Meet Conference Scholar
Elizabeth Clark
Biography
Elizabeth Clark is a para-educator and curriculum supervisor at Lydia Hawk Elementary School in Olympia, Wash.
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In Her Own Words: A Leadership Reflection
What has led to your development as a leader?
There have been two major factors in my development as a leader: personal encouragement and professional development opportunities. Leadership was an unanticipated outcome of my education career. Through the years, various people have encouraged me to try new roles, from joining a technology committee, to creating and administering a grant-supported summer intervention program from 2001 to present, to becoming part of the building leadership cadre. Teachers, fellow para-educators, principals, and district supervisors have been key encouragers in my position as a leader.
My principals made sure that I attended meetings with keynote speakers such as Thomas Guskey and Doug Reeves. A conference on effective schools taught me the value of school leadership committees. Reports I made after attending workshops given by Origo Math and Boxcars and One-Eyed Jacks helped influence the district to adopt both curricula as part of RTI. Ultimately, my attendance at the 2007 ASCD Annual Conference inspired me to continue doing my best in the classroom and as a leader at Lydia Hawk Elementary School.
Personal encouragement, professional opportunities, and appreciation from all sources have resulted in the unexpected privilege and joy of being a leader in my building.
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What leadership article has inspired you?
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