SUPERINTENDENTS' MESSAGES 2013

SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 - Principals' Biweekly Message

The State Board of Education yesterday approved additional time to make a decision regarding setting new achievement levels on the state's new end-of-grade and end-of-course tests given for the first time in 2012-13. This means that student reports will not be available before November, and the precise distribution date will be communicated with you as soon as possible. Also, the Board decided to extend to May 7 the deadline for master's degree completion documentation to be in place so that teachers qualify for the master's degree pay.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. NC Principal of the Year Welcomes Colleagues to New School Year
3. State Superintendent Discusses Budget
4. 2013-14 Title I Reward Schools Named
5. Frank Porter Graham Open News Professional Development School
6. NC Council of Teachers of Mathematics Schedules Fall Leadership Seminar/Annual Conference
7. NCDOT Offers New Curriculum on Walking and Biking Safety
8. Exemplary Reading Program Award

State Board Meeting Highlights

At yesterday's State Board meeting, members approved North Carolina's Early Learning and Development Standards, the General Assembly's Read to Achieve Comprehensive Reading Plan, an amendment to the North Carolina Elementary and Secondary Act waiver and grants for School Resource Officers in elementary and middle schools and panic alarm systems. A summary of all Board action items is available online at http://stateboard.ncpublicschools.gov/highlights/2013.

NC Principal of the Year Welcomes Colleagues to New School Year

After an extremely busy summer, I would like to welcome all public school educators back to a wonderful time of the year. I know all of you are excited to start seeing your teachers start to trickle in. It has been good for my heart to see them and students come into the building smiling and joking with one another. I was worried that I would not see this after the decisions made by our General Assembly this year. It was this relief that gave me a quick thought for a theme for this message. The strength of our schools remains embedded in the resiliency of our employees.

Over the last few years I have been ashamed of the way our state and country has treated public schools. In many ways we have become the punching bag used by supposed leaders at the state and national levels to promote their own initiatives. I have witnessed this more as I have been exposed to happenings at the state level, and it has not been something I was proud of for our state.

With that said, our district in Beaufort County hosted a "Welcome Dinner" for every first-year teacher in our district. The event was hosted at a local PTO member's home in the backyard with a view of the fabulous Pamlico River. Volunteers cooked barbecue and other PTO parents cooked sides and deserts. Many of our principals and central office staff attended, and the PTO members were discussing ideas like each of them "adopting" one of the new teachers. They wanted to take them out for dinner on occasion, make sure the new teachers knew where things were across the county, introduce them to a church of their choosing, and generally be a sponsor for them. It was obvious that our new teachers were special to our community. While watching this wonderful event, I realized that this is what makes our public schools so strong. Our community schools are special to us. We, the educators, parents, and other community members, want what is best for ALL students. We recognize that we are all connected as a village to raise and educate our children as best we can. Our strength is resilience. We will hold the course and do what is right for kids, even if that means finding new leaders that feel the same way.

I hope everyone has a wonderful year. If you would like to help me advocate for public schools, please follow my blog at http://dalecole.wordpress.com, follow me on Twitter @DaleColeNCPOY, or e-mail me at dalecole11@gmail.com. I look forward to working for all of you and our children.

State Superintendent Discusses Budget

State Superintendent June Atkinson was the keynote speaker last week at the Crucial Conversation event sponsored by NC Policy Watch. Her speech, which primarily focused on the budget, is available on the NC Policy Watch website at http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2013/08/22/nc-superintendent-of-public-instruction-on-whats-next-for-our-public-schools-video/#sthash.iDFqIhei.dpuf.

2013-14 Title I Reward Schools Named

Kudos to the 174 Title I schools recently recognized as Title I Reward Schools for 2013-14. From these schools, two will be selected to represent North Carolina in the national Title I Distinguished Schools Program. To find out what Title I schools need to do to receive this recognition as well as access the list of recipients, please visit www.ncpublicschools.org and click on the appropriate link under "News."

Frank Porter Graham Opens New Professional Development School

UNC-Chapel Hill recently opened a new professional development center to provide teachers and administrators with a wide array of resources on child development and education. The Professional Development Center at UNC's Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute includes workshops, free courses and major conferences. The Professional Development Center also delivers free online instruction on implementing evidence-based practices in classrooms, as well as lessons on such topics as the early identification of autism spectrum disorders. Check it all out at http://pdc.fpg.unc.edu/online-learning.

NC Council of Teachers of Mathematics Schedules Fall Leadership Seminar/Annual Conference

The North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics will hold its Fall Leadership Seminar on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center, Greensboro. The Council has scheduled its 43rd Annual State Mathematics Conference for Thursday and Friday, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, also at the Koury Convention Center. For more information on either of these events, including registration, please visit www.ncctm.org.

NCDOT Offers New Curriculum on Walking and Biking Safety

The NC Department of Transportation's Let's Go NC! curriculum consists of free lesson plans, materials and supplemental tools to teach elementary-aged children about the basics of walking and biking safety. All curriculum and guidance materials are accessible online at http://www.ncdot.gov/bikeped/safetyeducation/letsgonc/.

Exemplary Reading Program Award

The North Carolina Reading Association and International Reading Association's Exemplary Reading Program Award highlights outstanding reading/language arts programs at all grade levels. Schools interested in applying for this award may go online to http://www.reading.org/Resources/AwardsandGrants/professional_exemplary.aspx and click on the Application and Guidelines link for details. Award applications must be postmarked by Nov. 15. Questions may be directed to Dawn Simpson, chair of the North Carolina Reading Association's Exemplary Reading Committee, at dawn.simpson@carteretk12.org.