Critical Event Reflection

Analyze your performance during clinical practice of any nature (i.e., assignment, benchmark assignment,
internship activity). For all field work assignments and at least once a week during completion of
professional skill development activities in clinical internship, analyze the critical event. Complete and
submit all sections of the Critical Event Reflection below. Your course instructor will apply a rubric to
this reflection as a means of assessing your professional skill and dispositional development, and you and
your peers will use one another's responses as the basis for weekly discussion in the class forum.

A. What were the setting and circumstance of the critical event? (Describe any precipitating events;
identify the social structures at play; articulate any other essential contextual information.)
Mrs. Blake asked one of her Kindergarten EFL (Extended Foreign Language) teachers, Ms.
Mason to come to her office as soon as she had a chance. When Ms. Mason arrived, Mrs. Blake
asked her to have a seat because she needed to inform her of some changes that were soon going
B. What occurred, and what choices were made? C. What were you thinking and feeling?
(Make a bulleted list, third-person perspective) (Make a matching list, first-person perspective)
Mrs. Blake informed Ms. Mason that I felt very sorry for the teacher. It
due to the other Kindergarten EFL was evident that Ms. Mason was
teacher going on maternity leave at the very concerned for her students.
end of the month, she was going to have Additionally she was concerned
to combine the two classes. with possible reactions that the
Ms. Mason was upset and almost in students parents might have.
tears.
She was distraught and kept asking Mrs.
Blake how she was going to be able to
do her centers and hands on activities
with 36 children in the classroom.
D. Reflect on what the event means to you now in the context of your research base. (Cite author, year.)
What do you understand more clearly about whether or not the chosen actions reflected best
practice?
When the conversation first started, I felt sorry for the teacher and the fact that this situation was
going to upset the routines that she had already established in her classroom. After Mrs. Blake
explained why she had made this decision, then I fully supported what she needed to do. Mrs.
Blake asked Ms. Mason not to think only about her students, but the students in the other class
as well. She asked her to consider what would be best for those students. Would they benefit
more from having a substitute in the class for the next 15 weeks or from having a highly
E. Consider the implications these insights have for your practice. In other words, what change(s)
would be reflected in your disposition and your work, based on how you now anticipate
thinking and acting?
The principal is responsible for the well-being of every student in the school, not just a select
few. Sometimes difficult decisions have to be made, but a leader must always consider what is
best for each and every child.
 F. Aligned leadership skills and professional dispositions reflected and/or warranted in this
event.
(Briefly indicate the rationale for each alignment, including those not reflected but warranted.)

Even though Ms. Mason had to be inconvenienced, Mrs. Blake had to do what was best for
the school. Mrs. Blake ensured that all children would receive instruction from a highly
G. Evidence/artifacts that align to school vision and mission. (List, describe, and briefly indicate
the rationale for each item. In cases where alignment is problematic, briefly discuss how
evidence/artifacts do not support fulfillment of vision and mission.)
The schools Mission Statement states, we strive to provide a world-class education. One way
for this to be apparent to all stakeholders is to have highly qualified teachers in each classroom.
Mrs. Blake abided by the schools mission statement by making sure that the students would be
receiving a quality education.
H. Notes/comments
Principals must see the holistic picture and do what is best for all involved stakeholders. Mrs.
Blake achieves this goal by having open communication with all people involved. I know that
she is doing everything possible to support the teacher and students through this change.
Extra Information:
A. Program Overview I discussed GCUs Master in Educational Administration with Mrs.
Blake. She took notes to ensure that she covered similar topics during my field experience.
She wants to make sure that I understand MDCPS procedures for each of the classes that I
will be working with.
B. Candidate Expectations I expect Mrs. Blake to show me what really occurs behind the
scenes and observe what she does on a daily basis. I want her to explain the reasons for the
decisions she makes. I asked her to provide me honest and effective feedback/input at all
times. I want to be provided with new experiences, new circumstances, to understand what
goes into beginning a new school year, and what goes in to finished up a school year. I
would like to understand what a leader does during the summer time to prepare for a new
school year. It is also a goal of mine to understand the connectedness between the school
and the district office.
C. Mentor Expectations Mrs. Blake expects me to conduct in my usual professional manner.
She expects confidentiality with everything that occurs while I am working on my field
experience and practicum hours. Additionally, she wants me to ask her all of the questions I
need to in order to ensure that understand the procedures that need to be followed. She
expressed the importance for me to keep my classroom functioning in the same effective
manner, she said that my students are to remain my priority.
D. Field Experience I explained to Mrs. Blake that I would like to take a day off to complete
at least 8 of my required field experience hours for my current class. I asked if I could get a
substitute teacher to cover my class. We began writing down the dates of my next two
classes and started discussing how I could complete the required field experience hours. We
are planning to meet next week to talk about EAD-519 and completing the 90-hours of
practicum.
E. Networking Opportunities Mrs. Blake suggested that I start attending the monthly Town
Hall meetings in order to meet the School Board Members. She also suggested I continue to