PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2007

MAY 25, 2007 - Principals' Biweekly Message

The State Board of Education continues to deliberate high school requirements and has reached consensus on some key items. It appears clear that the implementation date will be 2009-2010 for that year's entering 9th grade class. In addition, requiring four units of mathematics with some flexibility for course opt-outs, delaying the second language requirement for all high school students to determine better ways to effectively teach second languages (perhaps earlier in students' school careers), and allowing students to substitute courses for the Integrated Mathematics III or Algebra II requirements based on consultation and permission from parents, administrators and teachers are all items Board members agree on.

Why is the State Board doing this? Some have said that Board members are trying to prepare all students for the university system. In fact, the goal is to make sure that those youngsters who are not planning for a university education are prepared for the workplace or for community college work. Many times, students go to the community college and discover that their math skills are not adequate for them to enter the program of their choice. Remediation can take so much time and money that some young adults give up. We hope for all children to graduate from high school ready to be successful - no matter what path they choose. Board members will continue to discuss the Future Ready Core at their June meeting and we'll keep you posted on those discussions.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. Principal of the Year Farewell Message
2. Watt, Howell Named to State Board of Education
3. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' Teacher Named History Teacher of the Year
4. Students Receive Scholastic Art Awards
5. NC WISE/SIMS Coordinators' Summer Conference Scheduled
6. Social Studies Professional Development Opportunity
7. Gang Symposium to be Held
8. Smithsonian Institution Offers Resources for Teachers

Principal of the Year Farewell Message

As the year draws to a close, we are called again to think of new beginnings. Many of you are planning new strategic plans, creating new schedules, and pursuing new professional growth all in the midst of the end of a school year. As I leave as the principal advisor to the State Board of Education, I am once again reminded that each end is a beginning. The State Board is embarking on very important work for the children of North Carolina. We have a voice in that work and in that change. However, we also have a role in supporting what is best for our students. We are fortunate to have a State Board that is ready to listen to the educational professionals of this state. I hope that as you reflect on this year and prepare for the next, you think about your role in shaping the policy and the direction of your school, your district, and your state and find the time to get involved and find your voice in shaping our schools' futures.

On another note, I am pleased to turn over the role of principal advisor for the State Board to Craig Hill. Mr. Hill is an accomplished principal and a man who stands for what is right in education and for what is right for children. He is a principal that every one of our students need. I hope you will take the time to encourage him in his work as advisor and to call on him as an expert in school leadership in North Carolina. He certainly deserves the honor and I know that he will represent the educational leaders of this state well. - Meghan Doyle, 2006 Principal of the Year Advisor, State Board of Education.

Watt, Howell Named to State Board of Education

Gov. Mike Easley recently named Eulada Watt of Charlotte and Kevin Howell of Raleigh, to the North Carolina State Board of Education. Watt is a Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte serving as a liaison to university departments and community organizations. She also is Executive Director of Minbanc Foundation, Inc., which provides training scholarships to employees of minority and women-owned banks to advance their professional expertise and personal skills. She fills the position on the State Board of Education formerly held by Jane Norwood, whose term expired in March. Kevin Howell assumes the position on the Board formerly held by Edgar Murphy, whose term also expired in March. Howell is assistant to the chancellor for external affairs for North Carolina State University. As one of 10 executive officers for the university, he is responsible for providing information to state, county and city leaders on the mission and goals of N.C. State. Members of the board are appointed to eight-year terms.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' Teacher Named History Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Suzanne M. Blaszak, a fifth grade teacher, at Providence Spring Elementary (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools) for recently being named the NC Preserve America History Teacher of the Year. Blaszak's students don't simply recite historical facts; they express themselves and their knowledge through intelligent conversations, debates, writings and visuals. She will be competing for the National Preserve American History Teacher of the Year, which will be announced later this year.

Students Receive Scholastic Art Awards

First Lady Mary Easley recently presented three North Carolina high school students with the Governor's Student Excellence Award at a reception at the Executive Mansion. The Governor's Student Excellence Award honors the creativity and high caliber of artistic work by North Carolina high school students. Congratulations go to Kasey Baranova, a senior at Enloe Magnet High (Wake County Public Schools), John Sabacinski, a senior at Myers Park High (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools); and Kim Jones, a 7th grader at Enka Middle (Buncombe County Schools). The winning artwork will be displayed at the Executive Mansion for the next several weeks. Founded in 1923, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are the nation's longest-running student recognition program for the visual and literary arts.

NC WISE/SIMS Coordinators' Summer Conference Scheduled

Registration for the 2007 NC WISE/SIMS Coordinators' Summer Conference, which is scheduled for July 22-24 at the Sheraton, Atlantic Beach, is currently underway. Share in the excitement and learn about the upcoming planned Wave 3 deployment activities and discuss lessons learned from Wave 2. Sessions on Wave 3 planning and readiness are scheduled as well as other key program topics. For the complete agenda and registration information, please go to the NC WISE Web site at http://www.ncwise.org and click on the 2007 Summer Conference button. Those with questions should contact Sandra Jones at sis_support@dpi.state.nc.us or 919.807.4357.

Social Studies Professional Development Opportunity

NCDPI's Middle and Secondary Education Division Social Studies staff are sponsoring a year-long professional development opportunity for middle and high school social studies teachers. "Changing the Way Teachers Teach: Integrating Technology in the 6-12 Social Studies Classroom" will address such topics as: GeoCaching (GPS device) and Google Earth (GPS Technology); Internet Usage/Evaluation/Research; Multimedia authoring programs (Microsoft PowerPoint software, digital photography, video streaming, I-movies, etc.); Digital Communication (podcasting, blogging, wikis, and other online collaboration tools, teleconferencing, Digital pen pals); Formative assessment tools (e-instruction); and Intel Teach Essentials training. Please visit http://community.learnnc.org/dpi/socialstudies for additional information and to download the application. Those who are interested will need to email their application by May 31. For more information, please contact Fay Gore (fgore@dpi.state.nc.us, 919.807.3954) or Lewis Nelson at (lnelson@dpi.state.nc.us, 919.807.3835).

Gang Symposium to be Held

Communities in Schools of North Carolina will hold a symposium on "Addressing Street Gangs" on Friday, June 8, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., in the Simpson Lecture Hall Auditorium, Thomas W. Simpson Administration Building, Asheville Buncombe Technical College, Asheville. There is no registration fee, but you must register to attend. Space is limited. To register, please call 919.832.2700 and ask for Katie Carrington. You also can email your name and contact information to kcarrington@cisnc.org. Please place Gang Symposium in the subject line. The registration deadline is June 1.

Smithsonian Institution Offers Resources for Teachers

The Smithsonian Institution is making curriculum planning and teaching easier for teachers across the nation by offering over 1,200 free educational resources online. SmithsonianEducation.org now includes a feature that aligns those resources to standards of learning in every state. Teachers can enter the name of their state into the search engine and find lesson plans, virtual exhibitions, photographs and artwork, and databases of research information that apply to their curriculum. The state standards are correlated to all subjects. The Smithsonian will regularly update both the resource bank and the state-standards correlations on the site.

 

If you'd like to review past Principals' Biweekly Messages sent to the listserv group, just go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/principalsarchive/