Mr. Todd Barraco has submitted a professional portfolio to demonstrate his relevant experiences and training for a school administrator position. The portfolio provides details of his training in areas such as creating an inclusive school culture, improving instructional programs, developing a safe learning environment, using technology, and understanding school law. It also outlines his philosophy of emphasizing respect, modeling lifelong learning, keeping open communication, and creating a fair yet strict environment to support staff and student success.

1. PROFESSIONALPROFESSIONAL
PORTFOLIOPORTFOLIO
MR. TODD A. BARRACOMR. TODD A. BARRACO

2. PLEASE ACCEPT THIS DOCUMENT AS AN EVIDENCEPLEASE ACCEPT THIS DOCUMENT AS AN EVIDENCE
PORTFOLIO OF RELEVANT EXPERIENCES AND TRAININGPORTFOLIO OF RELEVANT EXPERIENCES AND TRAINING
RELATED TO THE INFORMATION IDENTIFIED DURINGRELATED TO THE INFORMATION IDENTIFIED DURING
THIS PRESENTATION. MOST EXPERIENCES REFERENCEDTHIS PRESENTATION. MOST EXPERIENCES REFERENCED
ARE ALSO REFERENCED IN DETAIL IN MY RESUME.ARE ALSO REFERENCED IN DETAIL IN MY RESUME.

3. CREATING AN INCLUSIVE SCHOOLCREATING AN INCLUSIVE SCHOOL
CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTCULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT
The objective is to develop the knowledge, skills, personal dispositions and
performance competencies outlined in the Standards for Michigan Principal
Preparation Programs that pertain to diversity and school culture. I believe that
research based standards require the development of instructional leaders who
understand and effectively apply evidence-based school leadership practices to
transform school culture, and build organizational and instructional capacities. I
will be prepared to create and sustain professional learning communities and
inclusive school environments that support continuous improvement of
instruction, learning, and achievement for all students.
In addition to the training listed below, I have taken a leadership role in the
development of the school mission, vision, beliefs and goals. I have also
participated in the High School Professional Learning Community of the Imlay
City School District and the Lapeer County ISD.

4. TRAININGS INCLUDE BUT NOTTRAININGS INCLUDE BUT NOT
LIMITED TO:LIMITED TO:
THE DANIELSON GROUP, UNDERSTANDING TEH
FRAMEWORKS OF EVALUATIONS WITH DR. RON
ANDERSON 2013
FACILITATION TRAINING WITH NORTHWEST EVALUATION
ASSOCIATION (NWEA) 2013
NEW ADMINISTRATORS ACADEMY-2009
ACT/MME STATE ADMINISTRATORS TRAINING 2009,2010
PATH TO LEADERSHIP PROGRAM MODULES 1-9 2013/2014

5. I have read extensively about school leadership,
change, creativity and the role of technology
including: Bo’s Lasting Lessons, John U. Bacon;
The Power of Servant Leadership, Robert K.
Greenleaf; Strength Finder 2.0, Tom Rath; The
Art of School Leadership, Thomas R. Hoerr;
Leading Change in your School, Douglas B.
Reeves; Enhancing Professional Practices: A
framework for Teaching, Charlotte Danielson;
School Law and the Public Schools, Nathan L.
Essex; Good to Great, Jim Collins; Who Cares?,
Kelly E. Middleton & Elizabeth A. Petitt.

6. MY PHILOSOPHY OF EVALUATION AND ELEMENTSMY PHILOSOPHY OF EVALUATION AND ELEMENTS
OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION:OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION:
Key objectives of teacher evaluations should include:
Exploration of state and legal issues related to staff
supervision and evaluation, and their implications for
the supervisor’s role and the school leader’s role as
instructional leaders.
I believe in having collaborative committee to review
and revise our district’s teacher evaluation system, to
not only comply with the new state requirements, but
also to better reflect best practices.

7. IMPROVING INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMSIMPROVING INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS
AND LEARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS:AND LEARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS:
There are a few key objectives of this approach: The need
to review current research on effective standards-based
methodologies, curriculum, and instructional practices
with a particular focus on understanding the expectations
of the Common Core and its implications for teaching and
learning in the 21st Century. Emphasis should be placed
on the expectation that all students will achieve state
standards regardless of diverse needs. Strategies are
investigated for guiding instructional staff to improve
programs, instruction, student support services, and
student learning.

8. A FEW THINGS I ALWAYS SHOULD AND WILL BEA FEW THINGS I ALWAYS SHOULD AND WILL BE
ASKING MYSELF TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS IS:ASKING MYSELF TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS IS:
• Am I setting a vision for the
school and the community to
transition to state Standards?
• Am I establishing teacher buy
in.
• Am I allowing for incubation-
time for teachers to reflect
• Am I communicating changes
to the curriculum with parents?
• Am I gathering information to
understand the teachers’ needs?

9. CREATING A SAFE AND ORDERLYCREATING A SAFE AND ORDERLY
ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENT LEARNINGENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENT LEARNING
Key objectives: creating an environment that is safe and orderly. First, we start by
building an understanding of the societal issues that impact student safety and
well-being, socio-emotional development and academic learning, and the
importance of safe and orderly school environments that are conducive to learning
for all students.
I will be focused on proactive research-based systemic approaches and classroom
practices for developing a safe, caring, and productive learning community that
embraces diversity of staff, students, and community.
Furthermore I will continue to administer State and federal laws, classroom
management and school-wide curriculum approaches. Staff, family, and
community involvement as well as human relations and conflict resolution helps
create a safe environment. Specific attention is directed at safety/security,
bullying/harassment, violence prevention, and crisis planning and intervention.

10. USING TECHNOLOGY TO DRIVEUSING TECHNOLOGY TO DRIVE
EDUCATIONAL CHANGE AND IMPROVEMENTEDUCATIONAL CHANGE AND IMPROVEMENT
Understanding the role of technology in driving, facilitating,
and managing the educational changes and improvement
process is essential to student growth.
I have participated in trainings to embed an online
professional learning network within the district’s structure. I
have completed training such as E-Learning Design
Technologies; these courses allowed the advancement of
knowledge in Prezi, PowerPoint, website activation, website
designs, blogs, school-wide information systems such as
PowerSchool, and virtual learning such as GENET and
E2020.

11. PRINCIPALS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL LAWPRINCIPALS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL LAW
As your principal, I am up to date with the principles of
basic school law, with a particular emphasis on the
legal structure of Michigan public education and
statutes related to the administration of school laws.
Specific attention is paid to laws related to the
educational environment, student rights and
responsibilities, school safety/operations management
and management of school finances, personnel, and
negotiated agreements.

12. PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY AND TEAMPERSONAL PHILOSOPHY AND TEAM
APPROACHAPPROACH
The belief of my educational platform is that a child must truly trust an adult before they can learn from
that adult. As an educator, I believe in creating an environment in which the children know that they are
valued as both a learner and a person. The children must know that they are in a risk-free environment
where they feel safe to make a mistake. They must feel secure, they must feel safe and they must feel
important. I believe for children to learn, the children need to know their ideas, opinions and lives have
value. This type of environment will encourage them to push themselves and take risks as learners because
there is no fear of failure or ridicule, only encouragement and guidance. The more they believe that they
and their ideas are valued, the more they will be willing and excited to develop, explore and share their
ideas.
It is important for students to clearly understand what behaviors are expected and to understand why the
expectations are in place. It is important for students to understand that expectations are designed to
benefit the good of the class as a whole and help facilitate learning. These expectations are based on
respect for oneself and respect for others as both people and learners. Behaviors that focus on respect are
positive and geared toward encouraging and supporting all members of the group. Respectful behaviors
help others see the good in all they do and feel good about themselves. “Treat others the way you want to
be treated” is the philosophy that will guide the respectful behaviors. A classroom filled with students who
respect themselves and their classmates is a place where students feel safe and confident to explore and
learn.

13. CONTINUEDCONTINUED
Being an administrative leader provides
opportunities for me to continue as a
lifelong learner, as I guide students in their
development to become lifelong learners. It
is important that I model the skills and
behaviors that I expect from students.
Respect for others as well as being a self-
directed learner are character traits that I
take pride in modeling on a daily basis. I
will strive to help each student find his or
her strengths as a learner and as a person. I
believe it is imperative to identify
weaknesses in order to strengthen these
areas as well. I will use my education along
with my own personal beliefs to model
dedication, respect and hard work for the
students through my commitment to
helping them become the best, most well-
rounded students and people they can be.

14. CONTINUEDCONTINUED
Furthermore, being a highly productive
administrator to my staff will include
similar expectations. To be successful in
my position, I will always keep the
superintendent and board of education
informed processes I wish to take and
gear them to be a part of the success.
Overseeing the district’s policies to
ensure they are being implemented will
create an environment which will allow
professional growth and eliminate any
confusion on what is expected from
staff. It is imperative that school
administrators follow disciplinary
policies to guarantee that quality
learning takes place in an orderly and
safe atmosphere.

15. CONTINUEDCONTINUED
Keeping an open line of communication with all staff
and stakeholders will be an essential key to my
leadership. Although I come across as very strict and
punitive I believe it is very important to embrace the
positives and achievements of everyone involved. The
book The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon has impacted
the development of my educational philosophy. I
believe having a staff that understands the direction of
our goals will further educate them through weekly
meetings on how to develop the “bus.” It is my goal to
make sure that we have the correct people on the bus
and in the correct positions to make everything click.
Embracing staff ideas and allowing for accurate and
realistic accountability is a form of delegating the
growth to each staff member. My goal is to develop a
staff that knows how to take ownership of demands
and create opportunities to develop highly productive
outcomes with my assistance. I prefer to view myself
as an educational coach rather than their boss when it
comes to building the team atmosphere; keeping the
morale and motivation up is the objective.

16. CONTINUEDCONTINUED
Finally, creating an
environment that is strict
yet fair is an approach that
I value. I must display
integrity, character and
leadership at all times.
There is very little room for
mistakes and keeping
everyone involved is the
key to success. I can’t wait
to continue my growth in
this area as an
administrator.

17. PROFESSIONALPROFESSIONAL
PORTFOLIOPORTFOLIO
MR. TODD A. BARRACOMR. TODD A. BARRACO
810-441-9236810-441-9236