PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2005

NOVEMBER 17, 2005

This week, I had the privilege of naming Aimee Niebauer the 2005 Milken Family Foundation North Carolina Educator of the Year. Participating in this announcement is one of the most enjoyable and satisfying things I have done in my educational career. All of us enjoy the opportunity to say thank you, especially as Thanksgiving approaches. The Milken Award is an extravagant recognition of deserving educators, but there are many other ways to tell the teachers and others with whom we work that we appreciate them and their efforts. I hope you will take the time to give thanks this month and to say thanks as well.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. SBE Ad Hoc Committee on School Leadership Summary
2. Input Sought on 2006-07 Legislative Request
3. Kindergarten Health Assessment Report
4. Message from 2005 Wachovia Principal of the Year
5. Niebauer Named 2005 Milken Family Foundation National Educator
6. Building Better Brains Through Movement
7. Register Now for 2005 HRMS Conference
8. High School English Language Arts Regional Workshops Scheduled
9. VHS Videotape of Honors Courses Video Conference Available
10. Principal Seminar in Germany

SBE Ad Hoc Committee on School Leadership Summary

The SBE Ad Hoc Committee on School Leadership held its first meeting on Thursday, Oct. 27. Chairman John Tate reiterated Chairman Howard Lee's charge to the committee to review and make recommendations to the Board regarding the viability of the New Leaders for New Schools (NLNS) initiative in helping to address the impending school administrator shortage in the state. In addition, the committee is to receive recommendations from an HR task force addressing special provisions 7.28 and 7.29 of the budget bill that direct the Board to review standards and evaluation criteria for school leaders and to ensure that principals are held accountable for teacher recruitment, retention and working conditions. The committee heard presentations from East Carolina University, Appalachian State University, Fayetteville State University and Garner-Webb University Masters in School Administration Programs. The NLNS is a Gates initiative that offers alternative principal training to cohorts of aspiring principals in large urban school districts. The program accepts only individuals who have had teaching experience, requires a five-six week summer foundation experience, a residency year that is supervised by a leadership coach and a mentor principal, and membership in an NLNS network following placement as a principal. The estimated cost per student is approximately $80,000 over a three-year period, usually supported by a local coalition of funders and the NLNS national funders. This challenging program is currently in its fifth year of operation and has 271 completers in Chicago, Oakland Bay area, and New York City. Since the state does not currently recognize principal training programs that are not affiliated with accredited universities, recognizing this program would be breaking new ground for the State Board, but the Board does have the authority to determine what constitutes "equivalent education and training." The Committee will meet again on Dec. 13.

Input Sought on 2006-07 Legislative Request

It's time to begin thinking about the 2006-07 legislative request. The NCDPI and the State Board of Education would like local educators' input on education policy and finance as we continue to improve our schools. You can participate in this important process by completing the Budget Input Survey available online at http://www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey.zgi?p=WEB224RRQJB5V4. Please complete the survey by Nov. 23. For more information, please contact Becky McConkey at bmcconke@dpi.state.nc.us or 919.807.3741.

Kindergarten Health Assessment Report

The NCDPI and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services are in the process of revising and updating the Kindergarten Health Assessment Report. In order to provide the most beneficial information to your school and to your community, it's important that staff receive teacher and administrator input. Please take a moment and complete a short (five questions) online survey available at http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB224Q7XZCRJ4. The survey will end Nov. 22. Your participation is greatly appreciated.

Message from 2005 Wachovia Principal of the Year

The holiday season is fast approaching and we are nearing the close of the first academic semester. With the season comes a time to reflect on the events of the year and acknowledge our many blessings. Over the past few months my travels across the state have afforded me the opportunity to network with talented school leaders and witness first hand innovative programs in our public schools. Throughout my journey I have found that keeping a journal enables me to reflect upon shared ideas and inspirational thoughts from my fellow colleagues. I continue to be humbled by my contacts with the visionary leaders in North Carolina, leaders paving the way for rigorous, relevant learning in the 21st century. Each new experience in the journey reminds me that it is the passion for education that drives our professional engine. It is that passion that stimulates our interest, feeds our energy, causes us to work diligently, and helps us focus on the great work and mission of the school. In closing, I leave you with one last thought. The greatest gift we can give is knowledge and empowerment for the next generation. Happy Holidays!

* Margaret Hyatt, 2005 North Carolina Wachovia Principal of the Year *

Niebauer Named 2005 Milken Family Foundation National Educator

Congratulations to Aimee Niebauer, an eighth grade teacher at West Millbrook Middle School (Wake County Schools), who was recently named North Carolina's 2005 Milken Family Foundation National Educator award recipient. Niebauer is among the 100 newest recipients of the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award, which carries with it an unrestricted financial award of $25,000. Niebauer was the only North Carolina educator to receive the award this year. To read more about her selection, please go to the NCDPI Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org and click on the appropriate link under "News."

Building Better Brains Through Movement

On Saturday, Nov. 19, Jean Blaydes-Madigan will present her workshop, "Building Better Brains through Movement," from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Sheraton Four Seasons, Greensboro. Research shows a strong connection between movement and reading. Workshop activities will be tied to reading methods for children through kinesthetic learning. In addition, this movement-oriented workshop will assist classroom teachers in understanding the brain/movement connection and provide resources to implement HSP-S-000, the Healthy Active Children policy. This policy mandates that all students K-8 receive a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity daily and goes into place next school year. Reading renewal credits will be offered to participants. There is no fee to attend the workshop. To learn more on Jean Blaydes-Madigan and "Action*Based Learning," visit www.actionbasedlearning.com and explore the reading connection. Please contact NCAAHPERD (1.888.840.6500 or www.ncaahperd.org) for more information if you are interested in attending the workshop.

Register Now for 2005 HRMS Conference

Online registration is now being accepted for the 2005 HRMS Conference, which will be held Dec. 4-7 at the Koury Convention Center, Greensboro. The conference has been extended a full day this year to incorporate 2-1/2 days of breakout sessions, lab time and interaction with the HRMS team. There is also a special Tuesday, Dec. 6, workshop for principals to help them gain knowledge of the information available to them using HRMS. Principals may choose from either a four-hour morning or afternoon session for only $35 (for regular conference attendees the price of the workshop is included in the conference registration fee). The registration fee for the full conference is $175 if received after Nov. 14. Hotel reservations may be made at the Sheraton Greensboro at a promotional rate of $115 (plus tax) per night while rooms are available. Conference information, including registration, can be obtained online by going to http://149.168.35.6/hrms/usercon.nsf. For additional information, please contact Jennifer Pugh, Business Technologies Division, NCDPI, at 919.807.3249, or by email, jpugh@dpi.state.nc.us

High School English Language Arts Regional Workshops Scheduled

The NCDPI's Secondary Education Division is offering "In the Right Direction: High School English Language Arts Regional Workshops." These workshops will focus on teacher needs in implementing the 2004 English Language Arts Standard Course of Study. Workshop topics include reading strategies, planning, honors implementation, and adding rigor to all courses. Teachers will learn about resources available to support their efforts in meeting all students' needs and will develop activities to use in their classrooms. Supervisors and curriculum coordinators may attend; however, a separate trainers session has been planned for this summer as part of the Secondary English Language Arts Leadership Conference. Please support and encourage new teachers, honors and standard teachers, lateral entry teachers and any other English Language Arts teachers who want to become more familiar with the North Carolina ELA SCOS and support documents to attend. Workshops will be held from 8:30 a.m. * 4 p.m. on the following dates: Dec. 8, Radisson Governor's Inn, RTP; Feb. 15, Village Inn, Clemmons; Feb. 23, Gateway Convention Center, Rocky Mount; and April 4, AB Tech Enka Campus, Haynes Building, Asheville. The cost is $75 per participant and includes lunch and materials. For more information and workshop registration materials, please go online to http://community.learnnc.org/dpi/ela/archives/2005/10/high_school_ela.php.

VHS Videotape of Honors Courses Video Conference Available

A VHS videotape of the two-hour video conference on implementation of honors courses has been sent to each central office secondary supervisor. Supervisors have been asked to make this videotape available to high schools in their districts. Please contact your central office for information regarding this videotape. Copies of the videotape will not be sent to individual high schools.

Principal Seminar in Germany

The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program is currently seeking principals and assistant principals in school districts with German language and/or cultural programs to participate in a two-week seminar focusing on the education system of Germany. More specific information about the program, including an application, can be found online at http://www.fulbrightexchanges.org/View/ViewOtherOpps.asp. The deadline to apply is Dec. 31.