Artifact 1

Thomas DeGrand-- November 19, 2014

What I Learned
*facilitation techniques
*instructional designs to be used in my classroom, as a teacher-leader, or as an administrator in the future
*what a walk-through looks like and what to look for
*tips for a cover letter and resume
*beginning administrators showed me that feeling nervous to leave the classroom is okay, and that you arent
leaving the students, you are just reaching them through the teachers
*overview of the state tenure law and teacher evaluations (through the eyes of a deputy superintendent)
*that communication is an important skill to have as an administrator (and that listening is the most important
skill!)
*interviewing tips
*ways of using data in a productive manner
*roles of a principal (stepping in the shoes of a principal- shadowing my mentor)
*what balanced leadership looks like (the responsibilities and associated practices)
*ideas for connectors
*the importance of knowing the personalities of your staff and how to use that to your advantage
*that administration is the path that I want to take! (Prior to this academy, I was hesitant to leave the classroom,
but I feel this program has confirmed that this is the path for me and my family.)

What Ill Remember

*My cohort- They were a great group of professionals that pushed me and my thinking. We saw this experience
as a wonderful opportunity and took advantage of it, but we also tried to have a good time as well!
*Marty- One of the best facilitators Ive ever witnessed. I now use your 3 step attention getter with my 5th
graders, and its amazing how well it works.
*The materials- This program has given me a great collection of professional materials that I can take with me
as I continue my role as a teacher-leader, as well as when I become an administrator.
*The experiences- The walk-throughs out in Lake Orion (?) will serve as a nice foundation for me when I get
into an administrative role. Also, experiencing all the different instructional designs that Marty embedded into
his lectures will be nice to draw from in the future.
*My mentor- He was gracious enough to let me follow him around everywhere for a few different days during
the year. I hate to say this, but that cant be that fun of an experience, but he did great! He showed me what his
typical day looks like, different tools he uses, how he handles different situations, and various programs that he
runs at his school. It was just nice to be able to step into the shoes of an administrator on several occasions.
This is a major part of what confirmed my decision to continue pursuing this career path.
*The meals- DELICIOUS!

What Im Going to Do Now

This academy was one stepping stone toward administration. I was about 90% positive that administration was
what I wanted to pursue, but that 10% scared me. What if I left the classroom and didnt like it? How could I
go back? This program was my way to get as close of an experience as possible for what it would be like to be
an administrator, as well as how to be a successful one. I feel it satisfied this goal of mine, and it showed me
that this is the path I want to take. As a result, this past summer, I applied and was accepted into Oakland
Universitys Education Specialist program. I am now ending my first semester in the program, and I am once
again feeling confident that this is the path for me.
In the mean time, I have stepped up more this year as a teacher-leader in my school and grade level. I plan to
continue doing this until I am fortunate enough to get hired in as an administrator.

Other Comments
I remember receiving the notification from my district that I was chosen to be one of our districts
representatives for this program. I was so excited for the opportunity. It couldnt have come at a more perfect
time in my career. I truly believe that this program has been the catalyst for me deciding to take the leap and
begin preparing for this transition into a new path of my career. This was not an easy decision, which says a lot
about how much I enjoy teaching, as well as how effective this program is at giving participants a glimpse into
the world of administration. I cant thank you enough, Marty, for everything you have given me throughout this
program. You have designed a true gift for aspiring principals/teacher-leaders, and I will forever be thankful
for this opportunity that I was able to experience. Thank you again, and I hope to stay in touch. -Tom