Jess Payne

E-Portfolio

Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis Cohort 201

Educational Philosphy

I believe every student can succeed if they are provided safe and reliable access to teachers who are able to provide the necessary, high-quality learning opportunities. Every teacher can provide instruction centered on the tools necessary for student success in the current climate if they are provided with the necessary support. Teachers and students require professional and emotional support to attain their highest levels of success. 


Attaining the highest levels of success for students and teachers requires a focus on emotional, social, and academic needs. Educators must provide opportunities for meaningful interaction on multiple levels to build these competencies for students and teachers. There must be a focus on understandings that extend beyond processes and into intent and reasoning. Alongside this focus must be trust and caring for all members of the school community.

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” 

 -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince 

CliftonStrengths

One of the most important things any individual can do is recognize their own strengths so they know how to capitalize upon them. Noting these strengths is also necessary for building a cohesive, functional, and productive team. As part of my coursework during 2020, I took the CliftonStrengths assessment.  While the shift away from working only on strengthening my areas of weakness and pushing past discomfort or struggles in order to "make it work" was a novel experience, I find that my levels of production and the quality of my outcomes have increased drastically since moving towards a strengths centered model aligned with Dr. Clifton's work. This experience also led me to analyze how I best contribute to a team and the contrasting strengths I require in my team to achieve our goals as quickly and effectively as possible. 

Input

My foremost strength is in the area of Input. I found this area very challenging to integrate into a productive, actionable strength for my team prior to deep reflection. I am constantly collecting and archiving information and resources, but this never seemed like something that was deeply productive until I realized that I could archive all of that information and knowledge in a way that made it accessible to others who needed it. I am now responsible for archiving and disseminating information for my school and the majority of service organizations of which I am a member.

Achiever

My second highest-ranked strength is in the area of Achiever.  This is, for me, both an area of deep strength and moderate weakness. Because I must complete something tangible and measurable every day, there are times that my work/life balance suffers. Since work comes above all else (including family, health, and well-being), I am very productive, but I have to keep a constant watch to be sure that I do not sacrifice things that ought not to be lost. This is what has driven me to gain the number of certifications I hold and what has and will continue to make me push for that next thing.

Intellection

My third highest-ranked strength is in the area of Intellection. I never realized this was a strength prior to taking this assessment- I thought it was just ADHD. As long as it was useful, I did not particularly care. I am not an extrovert, but I pre-plan interactions to ensure that all goals are met with the interaction- whether that is strengthening a relationship, organizing a path, or executing a plan. I find this strength also allows me to multitask with relative competency. I can keep multiple projects, plans, and priorities progressing simultaneously.

Learner

My fourth-ranked strength is in the area of Learner. Prior to taking the assessment, I thought this would be my highest strength since it is the one that brings me the most joy. It is also the center of my  favorite sayings: "Knowledge is power," "All knowledge is worth having," and "Knowledge is carnage." I enjoy learning everything I can quickly so that I may move on to the next thing I need to learn. I want to have the answers, and, lacking that, I want to know how to find them. I love sharing my knowledge and teaching others because it means that I can both concrete my knowledge and watch others experience that "lightbulb moment" that I love so much.

Responsibility 

My fifth-ranked strength is in the area of Responsibilty. This is, for me, another of those double-sided traits. It is a strength as it helps me maintain my own ethical standards. It is a weakness because I want so desperately to be all things to all people, which is impossible. I have had to work conscientiously on limiting my engagements to the logically attainable rather than saying yes to all things. I do not believe there should be a line between work and personal ethics. Ethics are ethics, and the right thing is the right thing. I love accountability, and I fully own my own mistakes (and occasionally those of others). I have to keep in mind that my ethics and standards are not universally shared, and it is unfair to hold others to the standards I hold for myself.