PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2006

APRIL 6, 2006

The State Board of Education and I participated in the 3rd Annual North Carolina Legislators' Retreat sponsored by the Jim Hunt Institute yesterday afternoon. It was good to interact with legislators and other policymakers in this setting. As the legislative session date draws near (May 9), I hope you will remember that the most powerful communications that legislators receive are from their local constituents. Please remember to invite your legislative delegation to your schools and keep them informed about how state laws affect your schools and their operation.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Principal Selected Principal of the Year
3. State's More at Four Programs Rank Among Top in Nation
4. Gov. Easley Announces Grants to Prevent Gang Violence
5. Visitor Parking
6. Two North Carolina Schools Receive Technology Cash Award
7. UNC-TV Airs Show on Teen Safety and Technology
8. Discover NC Targets Eighth Grade Social Studies Teachers
9. 2006 Meredith Mathematics Institutes for Elementary Teachers
10. Mock Trial Competition
11. Teacher Leadership Newsletter
12. Resources from the N.C. Strawberry Association
13. Christa McAuliffe Reach for the Stars Award
14. Article of Interest

State Board Meeting Highlights

State Board Meeting Highlights - At today's State Board meeting, members approved a recommendation to re-institute add-on licensure programs in school administration, the establishment of an Advisory Board to consider requests for exceptions from licensure requirements in State Board Policy due to extenuating circumstances and an evaluation instrument that can be used in lieu of testing requirements to evaluate teachers converting from a Standard Professional 1 License to a Standard Professional 2 License. Board members also discussed revising the add-on licensure testing policy and exemption requests under the Innovative Education Initiatives Act. Complete Board Highlights will be available online by Tuesday afternoon at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights by clicking on the appropriate link.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Principal Selected Principal of the Year

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Principal Selected Principal of the Year - Congratulations to South Mecklenburg High School Principal Marian Yates who today was named the 2006 North Carolina Wachovia Principal of the Year. She succeeds Margaret Hyatt, principal of Avery's Creek Elementary School (Buncombe County Schools). Yates will receive $3,000 for her school and $3,000 for personal use. She also will serve a one-year term as advisor to the State Board of Education.

State's More at Four Programs Rank Among Top in Nation

State's More at Four Programs Rank Among Top in Nation - Gov. Mike Easley announced last week that North Carolina's More at Four pre-kindergarten program was one of only six in the nation to meet at least nine out of 10 quality standards developed by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). The rankings were published in "The State of Preschool: 2005 State Preschool Yearbook" recently released by NIEER, a research institute based at Rutgers University. NIEER ranked states' preschool programs on early learning standards, teacher degrees, teacher specialized training, assistant teacher degrees, continuing professional development requirements, maximum class size, staff-child ratios, screening, referral and support services, meals and monitoring procedures. More at Four met nine of these 10 benchmarks for the 2004-2005 school year and currently meets all 10 standards. Currently, More at Four serves 15,200 4-year-olds or 13 percent of the population.

Gov. Easley Announces Grants to Prevent Gang Violence

Gov. Easley Announces Grants to Prevent Gang Violence - Gov. Easley last week announced that 15 counties across the state would receive a total of $2 million for efforts to prevent gang violence. The Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Grants, which are administered by the N.C. Dept. of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, will assist counties in providing services to prevent and reduce gang violence. Counties that will receive the grants include: Brunswick, Buncombe, Burke, Catawba, Caldwell, Cumberland, Durham, Gaston, Gates, Guilford, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Pender, Pitt and Wake counties. For more information about the grants or the Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils, visit www.ncdjjdp.org, or call Kim Yonkers at 919-733-3388 ext. 339.

Visitor Parking

Visitor Parking - If you are visiting the Department of Public Instruction's offices at 301 N. Wilmington Street, Raleigh, over the next few weeks, you may want to note that the entrance to parking deck 75, which is the red-trimmed deck located on Salisbury Street, will be undergoing changes that will affect visitors wanting to park in that deck. On March 18, construction crews began installing a chiller that is located on the lot directly beside the deck. From March 30-April 30, the entrance/exit to deck 75 from the Salisbury Street side will be closed to ALL traffic as well as pedestrians. ALL TRAFFIC MUST ENTER/EXIT DECK 75 FROM THE MCDOWELL STREET SIDE. The State Capitol Police will be assisting with traffic during this time.

Two North Carolina Schools Receive Technology Cash Award

Two North Carolina Schools Receive Technology Cash Award - Congratulations to Hall Fletcher Elementary School (Asheville City Schools) and Union Pines High School (Moore County Schools) for their recent receipt of the "FutureReady" $250,000 technology prize. Microsoft/Dell sponsored the award for which 1,500 schools nationwide applied. Hall Fletcher won in the small school category. Union Pines won in the medium school category and Abington Senior High School in Pennsylvania won in the large school category. FutureReady is a collaboration between Dell, Microsoft and Intel designed to help students reach their full potential through technology in the classroom.

UNC-TV Airs Show on Teen Safety and Technology

UNC-TV Airs Show on Teen Safety and Technology - On Thursday, April 27, at 1 p.m., UNC-TV will broadcast "Let's Chat," a live talk show about teen safety in today's technology climate. As young people are increasingly using communication tools and technologies such as the Internet, cell phones with cameras, chat lines, and blogs, it's becoming more and more important that they be educated on safety and security issues. This show will address how teens can protect themselves and how parents and educators can have a say in their technology-driven world. The show is part of UNC-TV's television series, "High School Assembly," an original production of North Carolina's statewide PBS network. Schools may want to tune in to this show and participate during the telephone call-in. For more information, please contact Deborah Holt, UNC-TV, 919/549-7166.

Discover NC Targets Eighth Grade Social Studies Teachers

Discover NC Targets Eighth Grade Social Studies Teachers - NCDPI's Middle Grades Education Division is conducting a professional development opportunity for eighth grade social studies teachers entitled, "Discover NC: Examining the Development of the State Through the Coastal Plain." Selected participants will travel across the Coastal Plain to examine historic, geographic and cultural sites that are supported by the "North Carolina Social Studies Standard Course of Study." Professional development will be provided on social studies best practices and use of primary sources in the classroom. Teachers will collaborate on methods and resources that can successfully be utilized in classroom instruction. Discover NC will take place June 18-23. The registration deadline is April 30. Space is very limited so teachers must submit their applications by the deadline. For more information, including an application, please go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/socialstudies/middlegrades/ and click on the Discover North Carolina link or contact Lew Nelson (lnelson@dpi.state.nc.us; 919/807-3831) or Fay Gore (fgore@dpi.state.nc.us; 919/807-3954).

2006 Meredith Mathematics Institutes for Elementary Teachers

2006 Meredith Mathematics Institutes for Elementary Teachers - Meredith College is hosting two Mathematics Institutes for elementary school teachers this summer: July 30-Aug.1- kindergarten through fourth grades and Aug. 2-4 - third through fifth grades. Third and fourth grade teachers can attend either workshop. Led by TEAM II project teachers with assistance from Department of Public Instruction mathematics consultants, this residential professional development will provide teachers with an opportunity to: - Learn more about critical topics in North Carolina's Standard Course of Study - Focus on activities and strategies for teaching mathematics in each grade, K-5 - Investigate Web resources and plan mathematics investigations - Interact with teachers and leaders in similar grades from across North Carolina - Earn 1.8 CEUs in a 3-day, residential Mathematics Institute All participants will have a special Web resource session and an opportunity to plan grade-level specific Web investigations. Teachers who complete classroom activities in Fall 2006 and submit specified documentation are able to earn 2.0 CEUs rather than the 1.8 CEUs earned by participation in the Institute alone. For more information, please contact Jeane Joyner at joynerj@meredith.edu/919/760-8479 or Meghan Griffith at griffmeg@meredith.edu/919/760-8756. To register, download forms at http://www.meredith.edu/math/team2 and return with registrations and housing fees as indicated.

Mock Trial Competition

Mock Trial Competition - The North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers will provide support and training to high school teachers interested in providing their students with an opportunity to compete in the annual Wade Edwards High School Mock Trial Competition. This statewide educational initiative provides high school students an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the function and importance of the U.S. judicial system and to hone their public speaking and critical thinking skills. Students take on the roles of attorneys and witnesses in mock trials. As part of this program, local attorneys volunteer to work alongside teacher coaches, advising student teams as they prepare for competition. The teacher training programs will be conducted in August. The top ranking team will represent North Carolina at a national mock trial competition in May. The regional competition will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18, and the state finals competition will take place Jan. 27-28. For more information, please go online to www.ncatl.org/page/15288/ or contact Liz Avery-Jones, NC Academy of Trial Lawyers at liz@ncatol.org or 919/835-2808.

Teacher Leadership Newsletter

Teacher Leadership Newsletter - The Teacher Leaders Network publishes a free resources newsletter with a leadership focus. The biweekly eSource includes Web links to new research, important reports, significant news stories and interesting conversation about advancements in teacher and school leadership. The TLN eSource also includes resources on mentoring, cutting-edge staff development, best instructional practices, and more. To subscribe, please go online to http://www.teacherleaders.org/newsletter.html.

Resources from the N.C. Strawberry Association

Resources from the NC Strawberry Association - The North Carolina Strawberry Association (NCSA) is sponsoring a Kids' Art&Writing Contest for students in grades K-8 with cash prizes to the winners. Contestants are invited to draw or paint a picture inspired by strawberries or visit a strawberry farm and tell what they liked about eating, picking or just being around strawberries. Detailed contest information and an entry form can be downloaded at www.ncstrawberry.com. All entries must be postmarked by May 15. NCSA also has created a Spanish-language version of its "Strawberry Time" coloring/activity booklet for kids. "Temporada de Fresas" is being distributed free to schools thanks to a grant from the N.C. Agromedicine Institute. "Temporada de fresas" tells how strawberries are produced in North Carolina in clear, simple language. It also includes word and picture puzzles and simple recipes. The booklet is suitable for preschool through 4th grade. Please visit the Educators section of www.ncstrawberry.com to download an order form or email Debby Wechsler (ncstrawberry@mindspring.com) the following information: your name, school, grade level, mailing and shipping addresses, quantity and a brief description of how the booklets will be used. For more information, please contact Debby Wechsler, NC Strawberry Association, 919/542-3687.

Christa McAuliffe Reach for the Stars Award

Christa McAuliffe Reach for the Stars Award - The National Council for the Social Studies' Christa McAuliffe Reach for the Stars Award aims to help social studies teachers make their dreams of innovative social studies a reality. Grants will be given to assist classroom teachers in developing and implementing imaginative, innovative, and illustrative social studies teaching strategies; and supporting student implementation of innovative social studies citizenship projects, field experiences, and community connections. The maximum award is $1,500. National Council for the Social Studies membership is required. The deadline to apply is May 1. For more information, please go online to: http://www.socialstudies.org/awards/grants/mcauliffe/.

Article of Interest

Article of Interest - The following article from the PEN Weekly NewsBlast may be of interest to principals. In "Putting Parents in Their Place: Outside Class," many educators learning how to handle the modern breed of micromanaging parents by devising programs to help them separate from their kids and are taking a harder line on especially intrusive parents. To read more, please go online to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/20/AR2006032001167.html .