TTESS - A Coaching Model
Domain 4: Professional Practices and Responsibilities
Professionalism + Leadership = Improved Campus Culture & Student Achievement
In my mind, looking at the distinguished column on the TTESS rubric, Domain 4 is one of professionalism and leadership. Some educators are quiet, behind-the-scene leaders, who lead effectively through their example. This is the Proficient leader. Others in our midst are leaders who step out and take on a lot of added responsibility to have a larger sphere of influence on areas targeted for improvement. Effective leadership involves the modeling of professional ethics, the sharing of gifts, the sacrifice of time, and the enthusiastic advocacy for all students on campus, not just the students they teach. An effective leader teaches and empowers others to achieve a goal. There will always be obstacles to any change or effort for improvement, but distinguished leaders do not allow distractions of negativity to divert their path toward a positive outcome. Domain 4 is a culture-changer for every campus and for every student!
Dimension 4.1: Professional Demeanor and Ethics
Weekly 5 #33 - T-TESS Standard 4.1: Professional Demeanor and Ethics
Educator Code of Ethics
If it has been awhile since you have read the Texas Educators' Code of Ethics, you may access it HERE. This first link is an easier text to read than the link from the Texas Administrative Code, but if you prefer to read Educators' Code of Ethics from the administrative code, you may access it HERE.
Dimension 4.2: Goal Setting
Weekly 5 #34 - T-TESS Dimension 4.2: Goal Setting
SMART GOALS
Did you notice that the acronym SMART Goal has different interpretations? The "A" and the "R" seem to have the most variation in interpretation when one "googles" SMART Goals. Which element(s) do you consider most important? There is no correct answer, but for me, specific and measurable rank highly. Analyzing our data to find an appropriate, specific target for improvement and finding efficient and valid tools to measure progress are very basic elements of a SMART goal. Without them, we cannot measure the effectiveness of the practices we use to help kids learn. A SMART Goal helps us monitor and adjust what we do!
Dimension 4.3: Professional Development
Weekly 5 #35 - T-TESS Standard 4.3: Professional Development
Dimension 4.4: School Community Involvement
We Learn From Our Experiences
I have a story similar to the one Dr. Hickey tells in the video below. I won't share it here, but across all segments of society, many parents become "mama bear" or "papa bear" when their child is involved in a perceived wrong. They simply want us to know how awesome their child is, and when we share "the good things" about their child with them, a connected, collaborative relationship begins to develop. Positive, frequent communication with parents leads to a collaborative effort to enhance the student's learning and growth.
Weekly 5 #36 - T-TESS Standard 4.4: School Community Involvement