UMKC Principals Institute | University of Missouri - Kansas City
Activities: More Details
The simulation activities are a priority in the UMKC Principals Institute work. Each simulations starts with participants reading about a situation in a school. The simulations are constructed using situations that would actually happen in the participants’ districts. After setting the context for the simulation, small groups meet together to plan strategies that could be used by the principal.
Two individuals from the group are then selected to fill the role of principal in the simulation. They leave the room and are asked to come back in one at a time to go through the simulation as they fill the role of the principal.
If the simulation deals with a teacher issue individuals are prepped to role play the part(s) of the teacher(s). The principal uses his/her strategies to try to solve or move the situation forward in real time, in real conversation dealing with the other players in the simulation. This is videotaped. Following the first simulation, the second principal comes in and the simulation is repeated.
Following the experience, both individual who played the role of principal sit with the remainder of the cohort (10-12 individuals) and the facilitator. The cohort gives feedback on how the simulation was handled. In the beginning of the cycle each year the feedback always starts out being very positive and complimentary, but as the year goes forward and relationships are deepened the feedback becomes much more balanced between what went well and comments that question strategies or actions attempted. The facilitator asks strategic questions and leads the group through the group reflection of the simulation.
The simulations deal with a broad range of situations including ineffective teachers, upset parents, special education situations, community concerns, small learning community problems, student problems, etc.
The goal is to develop confidence in the aspiring principals in dealing with situations and improving it for everyone involved. If a new principal finds him/herself in a similar situation it is hoped that they will remember their simulation experiences, feel some confidence, and think to themselves, “I’ve been here before. I know what to do.”
More Information
Timeframe | Costs | Activities
View all links for UMKC's Principals Institute
Disclaimer
e-Lead provides information on professional-development programs for school leaders that have submitted detailed information and that also meet certain standards-based criteria. Programs listed at the e-Lead website are not endorsed by either the Institute for Educational Leadership or Temple University's Laboratory for Student Success.