PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2007

DECEMBER 20, 2007 - Principals' Biweekly Message

I know that the week before the holiday break for students is a week of high energy and excitement. During the midst of all that energy, I hope that you take just a moment to reflect on the fact that you and your colleagues provide an important gift to North Carolina young people and their families. Thanks to your leadership, students learn and grow and discover. Thank you for your work and your leadership. I hope you have a cheerful and peaceful holiday break.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. Principal Evaluation Practice Study Reminder
2. AP Forum to be Held in February
3. Differentiated Instruction Professional Development Opportunity
4. 2008 NC College Access Conference
5. "It's Our Water" Curriculum Resource
6. Route 21
7. College Scholarship Opportunity
8. Nomination Period for the Class of 2010 Kenan Fellows Now Open
9. Global School Partnerships Offers 21st Century Learning Opportunity

Principal Evaluation Practice Study Reminder

As a reminder, the faculty of the Department of Educational Leadership at East Carolina University and Western Carolina University are conducting a study of principal evaluation practice in North Carolina. Study results will be used to inform and strengthen the evaluation process, and to develop training and other support for the implementation of the new evaluation system for school executives. You voice is important in helping to provide understanding as to what strategies are being used and which ones are helpful. The survey will take 15 to 20 minutes to complete and is available online at https://survey.ecu.edu/perseus/se.ashx?s=0B87A65670C02695. Please complete the survey by Jan. 15. If you have questions about the survey or study, please contact Dr. Lynn Bradshaw at bradshawl@ecu.edu.

AP Forum to be Held in February

Mark your calendars and plan to attend NCDPI's annual AP/IB and Honors Forum scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 13, from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at the Twin City Quarter, Winston-Salem. There is a $75 registration fee that covers the cost of all handouts, a continental breakfast and lunch. Interactive subject based sessions will focus on content, strategies and resources for new or experienced Pre-AP, AP, IB or Honors teachers. The non-refundable registration fee must be received by Jan. 11. Late, on-site registrations will not be accepted. Additional information, including registration, is available online at www.ncpublicschools.org/apinitiatives/forum. Room reservations can be made at a reduced rate at either the Embassy Suites Hotel (800.696.6107) or Marriott Winston-Salem (800.320.0934) by calling and referencing "AP Forum." For more information, please contact Angel Dowden at 919.807.3895, or by email, adowden@dpi.state.nc.us.

Differentiated Instruction Professional Development Opportunity

NCDPI's middle and high school English Language Arts staff are sponsoring a Focus on Literacy Institute, "A Different Take - Improving Instruction Through Differentiated Instruction," on Feb. 14-15, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Pinehurst Inn, Pinehurst. Institute topics include: learning teaching theories and discovering what research says about differentiated instruction, learning how formative assessment can lead to and support differentiated instruction, and learning essential elements for implementing effective differentiated instruction with some attention given to reading and writing instruction. There is a $300 per person, non-refundable registration fee. The registration deadline is Jan. 20. For hotel reservations, contact the Pinehurst Inn at 910.295.6811 by Jan. 14 and ask for the NCDPI Workshop room block ($63.75 plus tax). For more information, including a registration form, please go online to http://community.learnnc.org/dpi/ela and click on the download link.

2008 NC College Access Conference

The NC College Access Conference is being held Feb. 6-8 at the Greensboro Marriott Downtown Hotel, Greensboro. The purpose of this statewide forum is to share information and resources regarding two of the most important public policy issues of our time: college access and student success. Ron Clark, "America's Teacher," will be the keynote speaker. Additional information, including registration, is available online at www.CFNC.org by clicking on the "Register for CFNC Events" button on the homepage and scrolling down to 2008 NC College Access Conference. For more information, please contact Kelly Harrell, Access and Outreach, The University of North Carolina General Administration, 919.843.5875 or by email, kharrell@northcarolina.edu.

"It's Our Water" Curriculum Resource

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Resources is offering teacher trainings for "It's our Water," a North Carolina specific high school Earth/Environmental Science curriculum. The curriculum covers the importance of water quality and quantity, monitoring and maintaining water quality, and the impacts individual choices and actions have on water quality. This educational resource is particularly relevant in light of the current drought. For more information on this program and the teacher trainings, please visit the "It's Our Water" home page at http://www.ncwater.org/Education_and_Technical_Assistance/Its_Our_Water/.

Route 21

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is making available to educators Route 21, an interactive tool to help educators incorporate 21st century skills into schools and classrooms. The tool allows for reader input, equivalent to Amazon, and provides an interactive locale to share best practice. For 21st century skills-related information, resources and community tools, please go online to http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/route21.

College Scholarship Opportunity

The North Carolina Association for Educational Communications & Technology (NCAECT) is offering two, $2,000 scholarships. One will be awarded to a student pursuing a graduate degree/certification in Instructional Technology and the other will be awarded to a student pursuing a graduate degree/certification in School Library Media. The deadline to apply is Jan. 10. Application details are available online at http://www.ncaect.org/scholarship.html.

Nomination Period for the Class of 2010 Kenan Fellows Now Open

The Kenan Fellows Program is an innovative model that promotes teacher leadership, addresses teacher retention and advances K-12 science, technology and mathematics education. Kenan Fellows are public school teachers selected through a competitive process to participate in a prestigious two-year fellowship - all while remaining active in the classroom. During these two years, Kenan Fellows work in partnership with distinguished scientists, university faculty, and the NC Department of Public Instruction, developing curriculum and teaching resources that bring cutting-edge research into the hands of students. School administrators, community leaders, parents of students, and former Kenan Fellows may nominate candidates by visiting the Kenan Fellows Program Web site at http://www.ncsu.edu/kenanfellows/join/apply.htm and clicking on the nomination form link. Nominees will be notified by email and subsequently invited to complete an online application. Fellowships will be tied to regions of the state and, in some cases, only residents of certain counties may apply. Over the two-year fellowship period, Kenan Fellows will receive a $10,000 stipend, use of a laptop, and graduate credit for completing their research project. Applications are due Jan. 24.

Global School Partnerships Offers 21st Century Learning Opportunity

Help students learn with and not just about people of other cultures through an ongoing partnership between your school and one in Denmark. North Carolina in the World (NCIW), a statewide international education initiative coordinated by the Center for International Understanding in Raleigh, is recruiting high schools for Danish partnerships, and schools in Denmark are already eagerly awaiting NC partners. A short study program to Denmark in October 2008, will enable participating principals to get their relationship off on a sound footing by visiting their partner schools and planning partnership activities with their counterparts. For a partnership information form and more details about the program, contact: Angie Bolin, Danish Partnership Coordinator, asb@northcarolina.edu, 919.733.0224, Center for International Understanding, 412 N. Wilmington St., Raleigh, NC 27601.

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