PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2005

APRIL 7, 2005

Congratulations to Margaret Hyatt, the new Wachovia Principal of the Year. Ms. Hyatt was named to this honor today at a luncheon in Raleigh. We owe a special thank you to Wachovia for their ongoing sponsorship of this program, and we owe a special thank you to all of the principals of the state who competed for this honor. The Wachovia Principal of the Year also serves as an advisor to the State Board of Education and provides leadership in a variety of ways. We are so fortunate to have such exemplary administrators leading our public schools.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. Gov. Easley Proclaims April “Month of the Young Child”
3. Farewell Greetings from 2004 NC Wachovia Principal of the Year
4. Hyatt Named 2005 Wachovia NC Principal of the Year
5. Senior Project Training
6. Online Survey Regarding Duty-Free Periods
7. National Board Certification Information Sessions
8. Justice Teaching Institute for High School Social Studies Teachers
9. Second Annual Elementary School Conference
10. Math Matters Workshops Scheduled
11. Registration Open for NCCAT Seminars
12. Maxine Swalin Outstanding Music Educator Award
13. Article of Interest

State Board Meeting Highlights

State Board Meeting Highlights - The Sate Board of Education approved a revision of Initial Licensure and Continuing Licensure Requirements to facilitate the employment of teachers. The revisions would replace the current Initial License with a Standard Professional License 1 and the current Continuing License would be replaced with the Standard Professional License 2. To be issued a Standard Professional License an individual must have three years of satisfactory teaching experience, at least one of which must be in North Carolina; have the recommendation of the employing LEA; complete any professional development activities prescribed by the LEA; and satisfy North Carolina testing requirements or hold National Board Certification or submit documentation of the ability to positively impact student achievement or satisfactorily complete the NC High, Objective, Uniform, State Standard of Evaluation for the license areas. The Board also approved a revision of its Healthy Active Children Policy to include a requirement for 30 minutes of daily physical activity in grades K-8 that will occur during the school day. This physical activity may include, but is not limited to, physical education, energizers, recess and intramurals. The complete Board highlights will be posted by Monday afternoon, April 11, at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights/

Gov. Easley Proclaims April “Month of the Young Child”

Gov. Easley Proclaims April “Month of the Young Child” - Gov. Mike Easley has declared April 2005, “Month of the Young Child.” During this month, organizations that serve North Carolina's youngest children and their families will host events across the state to highlight the needs of children from birth to 6 years old. Events include parades and street fairs, appreciation dinners for child care teachers as well as education and outreach activities for parents. A list of these events can be found on Smart Start's Web site at http://www.ncsmartstart.org/Information/ycm05.htm

Farewell Greetings from 2004 NC Wachovia Principal of the Year

Farewell Greetings from 2004 NC Wachovia Principal of the Year - I like the following quote found in Toby Reynolds' book, “Happy Thoughts:” "To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." North Carolina schools have accomplished much in recent years. Hard work and planning have certainly made a big difference, but also key have been your dreams and beliefs, your innovation and risk taking. You are not only making a difference in the lives of children today, but are shaping our future as well. I want to thank all of you for allowing me to represent you this past year. As I have visited schools and attended State Board meetings, I feel I have gained more than I have given. It has been stimulating to see the wonderful activities and programs being used in NC schools. Wonderful things are happening in the schools across our state. I am proud to be one of your peers. May you have a blessed close to the 2004-05 school year. -- John R. Black, 2004 NC Principal of the Year and Principal of Longview Elementary School, Hickory City Schools

Hyatt Named 2005 Wachovia NC Principal of the Year

Hyatt Named 2005 Wachovia NC Principal of the Year - Congratulations to Margaret Hyatt, principal of Avery's Creek Elementary School, Buncombe County Schools, who today was named the 2005 North Carolina Wachovia Principal of the Year. She succeeds John Black, principal of Longview Elementary School, Hickory City Schools. To read more about her selection, please go to DPI’s Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org and look under “In the News.”

Senior Project Training

Senior Project Training - The State Board of Education is sponsoring scholarships for teams from 20 North Carolina public schools or LEAs to attend the upcoming Annual Senior Project Training (June 22-24) sponsored by the Partnership for Dynamic Learning. This year's training will be held at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel in Asheville. The hotel's room rate is $119 per night for single or double occupancy. Hotel reservations must be made by May 21. The Board's scholarships will be for $1,000 each to support the cost of participating in the workshops. Information regarding training and registration can be found online at www.seniorproject.net. Registration forms for the scholarship can be obtained by calling or emailing Jane Worsham, Executive Director of the State Board of Education, at 919.807.3400, or jworsham@dpi.state.nc.us. Use the registration form on the senior project Web site to register for the training. The deadline for applying to SERVE and the SBE is June 1. Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come first-serve basis.

Online Survey Regarding Duty-Free Periods

Online Survey Regarding Duty-Free Periods - At the request of the General Assembly, DPI is conducting a survey to gather information on duty-free periods for teachers. The survey, which is to be completed by all principals for the current school, is available on the Finance and Business Services Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/fbs under “What’s New.” Please complete and submit the survey by April 25. If you have questions about the survey, please contact Larry Simmons, School Personnel Support, NCDPI, lsimmons@dpi.state.nc.us (919.807.3364), or Joe Parry-Hill, jparry@dpi.state.nc.us (919.807.3368).

National Board Certification Information Sessions

National Board Certification Information Sessions - North Carolina teachers seeking more information about National Board Certification are invited to attend regional information sessions being held across the state from April 14 - May 26. To determine the exact locations and times in your area, please visit www.ncpublicschools.org/nbpts and click on the appropriate link. For more information about National Board Certification, please contact Deanna Harris, Center for Recruitment and Retention, NC DPI, 919.807.3358, or by email, dharris@dpi.state.nc.us.

Justice Teaching Institute for High School Social Studies Teachers

Justice Teaching Institute for High School Social Studies Teachers - The Lawyers in the Schools Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association invites high school social studies teachers to apply to participate in the inaugural Justice Teaching Institute (JTI). The Institute will be held Oct. 16-18 at the North Carolina Bar Center, Cary. This intensive 2-1/2 day will increase teachers' understanding of the court system and judicial process and give them the tools they need to pass that knowledge on to their students (consistent with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study). Teachers successfully completing the program will be installed as JTI Fellows. Registration is limited to 20 teachers. Applications must be postmarked on or before April 25. Applicants will be notified of their selection status no later than mid-May. For more information about JTI, and an application to become a JTI Fellow, please visit http://www.ncbar.org/public/lis/index.aspx and click on the first Justice Teaching Institute link under Current News.

Second Annual Elementary School Conference

Second Annual Elementary School Conference - The NCDPI’s PreK-Elementary Division is sponsoring its second annual Elementary School Conference, “Building on Success,” on Oct. 10-11, at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Conference Center, Research Triangle Park. Call for Proposals and registration forms can be accessed online at www.ncpublicschools.org by clicking on the Events and Conferences link, then the Elementary School Conference link. Registration is limited to 800 participants. For more information, please contact Michelle Palmer Weaver, School Improvement Division, NCDPI, at 919.807.3937, or by email, mepalmer@dpi.state.nc.us.

Math Matters Workshops Scheduled

Math Matters Workshops Scheduled - TEAM II, a five-year National Science Foundation project for teacher leaders, will be offering professional development on the Mathematics Standard Course of Study for elementary teachers at a limited number of sites in July and August. The Math Matters I workshops are a repeat of the Summer 2004 sessions. A new Math Matters II workshop is open to participants from the Summer 2004 Math Matters. Math Matters I is a two-day workshop for teachers in grades K-5 focusing on important mathematics in North Carolina's Standard Course of Study. The registration fee is $145 and includes materials, lunches, and breaks. Locations are as follows: July 18-19, Waynesville Middle School (Haywood County) and Northwest Elementary School (Lenoir County); July 21-22, Liberty Middle School (Burke County) and North Johnston Middle School (Johnston County); Aug. 1-2, Forbush High School (Yadkin County) and Franklin Elementary School (Franklin County); and Aug. 4-5, Albemarle Middle School (Stanley County) and Roanoke Middle School (Martin County). Math Matters II, a three-and-a-half-day workshop for K-5 teachers who participated in Math Matters I in the summer of 2004, will be held July 25-28. The Math Matters II is designed to delve more deeply into the content covered in Math Matters I. This will be a residential professional development at Meredith College, Raleigh. Participants may commute rather than staying on campus; however, participation in all sessions (morning, afternoon, and early evening) is expected. Math Matters II registration is $235 and includes materials, lunches, and breaks. Housing and additional meals at Meredith is $115.Registration forms may be downloaded by going to http://www.learnnc.org/ Category7 and clicking on announcements then Math Matters.

Registration Open for NCCAT Seminars

Registration Open for NCCAT Seminars - The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) provides a number of professional development opportunities for North Carolina public school teachers at no cost to participants. Seminar materials, lodging at NCCAT, meals, substitute teacher pay, and most travel expenses are covered. All seminars are aligned with the NC Standard Course of Study, are multi-disciplinary, and are based on experiential learning principles. Several five-day seminars have been added for this summer (May * August) for teachers employed full time for at least three years in North Carolina schools. For more information, including seminar topics and registration, please go online to www.nccat.org or call NCCAT at 800.922.0482.

Maxine Swalin Outstanding Music Educator Award

Maxine Swalin Outstanding Music Educator Award - The North Carolina Symphony is accepting applications for the third annual Maxine Swalin Outstanding Music Educator Award. The award recognizes an individual who instills and inspires a love for music in children. One award will be granted to a music teacher who makes a lasting difference in the lives of students of all abilities and backgrounds; serves the community in an exemplary manner as a role model in music education; instills a love for music in children; and inspires students to reach appropriately high musical standards. Parents, students, administrators, professional colleagues, business and community members may submit nominations. The application may be downloaded at http://www.ncsymphony.org/education/index.cfm?i=2. The application deadline is April 15. For more information, please call Suzanne Rousso at 919.733.2750 ext. 235.

Article of Interest

Article of Interest - The following article appeared in the PEN Weekly NewsBlast and may be of interest to principals: “Strengthening Parental Involvement in Middle&High Schools: Cultivating Communication and Connections,” explores the dynamics of the often-tentative relationship between parents of teenaged students and their child’s school and offers some prescriptive advice on what educators can do to improve connections and build trust and new relationships. To download this report, please go online to http://www.pleasestoptherollercoaster.com/Parenting-teenagers.htm and scroll down to "Special Report."