EducationAdministrationArtifactReflection

ArtifactTitle:VolunteerFirefighter/PTOfundraiserandDRAgrantapplication
Date:2013present

ArtifactDescription

AsamemberoftheHazelGreenFireDeptandateacherintheSouthwesternSchooldistrict
Iorganizedaridetoschoolinafiretruckforthefirstdayofschool.Thisridewasauctioned
offasafundraiserfortheSouthwesternPTO.Thisartifactincludestheletterforthe
auctionedrideandpicturesofapastfirstdayride.

InordertoadvancetechnologybasedcourseofferingsIwasabletobepartofagrant
writingteamtoapplyforlocalgrantfundingtoprovidenewlearningopportunitiesforour
students.ThisgrantwasappliedforthroughtheDubuqueRacingAssociation,alocal
organizationthathelpstoprovidefinancialassistancetolocalorganizationssuchasschools
andothernonprofits.

WisconsinAdministratorStandardAlignment

Theseartifactsbestaddress
AdministrativeStandard5
whichstates:

Theadministratoris
aneducationalleaderwhopromotesthesuccessofallstudentsbycollaborating
withfamiliesandcommunitymembers,respondingtodiversecommunityinterests
andneeds,andmobilizingcommunityresources.

Thesefiretruckrideeventbestalignswithstandardfivebecauseitdemonstratescommunity
relationsandacollaborativeeffortbetweentheschooldistrict,theFriendsofSouthwestern
PTOandtheHazelGreenFireDepartment.Thisartifactdemonstratesmyabilityto
incorporatecommunityorganizationinbothfundraisingforacademicsaswellasintostudent
centeractivities.Incorporatingcommunityorganizations,andcommunitymembersinto
schooleventsbuildsagreatsenseofownershipforcommunitymembersintheschool.This
helpstobuildstrongerconnectionsinwhichallmembersofthecommunitysupportand
strivetohelpcreatethebestacademicenvironmentforstudentswithinthedistrict.

Thisartifactdemonstratesmyabilitytofosterrelationshipswithinthecommunityinorderto
helptheschooloperateasanintegralpartofthelargercommunity.Havingbeenavolunteer
firefighterforseveralyearsIfeltdonatingarideinafiretrucktoschoolthefirstdaytobe
auctionedoffwasagreatwaytobuildbetterconnectionsbetweenthefiredept.andschool
whileraisingsomemoneyfortheschoolsParentTeacherOrganization.Theresultwasa
greatexperienceforfourstudentandtwofirefighterseachyearsince2013.

TheDRAgrantapplicationbestalignswithstandardfivebecauseitshowsmyabilitytoseek
outresourcesfromthelocalcommunitythatcanprovideneededresourcesinorderto
provideabetterlearningenvironmentandmorelearningopportunitiesforourstudents.The
DRAgrantwaswrittenforthepurchaseofAndroidtabletsandprogrammablecircuitboards
forstudentstouseaspartofanewcomputersciencecoursedesignedtomeettheneedsof
studentspursuingapostsecondaryeducationincomputerscience.Theseresourceswould

helptopromotetheirinterestandbuildtheirskillsinordertobetterpreparethemfora
successfulpostsecondaryexperience.

WhatIlearnedaboutadministrationfromthisexperience:

Workingcollaborativelybetweenschoolsandcommunityorganizationsbuildsastrongersupportsystemforthe
schooldistrictaswellastheotherorganizationswithinthecommunity.Thisprojectstartedasasimplegestureonmy
partasateacherandmemberofthefiredepartment.TheridetoschoolwastobeauctionedoffatthePTOsannual
fundraiserandIhadgottenpermissionfromtheadministratorsatSouthwesterntodrivethefiretrucktoschoolthe
firstday.ItwasapossibilitythatImaybelateforthefirstdayofschoolassemblyinthehighschool,butthe
administrationfeltitwasanopportunitytohelpourschoolandPTO.Thiswassomethingthatstartedasagestureof
myownthatIneedalittlehelpwith.Sincethenithasgrowntoawonderfulconnectionbetweenthelocalfire
departmentandschool.WeareapproachingourfourthyearfortheridetoschoolandInolongerheadtheproject.It
hassincegrownintoaworkingrelationshipbetweenthefiredepartment,schoolandPTObenefitingeach
organizationinitsownwayandinturnbuildingastrongercommunityforourchildrentogrownandlearn.

ThroughthegrantwritingprocessIwasabletoinvestigatefundingopportunitiesthatcouldhaveadirectimpacton
studentlearning.Inordertoprovidethebestopportunitiesforourstudentswemustseekoutassistanceoflocal
organizationstoprovidebothexperienceswithintheclassroomandmaterialsforclassroomexperience.Our
communityisfilledwithawealthofexpertsinmanyfieldsandweshouldseekthesepeopleouttoreinforceour
educationalexperiencewithinourbuildings.Guestspeakers,fieldtripsandevenconnectionsthroughtechnologycan
providestudentswithaviewofsomeoneinthefield.

WhatIlearnedaboutmyselfasaprospectiveadministratorasaresultofthisexperience/artifact:

Ihavealwayshadastrongsenseofcommunityandhavebeenamemberofthefiredepartmentforover
tenyearsandservedasanambulancedriverforthelocalEMS.Theseweremywaystogivebacktothe
community.WhatIdidntrealizeisjusthoweasyitistoworkwiththeseorganizationsinordertobuilda
betterlearningcommunityintheschool.Theseworkingrelationshipsprovidevaluablelearning
experienceforstudentsinwhichtheycanlearnfrompeoplewhohaveexperiencedifferentsituationsfirst
hand.

Membersofcommunityorganizationsaretypicallywillingtohelpandinmanycasesaresimplywaiting
foraninvitationtoprovidetheirtimeandskillstoourschools.Inmanycasesweneglectedtoconsider
thewealthofresourceswehavewithinourcommunities.Theserelationshipsalsobuildconnectionswith
ourstudents,teachersandcommunitymembers.Inturn,theseconnectionsbuildastrongsenseof
collaborationandpersonalinvestmentinoneanother.Studentslearntobebettercommunitymembersand
membersofthecommunitygainopportunitiestocareforourstudents.