PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2006
PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2006FEBRUARY 16, 2006
Principals as infrastructure? Does this sound odd to you? Last week, I had the opportunity to speak before the General Assembly's Education Oversight committee where I made the case that competent principals are an integral part of the public schools infrastructure. Today, as many of you know, 52 percent of North Carolina's principals are eligible to retire at any time. I'm afraid to hear someone say - instead of "Elvis has left the building," the principal has left the building. If we want to be successful in preparing today's students to compete in a global economy and in creating an educational system that is nimble and responsive to 21st century needs, we have to begin with basic infrastructure, and that includes principals.
Regards,
June Atkinson
In this Biweekly Principals' Message:
- Garland Named SBE Executive Director
- ABCs Banner Update
- NCDPI News Update
- SBE Ad Hoc Rigor, Relevance and Relationships Committee Meeting Summary
- Transition Plans Wanted
- Shelton Leadership Challenge Institute for Youth
- Fulbright Teacher Exchange Opportunity
- NC Network's Annual Conference Set for February
- Raising Achievement and Closing Gaps Conference to be Held in March
Garland Named SBE Executive Director
Dr. Rebecca Garland, associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction in Orange County Schools, is the new executive director of the State Board of Education. Garland previously served as the assistant director of the Board from 1998 until 2002. She will begin her new position in April. To read more, please go to the NCDPI Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org and click on the appropriate link under "News."
All public schools and charter schools designated as 2004-05 Honor Schools of Excellence, Schools of Excellence, 25 Most Improved K-8 Schools and 10 Most Improved High Schools should have received their banners by now. If you have not received your banner, please contact the NCDPI Communications division at 919/807-3450.
The following press releases can be read in their entirety by going to the NCDPI Web site at www.ncpublicschools.org and clicking on the appropriate link under "News."
Eight Teachers Honored as Regional Teachers of the Year - Eight teachers were recently selected to represent their regions as regional Teachers of the Year and will now compete for the title of 2006-07 North Carolina Teacher of the Year.
Two Schools Receive Title I Distinguished Schools' Recognition - Clearmont Elementary (Yancey County Schools) and Saint Stephens Elementary (Catawba County Schools) were recently recognized as Title I Distinguished Schools for 2006. Clearmont Elementary was nominated for Category 1 - Exceptional Student Performance, and Saint Stephens Elementary was nominated for Category 2 - Closing the Achievement Gap.
Competent Assessment of Reading Training
NCDPI's Elementary Division is sponsoring another Competent Assessment of Reading Training for grades 3-6 on March 13-14 at the Brownstone Holiday Inn, Raleigh. Registration is $175 per person. For additional information, please go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/calendar/cal_event?id=232 or contact Marilyn Palmer (mpalmer@dpi.state.nc.us) or Laura White (lwhite@dpi.state.nc.us) with the NCDPI Division of Elementary Education.
The North Carolina Council on Economic Education is now accepting registrations for participation in the 2006 Economics Challenge. Teachers may register teams of four students to participate in this statewide competition designed to highlight students' understanding of the economics curriculum. Students may compete in one of two divisions with the winning teams of each division receiving expense-paid trips to Philadelphia for the regional competitions. The regional winners will received expense-paid trips to New York for the national competition. This year's state event will be held at the Charlotte Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond on March 22. For more information, or to register for the Challenge, please go online to www.nccee.org or contact Sandy Wheat, North Carolina Council on Economic Education, via email at swheat@nccee.org.
Shelton Leadership Challenge Institute for Youth
The General Hugh Shelton Initiative for Leadership Development will host its fourth annual Shelton Leadership Challenge Institute for Youth. The program will be held at two separate locations: July 9-14, at the Eastern 4-H Environmental Education Conference Center, Columbia, and July 23-28, at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Charlotte. The Institutes are a one-week summer experience for high school students. The sessions focus on Leadership Roles and Accountability, Team Building, Leadership Styles and Situations, Motivating Others, Citizen Responsibility, Integrity as a Leader, Public Speaking, Changing Behaviors, and Goal Setting. Students also are placed in leadership roles and participate in a 360° evaluation conducted by the coach, mentor, trainers and peer leaders. Cost to attend the institute is $375, which includes lodging, meals and materials needed for the sessions and a graduation ceremony. For more information, please go online to http://www.ncsu.edu/extension/sheltonleadership/youth_leadership/leadership_challenge.htm or contact Debbie Reno at debbie_reno@ncsu.edu or at 919/513-0150.
Fulbright Teacher Exchange Opportunity
The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program is currently seeking secondary teachers of English as a second language, French or Arabic to travel to Morocco for a three or six-week job-shadowing exchange in fall 2006 preceded by a three-day, in-country orientation. In spring 2007, U.S. teachers will host Moroccan teachers for a six-week job-shadowing exchange. For more specific information, including a link to the application, please go online to http://www.fulbrightexchanges.org/View/ViewOtherOpps.asp. The deadline to submit an application is March 24.
The U.S. Department of Energy has launched a public education campaign called "Easy Ways to Save Energy" to help families, industry and governments save energy and money by being more energy efficient. Schools, which are significant energy users, can save energy by taking such simple steps as ensuring lights in unoccupied classrooms are turned off. To help school communities save energy, as well as the community at large, the U.S. Department of Energy has made available online free, easy to understand "Energy $avers" suggestions. To get your copy, please go to www.energysavers.gov or call 877/337-3463.
The National Center for Urban School Transformation has established the Excellence in Education Award to recognize the hard work, dedication and talent of urban school educators and students and to educate the public about the accomplishments and potential of urban schools. The award is only for traditional public or charter schools serving urban communities. At least 50 percent of the schools' students must meet the eligibility criteria for the federal free- or reduced-price lunch program. Award winners will receive a $1,000 check and a banner bearing their name. For more information, including an application, please go online to http://edweb.sdsu.edu/ncust/awards/index.html. Applications must be received by Feb. 27.