I would rate my level of experience with disciplinary principles and policies as a mix between developing and proficient. As a teacher in the classroom for 15 years, I feel proficient in understanding and implementing discipline policies in my own classroom. I feel comfortable using conflict resolution skills and resolving any behavior issues with the student before asking my Administrator or Counselor to intervene. However, my experience with discipline as an administrator is a very limited skill set that I am still developing. Working in the special education field, I also feel I have an in depth understanding of SPED laws and discipline policies. I have had to facilitate many manifestation meetings to determine next steps of possible expulsion. These meetings have been the most difficult to lead because of the differing views from IEP team members. One student that stands out to me when thinking about ethical discipline decisions happened around the time zero tolerance policy was in full effect. This student had a knife in his backpack and another student alerted the administrators. He was immediately suspended for 5 days and a manifestation meeting was scheduled to determine if his disability was a factor in possessing a weapon and if we recommended expulsion. In knowing this student, he had no previous behavior issues, no fighting, not even any defiance. He struggled academically due to his learning disability but never a behavior problem and often the quiet student that wanted to remain invisible. In talking to the student, he reported that this other student had been making threats towards him before and after school for the last month. The knife was for protection for him and his younger sister when they would walk to and from school. Given the history of violence in the area and that he was receiving direct threats from a student that had a long behavior history, I believed that he was truly afraid and trying to protect himself and his sister. However, with the zero tolerance policy, we had no choice but to suspend and hold the manifestation. It was difficult to say a learning disability impacted his decision to bring a knife to school. I felt horrible because he truly was afraid for his life and that we were not aware of the other student making the threats. We ended up not recommending for expulsion, however, he was put on probation and required to complete community service hours. I feel my experience has provided a solid foundation to understanding and implementing discipline policies and procedures from a teacher perspective. I think this class also will have a huge impact on my leadership skills from an administrator perspective when dealing with discipline issues.