Osama Zakaria

                         Educational Leadership Policy Standards: ISLLC

as adopted by the National Policy Board for Educational Administration on December 12, 2007  

Standard	Indicators	Possible Artifacts
Standard 1: An education leader promotes the success of every student by facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by all stakeholders.	Collaboratively develop and implement a shared vision and mission Collect and use data to identify goals, assess organizational effectiveness, and promote organizational learning Create and implement plans to achieve goals Promote continuous and sustainable improvement Monitor and evaluate progress and revise plans	Advanced Placement Human Geography course scores for 2009-2010. This provides tangible evidence of my ability to lead a class. Additionally the score indicate improvement in standardized scores.
Standard 2: An education leader promotes the success of every student by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional growth.	Nurture and sustain a culture of collaboration, trust, learning, and high expectations Create a comprehensive, rigorous, and coherent curricular program Create a personalized and motivating learning environment for students Supervise instruction Develop assessment and accountability systems to monitor student progress Develop the instructional and leadership capacity of staff Maximize time spent on quality instruction Promote the use of the most effective and appropriate technologies to support teaching and learning Monitor and evaluate the impact of the instructional program	School Bullying Presentation Case Study   Each of these elements demonstrates my ability to develop a comprehensive program. I am also able to nurture and sustain collaboration, as well as trust inside of a school. .
Standard 3: An education leader promotes the success of every student by ensuring management of the organization, operation, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment.	Monitor and evaluate the management and operational systems Obtain, allocate, align, and efficiently utilize human, fiscal, and technological resources Promote and protect the welfare and safety of students and staff Develop the capacity for distributed leadership Ensure teacher and organizational time is focused to support quality instruction and student learning
Standard 4: An education leader promotes the success of every student by collaborating with faculty and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources.	Collect and analyze data and information pertinent to the educational environment Promote understanding, appreciation, and use of the community’s diverse cultural, social, and intellectual resources Build and sustain positive relationships with families and caregivers Build and sustain productive relationships with community partners	. Pellegrino, A.M, Lee, C.D., Zakaria, O. & Luongo, B.J (in press). Civics through culture: Music as a tool for 21st century civic education. Action in Teacher Education. This is a journal article which I have co authored. The work is to be published in the winter 2011 edition of Action in Teacher Education.
Standard 5: An education leader promotes the success of every student by acting with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner. . . . . . . . . . . . . _________________ Standard 6: An education leader promotes the success of every student by understanding, responding to, and influencing the political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context.	Ensure a system of accountability for every student’s academic and social success Model principles of self-awareness, reflective practice, transparency, and ethical behavior Safeguard the values of democracy, equity, and diversity Consider and evaluate the potential moral and legal consequences of decision-making Promote social justice and ensure that individual student needs inform all aspects of schooling ___________________ Advocate for children, families, and caregivers Act to influence local, district, state, and national decisions affecting student learning Assess, analyze, and anticipate	Letter of Recommendation obtained from a former coworker at Paxon School for Advanced Studies. He is now currently a professor of education at George Mason University in Virginia. The letter explains in detail my strengths as an educator.       Educational Awards   The awards and honors indicate my ability to influence local and district efforts.

 

Rationale and Reflection of Artifacts

Artifact for Standard 4,Rationale for Journal

12-1-2009  -

I have included a journal article which I have coauthored on civic education under standard 4. The article was developed to research the impact which music may have on student interest of civics.  

I feel that this article belongs under standard four because one important aspect of the research process was collaborating with educational colleagues and responding to a perceived need in the educational community. The article helps to demonstrate my ability to develop and execute effective research.  

I will use my experience in my future endeavors. The process has given me the ability to develop and implement a plan which will require long term dedication.  This type of skill is valuable as a leader in education.

Reflection Artifact 1- This may be the biggest piece of work I have undertaken as an educator. The process to develop this article took over one year. During the time my wife went from carrying twins, to delivering two babies, Ashton and Zoe.

The research was epically taxing as I was a new father. I was able to work with several individuals during this process. As a result of my efforts I was afforded the opportunity to present at the annual conference of Social Studies Teachers in West Palm Beach in 2009. Making the research especially rewarding is the work which went into the project without the expectation of pay. In the end, the article will published in A.F.T. winter 2010 issue.

The article is something which I am very proud to call my own.  The greatest thing which I have taken from the research is my ability to plan to achieve a long term goal. Additionally, I know that I am able to work diligently on a task even when a finical incentive is not in play.

Artifact for Standard 5. Rationale Letter of Recommendation. 11-2010. -

I have included a letter of recommendation from a former colleague. I feel that the letter bests fits under standard 5. The letter indicates my ability to reflect on educational practices. Additionally the letter helps to verify, from a distinguished individual, my pedagogical ability. This letter suggests that I show great promise to grow as an educator and as a scholar. I will continue to develop relationships with my co-workers. These professional relationships have the ability to help me grow professionally and personally.    

Reflection- Working with Anthony Pellegrino was a real blessing. I was able to develop a friendship when I would have least expected. At the time I was complacent in my career. I felt as if I was an adequate teacher; however, I made no plans to continue with my education. Anthony was a primary factor leading to my decision in continuing education. I have continued my education and am a better teacher because of my studies.

Through this relationship I have grown professionally.  As a result of this experience I know that I will make a dedicated effort to remain positive in my interactions with my co-workers. This has taught me that one never does know what kind of impact they will have on another person. 

Artifact of Standard 1. Rationale Test Scores. 2009-2010-

 I have included a copy of my 2009-2010 AP Human Geography class scores.  The scores reflect the effort which I contributed, as well as the students’ efforts to achieve such high marks.  The scores are an artifact of standard one of the ISLLC.

I feel the scores belong under standard one because I was required to develop and implement a shared vision and mission. The vision for the courses which I teach entails increased content knowledge which is evident on standardized test scores.

Additionally, it is my mission to increase the interest of each student I teach in respect to geography. The experience for me has been extremely rewarding. The students whom I teach also enjoy a feeling of personal satisfaction once they receive their test scores. Not every student will pass the Advanced Placement exam at the end of the year.  However, every student will learn new materials which will help them to grow academically as well as personally. 

The data set indicates that I continue to grow each year as an educator. In the five years which I have taught the course my classes have enjoyed the highest pass rates for multiple years within my school district. Additionally, the program which I have helped to foster has helped more children to pass the exam than any other school in the district.

I have placed the data under standard one for several reasons. I have been able to use data to effectively plan classroom instruction. This data set not only shows me the area which my children excel in. The data guides my instruction for the school years on the horizon. I am able to locate areas where I may improve my instructional delivery.  

This data also represents the evidence that I am able to implement plans and achieve goals through my instruction.  I will continue to use data to guide my decision making process. In the future I will be able to take standardized data and apply it to a larger set of students. This artifact suggests I may be able to achieve similar results on a school wide level.

Reflection: This artifact is very important to me. Test scores may not always serve as an indicator of success made in a classroom. It is important for me to provide tangible proof of my ability to lead a classroom to achieve a goal. This is something which I have been able to do for an extended period of time.

The scores also represent a reward for the hard work I have incorporated in the courses which I teach. The data also indicates my ability to inspire and motivate students to learn about a subject which they may have had little to no prior knowledge in. I take pride in my profession and the work which I perform every day. This data is a simple reminder of the dedication I provide throughout the year. I think that this will provide proof to future employers of my ability to teach and lead a class to success. 

Artifact of Standard 6. Rationale of Teaching Awards.2007-2010-

 I have included a list of several awards I have received during my five years of teaching at Paxon School for Advanced Studies. The awards represent recognition I have received from my co-workers as well as supervisors.  The artifact indicates the respect I have received by educators who are many years my senior.

The school in which I teach is an academic magnet high school. In previous years the high school has consistently ranked in the top ten high schools in America under Newsweek’s national poll. I work with many educators who are masters of their craft.

In the five years which I have been teaching I have been nominated for teacher of the year three times, and received teacher of the year honors for the 2009-2010 school year. This is an indicator of how the faculty with whom I work with view me as an educator. It is a honor to receive such a prestigious recognition from teachers who are excellent at what they do.

I feel the awards best align to Standard 6 of the ISLLC Standards.  Indicators for standard 6 include advocating for children, and families, acting to influence local district, state, and national decisions affecting student learning. I received recognition as teacher of the year for my efforts to open the doors of the Advanced Placement program to groups which historically been denied access.

I was able to achieve great success with freshmen in an Advanced Placement setting. In fact the first year which I taught an Advanced Placement Human Geography course, my class pass rate with freshmen were the highest in the county. I will continue to meet the challenges of tomorrow with an open mind today. I have gained respect from the faculty at the school in which I teach. The awards underline a skill which I have gained. I will be able to adapt to new situations, I will continue to meet challenges with a positive mental attitude.

Reflection- It has been such a wonderful experience to teach at a school such as Paxon. I have enjoyed success as an educator at a very young age. Additionally, I have had the honor to receive recognition from my coworkers for my efforts at an age when most teachers are still learning to develop lesson plans. I am humbled by the knowledge and skill of many of my co-workers. To receive an award as teacher of the year from such a talented staff is beyond words.

I think that working with such as staff has given me a tremendous amount of confidence in my ability to lead, even at a young age. I think that this will serve me well as I will hopefully become a young administrator. I became a teacher at an academic magnet school when I was twenty two years old. The experience I have gained at Paxon will provide me with insight as I will certainly meet initial challenges as a leader.

Some of those challenges may be around my youth. I will always view my youth as an assist when I interview for position, never as a liability, because of my time at Paxon. 

 Artifact of Standard 2. Rationale for Case Study and Bullying PowerPoint. 2009.- I have included a copy of a case study which I performed on a student. The case study reflects my ability to create and implement a comprehensive curricular plan. I also have included a copy of a power point presentation which I developed on the topic of school bullying.  

I feel that the case study and the presentation belong under standard 2 of the ISLLC. A plan was developed which required me to monitor the progress of my student to ensure my suggestions were accurate. I developed the presentation on school bullying to share with my co-workers during a faculty meeting.

The power point demonstrates my ability to promote the use of the most effective and appropriate technologies.  The case study and power point presentation are artifacts of standard 2 of the ISLLC. The work demonstrates that my competence continues to grow as a teacher. In both artifacts my ability to manage my class becomes very clear. I am able to address higher level issues associated with classroom management. In both cases tools for my co-workers are presented to help with unique classroom issues.

In the future, I will continue to look for new motivational strategies to bring into my classroom. The skills which I have gained will help me address issues on a larger scale within my school

Reflection: This artifact is very important to me. It is important for me to provide tangible proof of my ability to lead a classroom when obstacles develop. Each classroom is unique and presents challenges for teachers.

The case study and power point show evidence of my ability to develop a strategy to address multiple problems in a classroom setting.  I think that this will provide proof to future employers of my ability to teach and lead a class to success.