1) The document describes a New Program Implementation and Communication Plan created by Marcia Feliz to address the strengths, needs, and issues facing a school and its surrounding community. 2) Marcia Feliz and her partner Danielle worked collaboratively to research data, prioritize community needs, and design a holistic program for students. 3) Their program, "Feed Your Intellect", aimed to promote healthy eating habits in response to lack of access to healthy foods and poor eating behaviors observed in the community.

1. Marcia Feliz
EDL 703 - Nodel
Reflection Cycle
Due date: May 11th, 2015
Describe:
The New Program Implementation and Communication Plan was designed to help frame
our minds into thinking about available resources and agencies that can foster growth within a
school community. In order to do this we had to look at the strengths, needs and issues that
faced not only the school but the community as whole. This put us directly into a leadership
mindframe. We had to think about how we can use the community resources to build a bridge
between the community and the school. The ultimate goal was to create a program that would
meet the holistic needs of the community that directly affects the growth of the students.
Together we researched data, prioritized needs and issues within the community and
brainstormed programs that would target those issues. Danielle and I worked very well
together. We bounced a lot of ideas off each other and neither of us was critical about the
others point if we didn't agree. There were times when her idea better suited the program than
mine and vice versa. Danielle and I were so creative with the ideas for our program that we
ended up having too many ideas, and struggled to bring the list to a realistic standpoint. When
we finally summed up the overall goal and vision for our program the workflow was a lot
smoother.
Collaboration had to be the greatest skill that was demonstrated while working on the
program. Danielle and I were open to new ideas and disposing of others. I planned meeting
dates and kept us focused on the project. Danielle tends to get nervous that we are completing
the assignment incorrectly. At times I had to just tell her that our confidence in the program, in
addition to the data we collected is what will sell this to the class. The biggest problem we
encountered was sticking to one idea and building from that point. We just felt that so many
factors can contribute to making this program successful that we didn't want to leave anything
out. Our solution was just to prioritize and see which ideas would be the most effective.
Collaboration was essential in completing this assignment.
Analyze:
ELCC - 4.1: Collaborate with Families and Other Community Members
The New Program Implementation Plan’s core is in standard 4.1. We used research
based data from the community to develop our outreach program. Through this research we
were able to identify what the school community was in most need of and brainstorm various

2. methods to meet those needs. The foundation of this plan was create partnerships with
community agencies so that all stakeholders are involved in the program. When presenting our
program we had to make sure that it was marketable therefore we needed creatively
communicate the need for our plan. Together we created a mindful eating program that would
target the unhealthy atmosphere at Danielle’s school. We used the information such as the
neighborhood walk, student survey and district statistics as our data to support the need for the
program. We decided that the most effective way to get our message into the community is to
have the students responsible for promoting the program as well as turn keying the information
to their families. This will foster collaboration between all stakeholders and the community.
ELCC - 4.2: Respond to Community Interest and Need
Our program Feed Your Intellect (FYI) was in direct response to the communities needs.
On her neighborhood walk Danielle noted that there were no farmers markets or healthy food
options for families to choose from. After observing the student and staff’s eating habit we
came to the conclusion that the school needed a health intervention. Through intense research
we found that each school building is supposed to have a “Wellness Team” and her school did
not. Furthermore, the statistics about the South Bronx regarding the health was alarmingly
poor. We felt that we needed to create that sense of urgency and educate her school
community on mindful eating habits. We also noticed that the health of children is of national
concern and it wasn’t being addressed at her school. Our program met the needs of the diverse
community by integrating cultural interests as assessments. These assessments allow for the
children’s creativity to be highlighted and provide them with hands on learning meeting the
needs of different learning styles. This also creates an inclusive atmosphere allowing all
students to participate in the production of the assessments.
ELCC 4.3 - Mobilize Community Resources
A major component to creating the new plan was to research community resources that
will help support student achievement. These resources are agents in helping solve the issues
that the school community is facing. I feel that this standard touches on how crucial the
community is in moving the school towards academic, social and emotional success. It also
speaks to how important it is to have that connection with the agencies within the community.
Every stakeholder must believe in the school’s vision and usually the community agencies are
underutilized. Another aspect of this program that meets this standard was brainstorming how
to market our program to these agencies. This was accomplished by promoting that sense of

3. urgency and providing the data to support our cause. This would have ultimately caught the
attention of the agencies to support the school. I can not imagine a community agency not
supporting children once they understand how their support is critical to the success of the
neighborhood.
Appraise:
This artifact help demonstrated my personal and professional growth because it showed
me that collaboration and active listening is essential to working together. I learned that it is
possible to work together with someone that you are close with when respect for each others
ideas are prevalent while working. As future leaders we need to be able to be open about our
vision for our students overall growth and it all starts with working with a team of people that
share that vision. I feel that this project allowed me to see that successful work can be
accomplished if we share the same vision and dedication to making that vision a reality.
Transform:
What I have learned from not only this assignment but from the course in general is that
outside resources from CBOs to the guidance counselor are crucial to the success of our
stakeholders. As a future leader I need to be aware of what my community is about, what are
its needs and issues and what can I use now to build upon. There are so many aspects to
building the bridge between school and the community that one person cannot accomplish it on
their own. I realized that as a leader I need to work with others that share the same vision and
have to drive and determination to make use of what we have already available to us
innovatively create something out of nothing. I need to think outside the box, which is extremely
difficult for me. However, implementing this program and coming up with creative ways to
attract all stakeholders really made me see that I can do it.