The Capstone semester of the Masters in Teacher Leadership program at Mount Holyoke College is a practicum semester which allows participants the opportunity to flex their teacher leader muscles. Students demonstrate the impact of knowledge gained throughout their journey at Mount Holyoke College by applying teacher created ideas to improve education for all children. Students choose a domain(s) of the Teacher Leader Model Standards to focus their capstone work, then they choose one of four pathways for the semester: a research study, a teacher-created project, a teacher leader internship, or National Board candidacy. Below is my personal Capstone proposal and learning plan.
Janelle Dickerson's 2017 Mount Holyoke College Capstone Proposal
What option are you choosing: National Board candidacy, research, project, or practicum/internship?
I have chosen a Projectship (project + internship) which will focus mainly on (but not limited to) the following elements below:
Engage in weekly discussions with a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) community via the National Education Association’s EdCommunities platform.
Facilitate 1-4 weekly discussions with a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) community via the National Education Association’s EdCommunities platform. I will post a SEL prompt with a relevant resource and/or activity and facilitate responses throughout the week.
Facilitate or co-facilitate with Megan Hall a SEL webinar in April on Emotional Intelligence: Empathy, Positivity, and Confidence
In collaboration with my Assistant Principal, the Parent Coordinator and Guidance Counselor, develop Social Emotional Learning resources (newsletter or workshop) for parents that will support with reinforcing our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports framework at home.
Create a toolkit of SEL resources that I have gained from the SEL work in my school and fellowship.
Why is this a good fit for you?
This projectship is a good fit for me because it supports the SEL work that I am currently doing within my school. It also provides me with an opportunity to expand my sphere of influence beyond my school building. Being apart of this professional learning community will further develop my SEL knowledge and work.
How does this choice demonstrate mastery of your coursework up to this point?
The choice of a projectship demonstrates mastery of my coursework up to this point by incorporating 6 out of the 7 Teacher Leader Model Standards domain. The projectship bridges the gap between the domains in theory to the domains in practice.
Which domains of the Teacher Leader Model Standards will you be demonstrating?
The Teacher Leader Model Standards that my projectship will focus on are: Domain 1: Fostering a Collaborative Culture to Support Educator Development and Student Learning Domain 2: Accessing and Using Research to Improve Practice and Student Learning Domain 3: Promoting Professional Learning for Continuous Improvement Domain 4: Facilitating Improvements in Instruction and Student Learning Domain 6: Improving Outreach and Collaboration with Families and Community Domain 7: Advocating for Student Learning and the Profession
How might you provide evidence of mastery of the TLMS domains in your capstone?
I will used the 5 elements of my projectship to provide evidence of mastery of the TLMS domains.
What are you hoping to accomplish? (goals)
Goal 1: Utilize my Teacher Leader skills beyond my school building. Goal 2: Become an active and contributing member of a SEL community. Goal 3: Develop a collaborative relationship between families and my school community in regards to student SEL.
How will you know you’ve accomplished it? What does success look like?
Sharing resources with the SEL Fellows and school community. SEL resources utilized in various settings.
How will you showcase it at the end of the semester?
I will showcase my webinar, parent resources and SEL toolkit.
Who will the audience be for your showcase?
My SEL community, my school community and my MATL cohort.