Director of Special Education Administration Exit Meeting 2/13/12

1. Director of Special Education Administration Exit Meeting 2/13/12 Completed By: Ashley Evans

2. My Passion • It has been my pleasure for the past seven years, to have been teaching students with developmental cognitive disabilities (DCD), and I can say without hesitation, that this is where my passion lies.  My second but equal passion is for working with teachers and staff who work with this population.  Although I am just beginning on my administrative path, I have always been a leader in just about every position I have had.  Anywhere from starting up new DCD programs at different sites, to mentoring new teachers and student teachers, to supervising youth programs while partnering with community agencies, and participating on various committees that improve student achievement, I have had unique and vital learning experiences that are irreplaceable and will make me a valuable administrator in the near future. • "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement, nothing can be done without hope and confidence" Helen Keller

3. Resume • http://ashleyevans.efoliomn.com/Resume

4. Field Experience/Internship • Palmer Lake Elementary School (K-6) Public School • Fun Squad Coordinator • Was a part of the Data Team • Led Staff Meetings at times in regards to data team information • Acted as District Representative for IEP meetings as well as leading IEP meetings • Led Parents Night • MTAS Coordinator • Mentored two student teachers and six practicum students from the University of Minnesota

5. Field Experience/Internship • Osseo Area School’s Education Service Center (Central Office where administrators are housed) • Organized and led the HELP class for 30 teachers across the district • Observed and made placement decision for incoming ECSE students to elementary DCD classrooms • Made special education transition placements and worked with the Special Education Building Coordinators • Participated in the MDE Compliance and Monitoring process • Attended Director’s Forum • Helped create the MTAS cut-off scores for the 5th and 6th grade math tests at MDE

6. Field Experience/Internship • Anoka Hennepin District- Riverview Early Childhood Center (ECSE, ECFE, Testing Coordinators, Speech, OT, and Physical Therapists are all housed here) • Helped create Riverview Early Childhood Center’s crisis plan • In charge of the new teacher welcome piece of their orientation at the back to school workshop session • Completed a teacher observation, write up, and post observation meeting • Participated in ECSE trainings and deliver to new teachers

7. Competency Overview • http://ashleyevans.efoliomn.com/evidence_of_competencies

8. Competency Strengths • Leadership • I have a passion and a vision for special education, everything from designing staff development for special educators, to finding the best curriculum fit, and creating/improving programs for students in special education • Participated on the Palmer Lake Data Team • I led several staff meetings in regards to what our data team came up with and my responsibility was to find relationship building activities to share with the staff • I was the fun squad coordinator where I was responsible for the program as well as making positive changes that would benefit students and families • Led Parents Night • Supervised three student teachers and six practicum students

9. Competency strengths Cont’d • Human Resources • Hired Fun Squad Instructors • Supervised Fun Squad Instructors and evaluated staff while addressing concerns • Handed out, explained, and received employment packets and background checks for Fun Squad program • Participated on several administrative, teacher, and paraprofessional interview teams • Completed a formal teacher evaluation in the Anoka Hennepin School District (pre-observation meeting, write ups, observation, and post-observation meeting) as well as completing teacher walk-throughs in the classroom • Participated in discipline concerns for certain school staff members

10. Competency strengths Cont’d • Organizational Management • Kept track of the fiscal records/budget for the entire fun squad program • Kept track of time cards for Fun Squad • Revamped the Fun Squad Program into a more organized system with the way students and instructors signed up for classes • Organized and led Parents Night at Palmer Lake Elementary with using data to figure out the best breakout sessions, types of service providers we needed to participate, and the technology needed to carry out the plans • Organized the HELP class for 30 teachers across the district (created a budget, got necessary service providers on board, reserved a space, used the appropriate technology , analyzed the data necessary to create the best outcomes for the participants, etc.)

11. Competency strengths Cont’d • Curriculum Planning/Instructional Management • Knowledgeable about special education curriculums and completed a curriculum audit and curriculum review process for Osseo special education programs • MTAS coordinator for Palmer Lake • Developed the HELP training/class around the Hawaii Early Learning Profiles assessment and curriculum guide for ECSE students • Created ESY data collection forms for the Anoka Hennepin School District to verify ESY qualification • Led certain child study meetings in regards to special education curriculum • Participated in creating MTAS cut-off scores at MDE for 5th and 6th grade math (i.e. what constitutes meeting the standard, exceeding the standard, partially meeting the standard, or not meeting the standard?)

12. Competency strengths Cont’d • Director of Special Education: Organizational Management • Participated in the Minnesota Continuous Improvement Process (MNCIMP) for special education where we created goals for the year for our district in regards to special education • Participated in a school board meeting work session and then attended school board meetings • Created a PowerPoint for the school board analyzing Osseo’s special education programs • Knowledgeable on the role policies and procedures play in in regulating special education (attended directors forums, organized staff development around special education topics, participated in the MDE compliance and monitoring self review process, etc.)

13. Competencies Needing Further Development • Political Influence and Governance • Become more active in the school board • Depending on the district, learn who the key stakeholders are and how to align them with the school, district, or program they could impact • Judgment and Problem Solving Analysis • Learn from experiences • Stop, wait, listen, and do your research before reacting if time allows • Prioritize, learn common interests, and keep the common goal in mind • Director of Special Education: Policy and Law • Attend quarterly Director’s Forums at MDE • Gain experience on the job or while in a stepping stone position such as in a coordinator role • Learn from colleagues

14. Evidence of Competencies Personal Assessment of Competencies

15. 6 Essentials for Effective Leadership • Leadership skills (clear vision with direction, positive execution style, and being approachable) • Effective communication skills (in person, through email, through delegation, etc.) • Values and Ethics (in it for the right reasons and the common goal) • Diversity Experience (affects you no matter where you go or what field you are in) • Policy and Law (addresses safety, contracts, state and federal laws, etc.) • Instructional Management (background on curriculum, data collection, and assessment)

16. Future Plans • After I have this baby…………………. • In the next five years I plan on perusing a job as a special education coordinator or supervisor hopefully in the DCD world to get my feet wet • Possibly be an adjunct professor at a university to work with aspiring special education teachers