance secretary was, for years, in an office separate from the front counter (where parents enter) and had no access to the intercom (to communicate attendance information to/from teachers). This summer, her desk was moved to the front office area and she is now the closest staff member to the intercom. • Comment #2 - My assistant principal and I try to recognize every staff member every semester for effective performance. This is done with a hand written note detailing specifics of recognizable performance. Recognition is also done in all staff evaluations at the end of the school year. • Comment #3 - In order for me to utilize subordinates as effectively as possible, I keep an electronic "to-do" list for individuals (assistant principal, bookkeeper, head custodian, etc. ) and groups (department chairs, PTO, counselors, office staff, etc.). No less than once per week, I review these items to verify that they have been completed or are being appropriately addressed. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #22 – ASCD Educational Leadership article • This article explains how a school can increase achievement and simultaneously, reduce variation among classes. This improvement is dependent on teamwork and innovative processes. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #23 – ACT Quality Core • Ramay has begun to use increasingly more assessment data from ACT's EPAS program. Consequently, we have also begun to use ACT's Quality Core materials to improve our instructional framework and align our curriculum to expected high school and early college outcomes. • The ACT organization is one of the best researchers of educational effectiveness. I serve on an advisory group to the executive leadership of the educational division of ACT. This role allows me to examine national, state and local policies as well as affect, to some degree, or implement changes. The Quality Core program ACT has developed is an outgrowth of data examination and policy review. Click to return to previous slide

Artifact #24 – Ramay Student Center • The "student center" is a room designed to accommodate, among other things, small group counseling sessions. A primary objective of the room is to provide a safe, private place for counselors (primarily) to work with students, regularly on a long-term basis, on modifying inappropriate behavior. • One of the eight district goals is to "Provide a safe school environment that promotes positive emotional and physical well being and mutual respect for students and staff" (FPS Goal #7). Although we strive to accomplish this goal school-wide, the student center is a very specific response to this district initiative. Click to return to previous slide

Competency Summary: MN Principal Licensure