PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2008

JANUARY 14, 2008 - Principals' Biweekly Message

Last Thursday, 33 low-wealth schools were fortunate enough to be selected to receive grants to purchase state-of-the-art physical activity equipment - thanks to a $1 million grant from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. (For more information, please go to www.ncpublicschools.org and look under News.) I want to thank the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust for its generosity and interest in extending help to the neediest parts of our state. Because of the trust and our participating vendors, children in these schools will have the opportunity to try new technologies and new tools to be more physically active. This is especially helpful in assisting K-8 schools in meeting the requirement of providing at least 30 minutes of physical activity for every student each day.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. January is Mentoring Month
3. Second Annual National Entrepreneurship Week
4. Study of Principal Evaluation Final Reminder
5. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools' Superintendent Receives Award on Behalf of District
6. Nomination Period for the Class of 2010 Kenan Fellows Now Open
7. LEARN NC Announces Spring Professional Development Courses
8. National Youth Science Camp
9. American Star of Teaching Call for Nominations
10. Freida J. Riley Teacher Award Call for Nominations

State Board Meeting Highlights

At last week's Board meeting, members approved recommended interim achievement level descriptors for the NCEXTEND2 OCS English I and Mathematics, recommended final cut scores for NCCLAS Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and English I end-of-course assessments, and achievement level descriptors for NCCLAS Algebra I, Geometry and English I end-of-course assessments, and recommended final achievement level descriptors for the NCEXTEND2 EOG Writing assessment at grades 4 and 7; and a request to establish an additional regional alternative licensure center. Board discussion included high school courses beyond mathematics and second languages taken in middle school, the Educational Value Added Assessment System Teacher Module, and the Report from the Ad Hoc Committee on Professional Development for School Leaders. Board Highlights will be posted within the next week at www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights.

January is Mentoring Month

Gov. Mike Easley has proclaimed January as Mentoring Month to encourage North Carolinians to become mentors and to recognize those already involved in mentoring. The effort is part of National Mentoring Month. The theme for this year's national observance is "Share What You Know. Mentor a Child." The annual "Thank Your Mentor Day" will be held on Jan. 24. Citizens are urged to thank and honor their role models. Participants also may post a tribute to their mentors and learn more about becoming a mentor on the campaign Web site, www.whomentoredyou.org. The Harvard Mentoring Project of the Harvard School of Public Health and the MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership developed National Mentoring Month. The Corporation for National and Community Service will partner with those groups and other nonprofits to lead the 2008 national campaign. To learn more about the mentoring programs in North Carolina, visit the Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service's Web site at www.volunteernc.org or call the N.C. Mentoring Partnership toll free at 1.800.820.4483.

Second Annual National Entrepreneurship Week

National Entrepreneurship Week will be celebrated the last week in February (Feb. 23 - March 1). National Entrepreneurship Week recognizes the contributions of entrepreneurs in America and the value added through Entrepreneurship education. All students need entrepreneurial skills to succeed in future workplaces, whether they become business owners or not. Educators can utilize National Entrepreneurship Week to inform parents, students and policy leaders about the opportunities to engage and more fully prepare students in America's classrooms. Go to the National Entrepreneurship Week Web site at www.NationalEweek.com and click on Ideas and Resources under Participate for classroom activities and other materials.

Study of Principal Evaluation Final Reminder

If you have not completed the principal evaluation survey, please take a moment to do so as it will only be available at https://survey.ecu.edu/perseus/se.ashx?s=0B87A65670C02695 until tomorrow, Jan. 15. It will only take 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Your responses are important to the ECU-WCU research team. Survey results will be used to determine what kind of support is needed for principals and their evaluators as the new evaluation system is implemented. Ultimately, we are hopeful that the new standards, the aligned evaluation instrument, training opportunities, and other support will work together to support school improvement. Your responses will help in understanding what has been happening and what needs to happen to ensure that synergy.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools' Superintendent Receives Award on Behalf of District

The American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages recently presented a prestigious award to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools' Superintendent Donald Martin for the district's exemplary elementary foreign language program. The presentation noted that the district's elementary language program "demonstrates excellence in curriculum, instruction, student achievement articulation and advocacy." Every student in each of the district's elementary schools learns either French or Spanish, and has the option to continue in a well-articulated language program throughout its middle and high schools. Congratulations!

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.

LEARN NC Announces Spring Professional Development Courses

LEARN NC's online professional development courses allow educators to earn CEU credits at a time and place most convenient to them, whether that's during their planning period, or in their pajamas at one in the morning. Master teaching online with the courses in our Carolina Online Teacher Program. Or earn literacy credits with Content Area Reading Comprehension. For complete course descriptions, please visit www.learnnc.org/courses or contact Ross White at ross@learnnc.org for more information.

National Youth Science Camp

High school seniors interested in exchanging ideas with scientists and other professionals from the academic and corporate worlds may want to consider applying for one of two full scholarships to attend the National Youth Science Camp (NYSC). The NYSC experience is offered at no cost to participants, which allows anyone to apply regardless of their financial status. Delegates will arrive in Charleston, W.Va., on Sunday, June 29, and depart on Saturday, July 26. The camp is held at Bartow in the eastern mountains of West Virginia. Additional information, including application forms, is available online at www.nysc.org/2008. Applications must be received by NCDPI's selection coordinator (Ragan Spain) by Feb. 18. Questions also may be directed to Ragan Spain via email at rspain@dpi.state.nc.us.

American Star of Teaching Call for Nominations

The U.S. Department of Education's Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative is now accepting nominations for its 2008 American Stars of Teaching. Parents, students, colleagues, school administrators and others can nominate an exemplary teacher who they believe has the qualities to be an American Star of Teaching. To nominate a teacher, please go online to www.ed.gov/teachers/how/tools/initiative/index.html. Nominations must be received by March 31.

Freida J. Riley Teacher Award Call for Nominations

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, in cooperation with the YWCA of Harrison County, Va., is now accepting nominations for the 2008 $10,000 Freida J. Riley Teacher Award. The award honors an American teacher who works with a physical disability, teachers in an especially challenging educational environment or has performed a heroic act by making an exceptional, personal or physical sacrifice on behalf of students. Additional information, including nomination forms and official rules and guidelines, is available online at www.columbusfdn.org/freidajriley/default.asp. All nomination materials must be received in the Foundation office at 110 Genesee Street, Suite 390, Auburn, New York 13021 no later than Monday, Feb. 4.

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