PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2004

MAY 6, 2004

This week, it was my privilege to participate in the Wachovia Principal of the Year luncheon to recognize the new Principal of the Year and the annual Teacher of the Year banquet. These events have been two of my favorite activities as State Superintendent because I know how deserving all the principals and teachers of our state truly are. We are fortunate to have Wachovia as such a strong and committed corporate sponsor for our Principal of the Year recognition program, but we are even more fortunate to have so many quality educators across the state. Congratulations to each of our 2004 Wachovia Principal of the Year finalists and to John Black, the 2004 recipient of this award.

Regards,
Mike Ward

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. SBE Meeting Highlights
2. SBE Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Rigor
3. Black Named 2004 Wachovia Principal of the Year
4. Farewell Message from 2003 Wachovia Principal of the Year
5. Alfaro Selected 2004-05 North Carolina Teacher of the Year
6. NC Arts Education Standard Course of Study Revision Survey
7. Online Reading/Language Arts License Program
8. Bar Association Commemorates Brown v. Board of Education
9. Summer Science Leadership Institutes Scheduled
10. First Annual Elementary School Conference Scheduled for October
11. Wake Magnet School Receives National Honor
12. UNC Center for School Leadership Development Announces New Web Site
13. Arts Education Listserve Available
14. Physical Education Program Awards
15. Faith and Public Education Conference

State Board Meeting Highlights

State Board of Education members this month approved additional modifications to the NC Accountability Workbook for No Child Left Behind and approved Mathematics and Science Partnership Grants. The Board also heard a presentation by Dr. Mel Levine, Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. His presentation, "Understanding the Needs of Different Kinds of Minds: Implications for Enabling North Carolina to Become a Future Guiding Light for American Education," discussed the need to focus on children's strengths in addition to their weaknesses. SBE meeting highlights will be posted online by Tuesday afternoon at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights/

SBE Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Rigor Meeting Summary

The SBE Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Rigor met last Tuesday morning, April 27, at the Education Building. Members continued their discussion on developing and refining the definition of academic rigor and the importance and scope of this work. Members also reviewed the results of the survey of local school systems on policies and procedures encouraging students to pursue a rigorous academic course of study, identified barriers to academic rigor, and suggested presenters (teachers, superintendents, and others) to come before the committee to offer ideas and recommendations on this important topic. Future committee meeting dates have been set for May 4 (2-4 p.m.), May 18 (8:30-10:30 a.m.) and June 1 (2-4 p.m.). Meetings will be held in the 7th Floor State Board Lounge, Education Building, Raleigh.

Black Named 2004 Wachovia Principal of the Year

Longview Elementary School Principal John Black was named the 2004 Wachovia Principal of the Year during a luncheon held today in Raleigh. The Hickory City Schools' principal said that he believes that the elementary level is where student lives can be impacted the most. "Dropout prevention begins here. Future leaders are first molded here. Character is first built here." Black will receive $3,000 for personal use and his school also receives $3,000 for education equipment, materials or other uses designated by the principal. Regional finalists each received $1,500 with an additional $1,500 going to their schools. The regional finalists were: Central Region - Paula McCarthy, Mary Scroggs Elementary, Chapel-Hill-Carrboro City Schools; North Central Region - Patrick Rhodes, Riverside High, Durham Public Schools; Northeast Region - Trip Hobbs, Cape Hatteras Secondary School, Dare County Schools; Southeast Region - Linda Williams, Bridgeton Elementary, Craven County Schools; Southwest Region - Kristy Thomas, Wingate Elementary, Union County Schools; South Central Region - Mary Alice Black, Ferguson-Easley Elementary, Cumberland County Schools; and Western Region - Beverly Gregory, Saluda School, Polk County Schools. Local winners received a $200 cash award for personal use.

Farewell Message From 2003 Wachovia Principal of the Year

Serving as the 2003 Wachovia Principal of the Year has been a unique and rewarding experience for me. The title afforded me the opportunity to participate in the study, research, and decision-making processes for critical educational issues. People in positions of governance and policy making asked for my opinions and genuinely made me feel that my views mattered. The culmination of my year has been traveling across the Old North State to visit the schools of those principals who have been nominated for the 2004 title. Those eight site visits have assured me that the answers to any and every educational dilemma we might face can be found in North Carolina's public schools. The experts are among us - scattered across our state. There is no vessel deep enough to contain the pride that I feel in knowing that. Thank you for your support. N. Rene´ Corders.

Alfaro Selected 2004-05 North Carolina Teacher of the Year

Lizbeth Alfaro, a K-6 English as a Second Language teacher at Lyle Creek Elementary School, Catawba County Schools, was named the 2004-05 North Carolina Teacher of the Year at a formal banquet held last week in Cary. She succeeds Allison Ormond, a seventh-grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher at Rockingham County Middle School, Rockingham County Schools. To read more, please go to DPI's Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org and look under "In the News."

NC Arts Education Standard Course of Study Revision Survey

In order for NC DPI to determine whether or not major revisions to the Arts Education Standard Course of Study will be necessary in 2005, please respond to the short, 10-question survey available online at http://www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey-intro.zgi?p=UV7FCLPXMN by June 1. Input is welcomed from arts educators, parents, community members, administrators, artists, central office staff, and others who have a vested interest in arts education in our schools. The current (2000) Arts Education SCS is available on-line at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum by clicking on the appropriate link. If you know others who may be interested in providing input to the SCS revision process, please share the link to the survey with them.

Online Reading/Language Arts License Program

Beginning in fall 2004, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Education will be offering an online Reading/Language Arts License Program for teachers who live outside of a 50-mile radius of Chapel Hill. Up to 25 teachers will be admitted to this new online program on a first-come, first-served basis. The program is designed to help practicing classroom and special teachers of reading, writing, and language arts to contribute to positive change in how students are taught. Cost is $155 per credit hour. Further information is available at http://www.unc.edu/depts/ed/programs.html or contact Dr. Dixie Lee Spiegel at dlspiege@email.unc.edu. Applications may be requested from Janet Carroll by calling 919.966.1346, or via email, jscarrol@email.unc.edu. Please request the Online Reading/Language Arts Licensure Program application packet.

Bar Association Commemorates Brown v. Board of Education

The North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA) will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education by hosting commemoration activities on May 21 at the McKimmon Center, Raleigh. There is a $25 registration fee for the daytime events and a $45 fee for the dinner program. For more details, please go online to http://www.ncbar.org and click on the appropriate link or contact the NCBA at 919.677.0561.

Summer Science Leadership Institutes Scheduled

The 2004 Summer Science Leadership Institutes for middle and high school teachers and supervisors have been scheduled. The High School Institute takes place July 11-14 and the Middle School Institute takes place July 14-16. Both will be held at the Trinity Center, Salter Path. The focus for this year's Institutes will be on the newly revised 2004 Standard Course of Study for Science and the new support materials. School districts are encouraged to send teams of teachers and a science supervisor who will then, in turn, provide updates for all science teachers in their district. For additional information, including registration forms and costs, please go to the NC LEARN Web site at http://www.learnnc.org/ and click on Announcements/Calendar then click on Summer Science Leadership Institutes.

First Annual Elementary School Conference Scheduled for October

The Division of School Improvement in collaboration with the Division of Instructional Services of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction announces the First Annual Elementary School Conference. The purpose of the conference is to offer K-5 educators and administrators the opportunity to learn new ways to enhance and improve student achievement. The conference is scheduled for Oct. 11-12 at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center, Research Triangle Park. For more information, including registration, the conference agenda, or directions for submitting a presentation proposal, please go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/elemconf/

Wake Magnet School Receives National Honor

Congratulations to Bugg Elementary School (Wake County Schools) for recently being named the nation's best magnet school at the 22nd Annual Magnet Schools of America national conference. Bugg Principal Mary Page was presented the Ronald P. Simpson Distinguished Merit Award and the school received a $5,000 honorarium. Two other Wake County magnet schools, Douglas Elementary and Washington Elementary, were among 12 magnet schools in the country named 2004 Magnet Schools of Excellence. This is the second year in a row a Wake County school has earned the Simpson Award. Last year Washington Elementary received the high honor.

UNC Center for School Leadership Development Announces New Web Site

The UNC Center for School Leadership Development's new Web site provides school administrators and teachers with comprehensive information about the Center's professional development opportunities that are designed for novice to veteran educators. Quick links connect educators to the eight professional development programs comprising the Center. Information on the use and availability of the Center's meeting facilities also is available. Log on to http://csld.northcarolina.edu to access the professional development resources available to North Carolina educators.

Arts Education Listserve Available

The Arts Education Listserve provides periodic updates on issues, events, funding resources, and professional development opportunities in arts education. Central office staff, administrators and teachers are encouraged to subscribe. Send a blank email to join-artsed@lists.dpi.state.nc.us and in the body of the text, indicate your name and the word subscribe. For example, "John Doe - Subscribe." For more information or help with subscribing, contact Christie Howell, Arts Education and Healthful Living, DPI, cmhowell@dpi.state.nc.us or 919.807.3856.

Physical Education Program Awards

NCAAHPERD (North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) recognizes outstanding teachers and physical education programs annually. Nominations are currently being accepted for deserving colleagues, teachers, and administrators in your school/school district, but must be received by July 1. For a nomination package, please go online to http://www.ncaahperd.org, click on PEA, and click on PEA awards.

Faith and Public Education Conference

Join educators, parents, clergy and others to learn more about how faith communities can make a difference in public education at a one-day conference to be held Saturday, June 12, in Durham. Please note the date change - the conference was originally scheduled for May 15. Dr. Calvin Mackie, a motivational speaker from Tulane University, will provide the keynote comments beginning at 9 a.m. The conference will end at 3:30 p.m. Workshop topics include working with high-risk students, grant writing and funding sources for faith initiatives and programs, building relationships and volunteering with schools and others. Teams of participants are encouraged and group discounts are available. The registration deadline is June 4. Register online at http://www.dpen.com. For more information, call 919.530.6324. The conference is sponsored by the Durham Public Education Network and North Carolina Central University.