teacher leader
Krista can be viewed as a teacher leader in the following ways:
- Technology - Many students and staff come to Krista for help with devices and printers in the building. Krista has extensive knowledge in iOS and Android devices, Google Classroom, Photoshop, and various other software applications.
In working in a public school, she also has a strong working relationship with the divisional technology support team. In the past, Krista has applied for and received a class set of iPads through an application with Brandon University and a divisional program called Reimagine Lakeshore in 2014-2016. With the iPads, Krista conducted action research in her classroom to improve her teaching and the data was collected by Brandon University for their research. Using school computers, the division's 1:1 device initiative, and the iPads, Krista had two years of paperless classrooms for two of her classes. An article was published in a local paper about the initiative, read about it on page 4 here. Additionally, Krista has begun transferring her paper-based writer's notebooks into a digital version. An example of the first week's writer's notebooks can be found here.
In working in an independent school, Krista was one of two co-directors of technology, where she managed the school's G Suite, google accounts, Microsoft HUP as well as the Provincial Volume Use Program, iPads, and Chromebooks. Krista was also the first point of contact for most of the staff in troubleshooting technology. She has also done all of the PR for the school in terms of graphic design for events over her last two years there. In the duration of her time at the school, Krista had focused a lot of her attention on working with Apple to be able to purchase apps for use on the iPads - a feat truly difficult for someone with a single block of technology time each week.
While working in the Saanich School District, Krista worked with teachers and students to build capacity with working with ChromeBooks and iPads. She set up classes to learn coding, typing, digital citizenship, and taught students how to use Google Classroom and GSuite software. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Krista worked with staff to create resources for their Google Classrooms and filmed tutorial videos for the school district and staff use. - Learning Services - Krista has experience in case managing middle school students, completing designation paperwork, creating and editing IEPs, collaborating with classroom teachers to support students, working with outside agencies, administering Level B assessments, and much more in the realm of Inclusion Support. Krista has developed strong working relationships with classroom teachers across divisions as well as the families of some of the most vulnerable students at her school.
- Literacy - Krista has led a professional learning committee on literacy at the high school level, synergizing and developing a set of reading comprehension posters for each subject area to be used in classrooms. After the school year ended, it was agreed by staff and administration that the posters and areas of reading comprehension were to be worked on in individual classrooms, to be re-evaluated in a few years. Krista has also led and learned from others in her school with a focus on making their literacy practices better, inspired by the Daily 5 and Cafe programs.
- Middle Leadership - Lakeshore School Division has a Middle Leadership Program for staff who are considering going into administrative or leadership roles within their schools. In Krista's second year of teaching, she applied and was accepted into the program, earning leadership hours towards a Level One Administrator's Certificate in Manitoba.
- Outcome-based Assessment - At Ashern Central School, it was decided that all staff would practice outcome-based assessment, assessing individual outcomes to ensure student success in courses. Krista re-wrote Manitoba's 56 ELA outcomes into student-friendly language using multiple provincial documents as reference. Since that time, Krista has become an example for other staff in "doing" outcome-based assessment in an exemplary way.
- Presenter - Krista has presented at two provincial in-services for English teachers, with three different presentations which were met with positive reception. Krista also accompanied a former principal, Neil MacNeil, to a board meeting to talk about outcome-based assessment and to a Leadership conference for administrators to present on the same topic.
Accountability
Krista often seeks out feedback from other professionals (administrators, students, other staff in her school, and other professionals across the province and country) to improve her teaching practice. She has asked for feedback on lesson and unit plans, the use of technology in her classroom, and her assessment practices. Krista often goes above and beyond in preparation for meetings, demonstrating her organization and enthusiasm for her work.
Provincial Examination involvement
There are many opportunities for English teachers to be involved in the standardized testing process in Manitoba, which Krista has been a part of:
- Administration of provincial tests in schools (2011-2016)
- Local marking coordinator (2012-2016)
- Sample marking of test booklets (2013-2016)
- Marking of pilot test booklets (2013-2016)
- Test development committee (2015-2016)