PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2007
PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2007OCTOBER 18, 2007 - Principals' Biweekly Message
One of the highlights of my year is the opportunity to present the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award each year. A week ago, Stuart Albright, an English teacher at C.E. Jordan High School (Durham Public Schools) received the surprise of a lifetime when he was named this year's Milken recipient in North Carolina. A hallmark of Albright's teaching is his efforts to create and nurture community in his classes. He has initiated several creative writing classes in which students meet authors and have their own work published. Albright himself is the author of "Blessed Returns," a book which documents his work as a counselor for disadvantaged youth in New Jersey. He represents many teachers across North Carolina who are doing amazing work in the classroom, and, often, outside of the classroom as well. I hope you will make time this fall to recognize the wonderful educators in your schools and to say thank you to them.
Regards,
June Atkinson
In this Biweekly Principals' Message:
"Change a Light, Change the World" Campaign
Gov. Mike Easley has declared October "Energy Awareness Month" and has challenged all North Carolinians to change at least one light bulb in their home from incandescent to a "CFL," or Compact Fluorescent Lamp. Taking that simple step would save citizens more than $15 million in annual energy costs. Public school teachers can download a teacher guide from the campaign Web site, www.changealightnc.org, containing classroom activities and pledge cards that can be sent home with students. Individuals also are invited to pledge to reduce energy use by going to the campaign's Web site. Additional energy savings tips can be found on the State Energy Office Website at www.energync.net/efficiency or on the U.S Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Web site at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips.
National Board Application Deadline Approaching
Principals are asked to help get the word out to teachers that the deadline for application for National Board Certification is Oct. 31. Teachers need to apply at www.nbpts.org and click on the link to the North Carolina application in order to become candidates. Candidates will receive three days of release time, full licensure renewal for completing the process, and, once certified, a 12 percent salary increase. Details also can be found on the DPI Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/recruitment/nationalboardcertification/.
State Board Chairman Receives National Award
Congratulations to State Board of Education Chairman Howard Lee who received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of State Boards of Education. The annual award is given to a state board of education member in recognition of outstanding service to public education. Lee was presented the award last Friday at NASBE's annual conference held in Philadelphia, Pa.
Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest
Prudent Publishing Company, Inc./The Gallery Collection is sponsoring its first annual Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest. The winning entry receives a $10,000 scholarship. All high school, college and university students enrolled in the fall of 2007 are eligible to participate. The submission deadline is Jan. 15, 2008. For official scholarship rules and an entry form, please go online to http://www.gallerycollection.com/scholarship.htm.
If you'd like to review past Principals' Biweekly Messages sent to the listserv group, just go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/principalsarchive/.