Kirsten Henderson

Month of July, 2015

Internship hours completed in July- 183
ELCC Standard
Standard 1

Standard 2

Standard 3

Standard 4

The Childrens League

Internship hours completed to date- 266

Brief Description of Activity

I worked on the handbook, discussing specifics with staff. I had
meetings with an Occupational Therapist and Physical Therapist,
who was new to our school last year. I met with the Speech
therapists as a group to include any specific information they might
want in the handbook.
I sent out my second draft of the handbook asking people to make
changes in a different color or highlight than I used. The nurses,
FRWs and various staff had positive comments about it. I
specifically asked some office staff to review parts I added about
their jobs and asked for feedback.
I read the NYS Day Care Licensing Regulations to include items that
might be specific to our program.
I gave a tour to a new family.
I re-created a new attendance form for classroom use.
I helped create a new updated progress report form and created
directions for its use. I assisted staff with using the progress report
form.
I began research on new curriculum aligning the the NYS common
core learning standards. I began aligning one assessment we have
used in the past. I contacted the company and the president
contacted me regarding my findings so far.
I discussed placement of teachers for Fall with 2 directors from Head
Start.
I contacted the director of the free CPR training program. At this
point staff would need to take the class online then we can schedule
the skills practice part. Many of the aides were not available to
complete an online course. Our school computers need to be
updated to allow for the course to load. We will schedule a time in
2016 to complete training.
I contacted Mary Ann White, the Regional Special Education
Specialist, regarding an inservice for staff on writing goals and
tracking goals. I also planned on what we can do for the aide staff
during that training. Half of the aide group will be training in CPI,
our behavior program.
I participated in the intake/referral process.
I instructed a new summer teacher about the progress reporting form
and attendance form.
I discussed Fall placement with summer teachers.
I reviewed contracts for our school the Wyoming and Cattaraugus
counties.
I helped with the daily operations at the school: bus duty, setting up
for special events.
I continued looking into Robo calling and found a different company
another school similar to ours uses. They sent a quote.
I spent time with the Family Resource Workers. One helps new

Hours
57

33.5

63.5

families with paper work for our school as well as providing ongoing
help when needed throughout the childs time at our school. The
other is coordinator of the Early Intervention program for our school.
Standard 5

I am learning that every person has an impact on our school.

Standard 6

I organized materials for the big annual fundraiser, Night Under the
Stars.
I participated in the event providing support where needed.
I found a way to add voting to our emails. I tried using it for a few
emails sent to staff. Some used it some did not.
During meeting with Chris Lewis, my site supervisor, she shared
different general personnel issues that have come up over the years.
As I listen and reflected on these issues and I found a way I could be
prepared for staff being confrontational.

Standard 7

hours
embedded in
other
standards
15.5

5.5

Reflections by Standard
Standard 1
Working on the handbook has been interesting. Many people have been supportive of it and have added to the
sections. That has been very helpful. Some staff, specifically an occupational therapist and a physical therapist,
approached me to sit with me to add to their sections. I approached the speech therapists and joined their group
lunch. One speech therapist said that they mentor new staff so they would not need a section in the handbook. I
pointed out that a new person would benefit from a mentor but could also have the handbook speech section as
a reference. Some thought it was a good idea others did not. I included it and will add information with the
help of others. I believe that this handbook will help the whole school understand what is expected of them as
well as understand what is expected of others. I need to think about how the classroom aide and one-to-one
aide staff can be added into the handbook. They are another group of people who are vital to our schools
success.
I gave a tour to a family who was hesitant to send their child to school. Their Early Intervention Service
Coordinator joined us. Elaine Krezmien also followed along in case there was a question that I did not know
the answer too. One did come regarding our nurses handling a child who has had a stroke. The tour went well.
Being a teacher at the school helped as I could answer many questions relating to how a classroom works and
what to expect in their childs day. I feel a strength I have is the ability to relate to people. I feel I put them at
ease which helps them to ask questions.
Standard 2
I participated in organizing for the summer program. I re-created the attendance form. The original saved form
became corrupted. Having an understanding of computers is a must. I dont consider myself an expert but I
have learned to use different programs over the years and I am more confident with working through a process.
I was able to add the needed keys to make the form professional looking. I also helped with reorganizing our
progress reporting form. I created a direction sheet to be clear about who is responsible for adding all the goals
and how to use shortcuts to copy and paste information. I learned that people dont read information thoroughly
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especially when it is lengthy. I tried to bullet the information and to keep it short but I still received questions.
One therapist asked me for clarification for therapists responsibilities. She wanted to remain anonymous. I
assured her that she would be. I sent a clarification email to teachers and therapists.
I gathered different checklists we have used and researched curriculum to align with the common core
standards. One checklist, HELP 3-6, was aligned with the Head Start framework. Since our Head Start
classrooms are using a curriculum that is aligned with the standards I looked at that framework. It was set up
similarly to the common core standards. I sent an email to the company asking if they were working on any
alignment at this time. I received an email back stating that they were not at this time but plan to do so in the
future. I wrote back that as an intern for my school I was looking into it and I am finding correlations to the
common core. Shortly afterward I received a phone call from a gentleman and we discussed what I was doing
and that he was interested in my findings. He sent me an email and I found out that he was the president of the
VORT company. Whether our school uses this curriculum or not I plan to pursue this further.
I contacted Mary Ann White regarding training in the Fall. As a school we need to understand how we should
be writing goals and tracking them so we are aligned with the State standards. Another big concern is
documenting regression so children can receive summer services. We serve many school districts and have
difficulty keeping straight which school district wants which information, in which certain way. We work hard
at complying with all the variations.
I connected with Liz from the training office through the National Safety Council for CPR and AED training.
The only available training is online with a day skills training. I surveyed the staff and some were still
interested in completing that. I believe that I will need to continue suggesting to staff to complete the training.
Standard 3
I spent time managing the organization through helping with bus duty, setting up for special events and reading
contracts. For morning bus duty the secretaries will make an announcement for staff to help unload busses.
There has been discussion that the classroom teachers should just send the staff out at the right time without an
announcement. As I helped with bussing, getting outside to begin, I felt that there should be an announcement
by someone stating that it is officially time. In the afternoon two classroom aides keep order for busses arriving
and loading children on the bus to go home. I feel in the morning one of the aides in charge of the afternoon
bussing could make the announcement instead of the secretaries. I also think there needs to be a simple way to
account for the busses in the morning. Often if a child is not at school, staff begins checking with other classes
to see if another child on that bus is here to decide if the child is truly absent or if that the whole bus is late. I
also had discussions with staff waiting in the school for busses about tracking students who are absent and who
are waiting for the busses outside or in their classrooms. A simple, laminated check off list with student names
would be helpful for those bus runs with many children.
Reading the contracts for two different counties was interesting. One county contract set a very positive tone
while the other was negative. Each had different requirements for paperwork to be completed. Our secretary
created a document with all the information included for both counties a few years ago. Reviewing the
contracts carefully is needed to ensure that the information we need to provide is included in session notes,
monthly notes and quarterly notes. If not we may not receive our payment for services provided to a child.
I participated in the intake/referral process. When a parent or physician has concerns about a child we can
evaluate that child. Part of the process for an administrator at our school is to complete a social history
interview and an observation in the childs natural environment. By participating in this process an
administrator sees the child as s/he enters the program and establishes the rapport with the family.
Standard 4
3

In searching for ways to connect with families and in talking with Chris Lewis, I decided to continue looking
into Robo calling. I called other schools similar to ours to find out if anyone uses the School Messenger system
I first researched or any other company. I called five different programs and I found one school used One Call
Now. No other programs used this type of system for communication with parents. I researched it and found
that it was less expensive than the first company. We will be able to send parents messages not only about
school closing but updates about what is happening at school. We will be able to send email messages and text
messages. I thought we could send a monthly voice newsletter update about what parents could be looking for
over the next month. We received a quote and need to act on it.
I met with the Family Resource Workers (FRW) to understand their role at our school. They are the ones who
visit families at home and share information about the school. They get the consents signed and explain what
parents need to know. There is an extensive packet that parents receive. Another FRW is the Early Intervention
coordinator for our school. She receives email notifications if there are children looking for service providers in
our area. She works with three different counties and uses the New York State Early Intervention Services
(NYEIS) system. She reviews and uploads documents created by our teachers and therapists working with
children birth to three years old. She ensures all the needed documentation is available for the teachers and
therapists regarding the children.
Standard 5
This standard encompasses behavior that an educational leader should possess across all the standards. One
theme I heard when interacting and observing others is that all that we do is public relations for our school.
Each person and each report sent out is showing off our school to the community. During my interactions with
staff as I helped with the new progress report or attendance form I acted professionally. I listen to others and
remain open to others opinions. Many staff have been supportive of my interest in becoming an administrator
and have shared they feel I would be good at it. I am learning to represent myself clearly to others. I have
found that I use humor to diffuse situations and to put others at ease. Over this month I was interacting with
many people regarding the handbook I am creating. Some people were very excited about how it was going and
that it was so comprehensive. Many offered ideas about things to add. I sent it specifically to some staff to
look at a section about their job. I still have things to add and people to speak with. I believe it will be helpful
to have a brief description about the jobs behind the classroom and therapy scene. I believe it will bring us
together as one school.
Standard 6
Fundraising was the big focus for July. The annual Night Under The Stars event took place on July 25. There
was much to do to set for the event. I helped with invitations and setting up for the event the night before and
the day of the event. Our school has a different focus than a public school in regards to community. We serve
so many different school districts and we do not receive funding the same way public schools do.
Understanding the public that we serve flows into everything we do. Therapists go out into the community to
provide a therapy to a child. Everyone who sees them entering the house is a potential public for us. When we
go to meetings and present information our evaluation team learned about a child we are selling our school to
the public. Every report is reviewed by at least two other people before it is sent out of the office. Whether the
report is a quarterly progress report to parents or a full evaluation we need our reports to represent our school in
a positive light. As I speak to different behind the scenes people everyone made the same comment, This
person could be a potential family joining our program.

Standard 7
During my full time weeks as an intern I was able to participate in the daily operations of the school as we set
up for the 6 week summer program. I was acting as intern for the first 3 weeks of the program. There were
bussing problems. We call the bus company but we dont have the clout to make the changes. We need to then
4

call the county representative. She can make changes. I was not able to listen to personnel issues because I am
still a current teacher at the school. I did discuss general issues with Chris Lewis. Some issues involve staff
members demanding time off from work. Given the amount of time we receive off for school breaks and the
two personal days we receive, we are not typically allowed to take extra time. It is difficult when the staff
member is a good worker. My thought was to wait quietly for 7 seconds then say I need to gather my facts and
we can discuss this in two days. Then schedule it. That will give me time to gather the facts and not react to a
heated situation. That would also give the staff member time to think about what happened as well. I might add
that s/he needs to think about the impact this extra vacation would have on the school. I was a bit shocked to
hear that people would speak to the Director that way. This was a good learning experience. I did have the
opportunity to have staff members come to me with questions. I felt confident to answer the questions and
empowered to act since they came to me. One incident that happened where I made the decision was if we
should have water play day. It was cancelled once due to cool weather. There was back and forth discussions
regarding how warm it would get. So I went outside. It felt warm and was sunny so I determined water play
day should go on. I also thought that in the future picking a day three weeks before the event would not be wise.
We could let parents know that a certain week would be outdoor water play and they should send suits and
towels that whole week. Then if the warmest forecasted day is Monday children should have what they need.
Overall I am gaining confidence as an educational leader.