PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2005

MAY 5, 2005

I know that this time of year brings a mixture of anxiety as end-of-grade and end-of-course test time approaches and relief that another school year is nearing completion. Regardless of your school's test results, you have been successful in many uncounted and untold ways. As a former classroom teacher, a college professor and as a parent, I know that the most important successes are often seen in small ways, the student who has rekindled an interest in learning, the child who is beginning to read or the family that has begun to think of higher education as a viable option for their children. Thank you for everything you do in these ways every day.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. Summer Leadership Conference Registration Packets Sent
3. Governor Proclaims May 1-7 School Bus Driver Appreciation Week
4. Craven County Schools' Educator Named Teacher of the Year
5. Fulbright Exchange Opportunities
6. Summer Item Development Institute 2005
7. Sound Learning - Environmental Education for the Albemarle- Pamlico Region
8. Inaugural Professional Development Week Scheduled
9. More at Four April Newsletter Online

State Board Meeting Highlights

The Board approved new high school exit standards effective with the ninth grade class of 2006-07 (graduating class of 2010). The new standards require students to pass the five core end-of-course tests and successfully complete a senior project. Also, the Board approved a new formula for the ABCs accountability model, a result of the comprehensive review of the ABCs that began last fall. Complete highlights of the Board meeting will be posted online by Monday afternoon at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights/

Summer Leadership Conference Registration Packets Sent

The 2005 Summer Leadership Conference for superintendents, central office administrators, principals, assistant principals and other educational leaders across North Carolina will be held June 27-29 at the Grove Park Inn, Asheville. In addition, the State Board of Education will hold its June/July meeting in conjunction with the Summer Leadership Conference on June 29-30. The North Carolina School Administrators Association also will hold its semi-annual retreat for superintendents on Sunday, June 26, and early morning June 27. Registration packets have been sent to all school systems. Registration is limited to 1,200 registrants. The registration deadline is May 31. The registration fee for the Summer Conference is $ 245 ($345 if attending NCASA Superintendents' Retreat). If you have questions or need materials, please call Roger Metcalf, Western Region Education Service Alliance, 828.418.0011, ext. 112, or Vicki Wilson, ext. 122. Information also is available online at www.wresa.org.

Governor Proclaims May 1-7 School Bus Driver Appreciation Week

In recognition of their dedicated services to North Carolina ' s public school students, Gov. Mike Easley has proclaimed May 1-7 as School Bus Drivers Appreciation Week. North Carolina school bus drivers "navigate nearly 13,500 school buses through thousands of miles on everything from dirt paths to multi-lane highways to deliver students to their places of learning and then home again." To download a copy of the proclamation , please go online to www.ncbussafety.org and look under "What's New."

Craven County Schools' Educator Named Teacher of the Year

Wendy Miller, a K-2 elementary teacher at James W. Smith Elementary School , Craven County Schools, was named the 2005-06 North Carolina Teacher of the Year at a formal banquet held Tuesday night in Cary . Miller succeeds Lizbeth Alfaro, a K-6 English as a Second Language teacher at Lyle Creek Elementary School , Catawba County 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."

Fulbright Exchange Opportunities

The Fulbright Teacher/ Administrator Exchange Program is currently seeking teachers or administrators for the following exchange opportunities. Specific details about each of these programs, the applications and application instructions can be found online at http://www.fulbrightexchanges.org/View/ViewOtherOpps.asp

Uruguay . Teachers or administrators with general proficiency in Spanish and strong cross-cultural skills are being sought to act as teacher trainers and make presentations on general education topics in Uruguay for six weeks this summer. The deadline to apply is May 27.

Brazil . U.S. award-winning public school principals or assistant principals of middle and high schools interested in learning more about the Brazilian educational system and sharing best practices in school leadership, teacher development, and community involvement should apply for this exchange. The application deadline is May 27.

Argentina . U.S. administrators of all levels interested in enhancing cooperation between Argentina and the United States are being sought for this exchange program. The major objectives are to strengthen Argentine school systems by gaining insight into the workings of U.S. counterparts, with particular attention to innovative management techniques; to identify common problems in institutional culture and analyze solutions; to build institutional networks between schools and school districts; and to develop projects to improve school management. The application deadline is June 3.

Morocco . Teachers (grades 9-12) of English as a second language, French or Arabic are being sought to travel to Morocco for a three or six-week job-shadowing exchange in the fall 2005. In spring 2006, U.S. teachers will host Moroccan teachers for a six-week job-shadowing exchange in the U.S.

Summer Item Development Institute 2005

A Summer Item Development Institute will be held Aug. 1-4 at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh . This NCDPI professional development opportunity is designed for K-12 teachers of Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, and English Language Arts as well as Children with Exceptionalities and ESL. Participants will learn to write multiple choice and performance test items aligned to the NC Standard Course of Study. This training will include review of both state and national standards for item development in large-scale testing programs. Participants who complete the institute will receive a certificate of attendance for 3.2 teacher renewal credits. For more information, please go online to https://cuacs8.mck.ncsu.edu/itemwriting/siwi or Jerrie Brown via email at jbrown@dpi.state.nc.us or by phone at 919.515.1345.

Sound Learning

Environmental Education for the Albemarle- Pamlico Region - Elementary teachers and media coordinators in the Roanoke , Chowan, Pasquotank, Tar-Pamlico, Neuse and White Oak Basins are invited to enjoy a week of environmental education activities and field experiences on July 24-29 at the Trinity Center in Salter Path. There is no charge for the institute or lodging and meals; however, space is limited. For more information, including an application, please go online to www.eenorthcarolina.org and look under "eco features" or visit www.apnep.org.

Teachers are encouraged to call prior to registration if they are not sure that they work in one of these river basins. For questions and additional information, contact Lisa Tolley via email at lisa.tolley@ncmail.net or by calling 800.482.8724. A map of the state's river basins can be viewed online at http://www.ee.enr.state.nc.us/public/ecoaddress/riverbasins/riverbasinmapinteractive.htm

Inaugural Professional Development Week Scheduled

A number of educator associations are sponsoring an inaugural Professional Development Week from Aug. 9-11. Teachers can earn 2.5 renewal credits by participating in one of four sessions that help educators reach and teach all learners. Sessions will be held in Boone, Rocky Mount and Greenville . The registration fee is $50 and includes lunch, break and materials. The registration deadline is June 15. For more information on the sessions and registration, please go online to http://www.ncae.org/pod/profdevelop05.shtml or call Angela Farthing, NCAE Center for Teaching and Learning, 800.662.7924, ext. 230, or by email, Angela.Farthing@ncae.org

More at Four April Newsletter Online

More at Four's April 2005 edition offers educators articles on Promoting Smooth Transitions into Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten; Effective Transition Planning; and Health, Nutrition, Physical Activity * What Can Teachers Do and Not Do? Check out these articles and more by going online to http://www.governor.state.nc.us/Office/Education/Newsletter.asp and clicking on the appropriate link. A link for Spring 2005 Professional Development Opportunities also is available at this location.