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Spring 2014.. - New Hampshire School Administrators Association
New Hampshire School Administrators Association CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN The NHSAA Newsletter ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Vol. 17 No. 1 ! ! ! ! ! Spring 2014 2014 OUTSTANDING SERVICE ! AWARD WINNER: ! Mrs. Esther Asbell The New Hampshire School Administrators Association (NHSAA) is pleased to announce Mrs. Esther Asbell, Assistant Superintendent from SAU #16, as the 2014 Outstanding Service Award winner. ! The NHSAA Outstanding Service Award was instituted in 1994 as an important form of recognition for the outstanding work of system educational leaders who are not superintendents of schools. Annually, members are invited to nominate colleagues for consideration by the ! selection committee. The judging committee uses criteria that includes the individual’s contribution to the educational achievement of the SAU, organizational improvement, ! initiative, professional growth and service to public education. ! Esther began her career in education in 1987 as the co-director of the Live and Learn Educational Center in Lee, N.H. Five years later, she accepted the guidance counselor position at Sanford High School in Sanford, M.E. where she remained until 1997. She also served as guidance counselor for the Dover school district and the Eliot school district in Maine. Her entry into administration began in 2001, when she became the assistant principal at Marshwood Junior High School in Eliot, M.E. Esther continued in similar roles for area school districts until 2009 when she became assistant superintendent for the Somersworth and Rollinsford school districts. In 2010, she moved into her current capacity as assistant superintendent for the Exeter region school district. Esther and her husband Paul, who she credits as the one who got her started on the administrative track, reside in, N.H. ! ! Esther’s role as a leader in the community is reflected in the praise of colleagues who supported her nomination. Michael Morgan, superintendent of schools for SAU #16, states, “Her positive energy, her dedicated work ethic and her honesty and integrity shine through in all of her undertakings and endeavors. Her consistent goal is continuous improvement so that students may be better served, and that is only enhanced by her commitment to do her very best every single day.” ! Colleague Saundra MacDonald, assistant superintendent for SAU #16, offered similar comments about Esther, “She exemplifies a commitment to ensuring a quality education for all students and to the ethical integrity that keeps New Hampshire public education strong.” ! ! All members of the New Hampshire School Administrators Association join in congratulating Esther on her outstanding leadership and work on behalf of SAU #16, as well as the State of New Hampshire. Esther will be recognized at the annual Commissioner’s Conference meeting in June 2014. Page 2!! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! ! ! Spring 2014 NHSAA Members are Champions for Children Our guiding principles are to... ★ Champion efforts designed to successfully provide for the needs of all children. ★ Effectively advocate for an equitable and comprehensive public education for all children, wherever they ! may reside. ★ Take every opportunity to assert and defend the idea that public education is a public good and that it ! is essential to our democracy and economy. ★ Promote the development and sharing of effective leadership and educational practices that ensure the ! prudent stewardship of public resources. ★ Lead in providing timely and substantive learning opportunities to educators in NH and New England ★ Build NHSAA into a highly productive organization that consistently seeks new ways to identify and meet members’ needs. NHSAA 2013-2014 EXECUTIVE BOARD President! ! Mr. Robert C. Mills! SAU #07 237-5571! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! President-Elect! ! Dr. Brian Blake! ! SAU #17 642-3688! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Vice-President Dr. Charles Littlefield SAU #15 622-3731 Past President: Ms. Heather Cummings, SAU #49 569-1658 ! ! DIRECTORS! ! Dr. Dean Cascadden! (2014)! ! SAU #67 224-4728! ! ! ! Mr. Bruce Labs! (2016)! ! SAU #23 787-2113! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Executive Director! Dr. Mark V. Joyce! e-mail: [email protected]! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Special Education! ! Support Center Director! Sandra A. Plocharczyk! ! ! ! Mr. Kent Hemingway! (2015)! ! SAU #73 527-9215! ! ! ! Ms. Terri Forsten! (2017)! ! SAU #30 524-5710! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! e-mail: [email protected]!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! South East! ! Ms. Kathleen Murphy! SAU #90 926-4560! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! REGIONAL CHAIRPERSONS South West! ! Mr. Steven Chamberlin! SAU #66 746-5186! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! NHSAA! ! Bow Brook Place!! 46 Donovan Street, Suite 3! Concord, NH 03301 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Telephone: 603-225-3230 Toll-free: 1-866-753-4479! Fax: 603-225-3225!! www.nhsaa.org South Central Dr. Michael Delahanty SAU #57 893-7040 ! Lakes Region Ms. Kathleen Cuddy-Egbert SAU #49 569-1658 North Country Dr. Carl Ladd SAU #58 636-1437 ! ! ! Office Staff: Bernice Toscano, Office Manager e-mail: [email protected] ! ! Ellen Kipp, Event Coordinator e-mail: [email protected] ! ! Jennifer Fielders, Office Assistant e-mail: [email protected] Page 3!! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! ! ! Spring 2014 sponse to increased drug abuse by students. These were important issues that brought forward strong ! Welcome to the spring edition of the NHSAA beliefs, but the issue(s) was/were usually resolved Champions for Children newsletter. by local citizens and the business of public education moved forward. ! In this issue you will read about the 2014 ! Recently however, there seems to be a small Outstanding Service Award winner, Mrs. Esther group of critics who raise questions, strong criticisms Asbell, learn how social media can play a role in and complaints about issues that they are not directly communicating with parents and students and view affected by, and who appear to be not really interthe professional development schedule for the 2014ested in resolving a concern. Rather they are more 2015 season. interested in attacking public education as a whole. ! If you are viewing a hard copy of this issue, As examples, I recall citizens raising issues about a please consider whether you’d like to continue local school district’s adoption of an optional Internareceiving it in this form. Our newsletter is available tional Baccalaureate Program (after a long and thoughtful local decision making process) who were to view as a PDF on our website at www.nhsaa.org. from other towns and another region of the state. Click on the NHSAA Publications link and select Other examples include individuals reporting that Champions for Children. NH’s schools are failing, or money is being wasted in ! We welcome your feedback! schools routinely, or money makes no difference in the quality of educational opportunities, or charter schools are definitely better than public schools and Executive Director’s ! more. These assertions are shared in testimonies in Message front of the legislative committees and state and local boards. Perhaps the biggest recent strategy is that these views are shared via web links and targeted By Dr. Mark V. Joyce news/email feeds operated by advocacy groups. In many cases these assertions are simply opinions that The Real Crisis in Education are not based on factual analysis or statistically It seems like it has becredible scholarly research. At best, many of these come quite popular lately to opinions have some correlation characteristics but harshly criticize public educanot causal. tion in comments reported by George Mason University’s website (STATS) some media outlets and self-proclaimed “experts” defines the distinction as: testifying in opposition to school reform efforts. “One of the most common errors we find in While this is certainly not a new phenomenon, it ap- ! the press is the confusion between correlation and pears to recently become more intense and acrimonicausation in scientific and health-related studies. In ous. ! Over my 40 years of experience in this area of theory, these are easy to distinguish — an action or occurrence can cause another (such as smoking causes public service, we all have seen disagreements or conflicting opinions on the right decision to make or lung cancer), or it can correlate with another (such as smoking is correlated with alcoholism). If one action reform to pursue. In the past, these debates were causes another, then they are most certainly correraised in a public meeting, all sides were aired and lated. But just because two things occur together locally elected representatives (school boards most does not mean that one caused the other, even if it often in our business) would engage citizens in a seems to make sense. process that led to an acceptable local decision. ! Unfortunately, our intuition can lead us astray While not always a smooth process, it settled the issue and ultimately led to improved practices or poli- when it comes to distinguishing between causality and correlation. For example, eating breakfast has cies that helped learners achieve at new and higher levels. As examples, I can recall strong debates about long been correlated with success in school for elementary school children. It would be easy to confinances, or new buildings, or health curriculum clude that eating breakfast causes students to be changes in response to AIDS or education in re- Inside the Issue Page 4!! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! better learners. It turns out, however, that those who don’t eat breakfast are also more likely to be absent or tardy — and it is absenteeism that is playing a significant role in their poor performance. When researchers retested the breakfast theory, they found that, independent of other factors, breakfast only helps undernourished children perform better. “ ! To be very clear, I am not suggesting or implying that citizens should not speak their mind or that beliefs should not be expressed. Rather, I am observing that we seem to have lost our habit of civil debate that is designed to use valid information, facts and research to solve a specific problem in the appropriate forum. It seems to me that some of our public discourses are being used for political and or ideological purposes rather than improving the public good. ! I’d like to share a new resource that I found quite informative in presenting scientifically valid research that refutes some of the common myths surrounding public education. The title of the book is 50 Myths and Lies That Threaten America’s Public Schools – The real crisis in education by David Berliner and Gene Glass and Associates (ISBN: 978-80775524-2). I am heartened to realize that we still have many communities, groups and organizations that remain focused on serving the overall public good despite the sometimes polarized and acrimonious debate. I honestly worry however, that some elected and appointed officials may become so discouraged that they leave the important work of public education. I hope and pray that my worry is unfounded. ! As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions. Mark “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” ! ! -Benjamin Franklin ! ! Spring 2014 Media, it’s Power and Our Youth “If we want our youth to develop appropriately, and to be healthy and safe, then we must guide them to use and consume media critically and responsibly.” ! -Rona Zlokhower, Executive Director, Media Power Youth Media is helping children in ways we never imagined; to reach out, bring about change, build social networks, learn and imagine. Helping children use the power of media to achieve, to express themselves creatively, to explore their worlds and to be responsible digital citizens is the role of educators, parents, and media literacy experts like Media Power Youth. ! Media Power Youth, a New Hampshire nonprofit based in Manchester, empowers youth to lead healthy, safe lives through smart use of media. We provide health focused media literacy education in partnership with parents, schools, and communities. ! Media Power Youth works with parents and professionals to help children navigate media messages and images. We give children the critical thinking skills they need to use media in responsible ways that help them succeed in school, in relationships, with families, peers and in their communities. Why is this so important? As educators you understand that in spite of their technical savvy, they lack the sophistication and critical thinking skills to avoid at risk behaviors portrayed in media and to make good judgements when using technology. ! As a leader in addressing media and child health and behavior, Media Power Youth’s current programs include elementary, middle, and high school curricula; pro-social media production programs; and trainings for parents, educators, health and youth service providers. ! What Influence does Media have on Children? ! Media is increasingly shaping the health choices, attitudes and behaviors, and learning abilities of children and teens. Research indicates a significant correlation between exposure to media, and ! Page 5!! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! numerous health risks, including the CDC’s six critical health behaviors impacting youth: injury & violence, alcohol & drug use, tobacco use, nutrition, physical activity and at-risk sexual behavior. Studies have also found that youth who spend more time with media report lower grades and lower levels of contentment. ! All children are vulnerable to media influence, and susceptible to being desensitized to violence, aggression and disrespect. The messages media send to children already at-risk due to emotional, health, developmental, economic and environmental factors can be especially influential. Families often lack the resources and knowledge to provide activities that can balance the influence of media. Media Violence ! Concern mounts about the role of media’s influence on real life violence following the tragic events of Sandy Hook. Considerable time spent viewing and participating in violent media is a common characteristic of many of the young perpetrators of school shootings and other violent acts. Increasingly there are reports of children killing themselves, their peers and others. We also see children engaging in violence, disrespect, and bullying that may never reach the level of criminal activity, but are still destructive. As the state investigates and prosecutes crimes committed by youth, all too often, media use and content are contributing factors. ! Extensive research evidence indicates that media violence, for children, can contribute to aggressive behavior, desensitization to violence, nightmares, and fear of being harmed. Research has demonstrated that media education and thoughtful media can reduce violent behavior and other at-risk behaviors in children. (American Academy of Pediatrics, Policy Statement-Media Violence, Pediatrics, 2009) The Office of the NH Attorney General and Governor Hasaan Call for Action ! The Office of the Attorney General, through the leadership of Governor Maggie Hassan, is soon to announce an opportunity for NH schools to ! ! Spring 2014 implement violence prevention through media literacy education in partnership with Media Power Youth. ! This initiative is also endorsed by the NH Department of Education and the NH Pediatric Society. ! The violence prevention initiative comprises two program models; the evidence based upper elementary curriculum, Media Literacy for Safe and Health Choices, and a three part series for middle and high school. ! Media Literacy for Safe and Health Choices helps upper elementary school students build on core media literacy skills and concepts and learn how to think critically about media violence, real life violence and aggression, bullying and cyber bullying. As a significant added benefit, the curriculum addresses other priorities for the safety and health of children; substance use and abuse, and the marketing and advertising of unhealthy food to children. Students also learn how to produce their own positive, pro-social media messages. The curriculum meets national and state learning standards in health promotion, disease prevention and media literacy, and is aligned with Common Core Standards and skill sets. ! According to a study published in May 2012, Journal of Children and Media, conducted in Manchester’s schools by Center on Media and Child Health, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard School of Public Health, and Harvard Medical School, the curriculum has been shown to be “substantially effective in achieving its goals of helping young people understand and reduce the impact of unhealthy media messages.” ! A three part series led by Media Power Youth staff will be available to middle and high school students. Additional activities for students, school faculty and parents will be provided to integrate and reinforce the program within other disciplines, school and family culture. (Continued on Page 6) Page 6!! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! ! The program will help youth explore how media can: • Provide unrealistic portrayals of violence • Encourage behaviors resulting in aggression, violence, disrespect, bullying and cyber-bullying violence • Desensitize youth to both virtual and real life ! These sessions will also educate students about ways to use media to exhibit pro-social behaviors: self esteem, respect, community engagement and self expression. ! Free teacher trainings, providing professional development hours, will be provided in all regions of the state to prepare educators for implementation. Trainings are funded by the NH DOJ with the assistance of the NH DOE. ! Our goal is to reach all interested NH schools and communities over two years through a partnership of the State, foundations, businesses and Media Power Youth. The Governor and Office of the Attorney General will announce the program publicly on December 3, 2013. Principals and superintendents will receive announcements from the Office of the Attorney General at that time. Media Power Youth will launch a dedicated website in January and announce training dates for the spring. ! “Violence, especially that perpetuated by youth, is preventable. We look forward to partnering with the NH school districts to promote our common goals: reduce the impact of media violence, guide children to make healthy choices, and reduce the risk of violence and crime in our schools and communities.” - Deputy Attorney General Ann Rice, Office of the NH Attorney General ! ! Spring 2014 Membership Corner ! ! As a regular feature in the Champions for Children newsletter, we would like to share any appropriate news about members in order to promote communication, friendship and networking. ! Please feel free to call us at (603) 225-3230 and share some information for the next issue. We are interested in job changes, names of new central office administrators, special recognitions or personnel news that you would like to share! NHSAA Mentors ! If any member would like to be an information mentor to a new school administrator during the next year, please call Mark at (603) 225-3230 or tollfree at (866) 753-4479 or e-mail [email protected] or your regional chair (see page 2 for listings). NHSAA LIST-SERVE FOR MEMBERS ! NHSAA, with the assistance of Lawson, Persson & Weldon-Francke, P.C., offers the NHSAA List-Serve. The purposes of the “NHSAA ListServe” are to: ! ! ! ! ! 1. Provide members with prompt, efficient notification via e-mail of matters of interest such as proposed rules and legislation, court decisions and administrative rulings via e-mail. ! ! ! 2. Provide members with notices via e-mail of NHSAA activities such as meeting seminars and other announcements. Contact us: ! ! ! 3. Provide members via e-mail with the means to have group discussions on matters of mutual interest. Media Power Youth 603-222-1200 Sarah Shanahan, MAT, Education & Training Manager, [email protected] ! We look forward to hearing of your interest. Rona Zlokower, MCM, Executive Director, [email protected] www.mediapoweryouth.org If you are a member of NHSAA and are interested in being part of the service, or, if you would like a copy of the list’s operating procedures, please contact Mark Joyce at (603) 225-3230, toll- ! free at (866) 753-4479 or e-mail at [email protected]. Page 7!! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! It’s Free… It’s Powerful… It’s Connected The site is FREE! All jobs are listed including: Teachers Special Services Administrators Aides Secretaries Custodians K12 and PostSecondary Virtually all jobs available in education! Spring 2014 Updates, Information and Resources The fastest growing web-based vacancy service for ALL educational employment opportunities in New Hampshire. There is no cost to review all posted positions, apply for a job, seek job assistance, or submit your résumé. ! New Hampshire’s Educational Job Site ! For more information call NHSAA toll free at 866‐753‐4479 or check us out online at www.nhsaa.org Change of Address? ! Be sure to notify us of any change in your contact information including address, phone or cell phone numbers. Contact Bernice at (603) 225-3230, or e-mail at [email protected]. ! AASA Connect, or “Where School Leaders Link to Success,” is an informative and accessible online resource that offers insight and reaction to contemporary issues facing our nation’s school administrators. ! From superintendent success stories to member blogs and the latest expert advice on the most difficult issues, experience this online community by going to www.AASAconnect.com for more information. Names... David K. Pennington, superintendent of the Ponca City Public Schools, Ponca City, OK, has been elected the 2013-14 president-elect of the American Association of School Administrators ...and Places The AASA National Conference schedule through 2016 is as follows: San Diego, CA - February 26-28, 2015 Phoenix, AZ - February 11-13, 2016 For more information, visit www.nce.aasa.org Interim Administrators Needed ! We often receive requests for the names of individuals willing to serve as interim administrators (central office & building level). If you are interested or know of a good person to recommend, call Mark at (603) 225-3230, toll-free at (866) 753-4479 or send a resumé to [email protected]. AASA Dues 2014-2015 (Membership year is July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015) DUES CATEGORY! ! ! Active! ! ! ! ! Small-School District Leader*!! College Professor! ! ! District/Cabinet!! ! ! Basic (Aspiring School Leaders)! Retired! ! ! ! ! Associate! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! RATE $441.00 $220.00 $197.00 $197.00 $ 70.00 $ 70.00 $197.00 *Superintendents in school districts with less than 350 students enrolled If you are a member of our List-Serv, please remember to inform us of any changes to your email address. To join: Call (703) 528-0700, e-mail [email protected] or visit: https://www.aasa.org/Join.aspx Page 8!! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! ! ! Spring 2014 Tweeting the Good News and Other Ways to administrators have written off as a distraction and instead began to use those social media construcUse Social Media By Patrick Larkin ! Every principal has heard stories about the misuses of social media in school: teens sharing inappropriate photos online, underthe-desk instant messaging, cyber-bullying. We’ve heard fellow principals complain that the increase of tools like blogs and social bookmarking in teens’ lives complicate things: School leaders must now decide which tools to give students access to and which to bar from schools. However, if we principals look beyond isolated incidents, we will discover how using social media thoughtfully can increase student learning and help us reach out to our communities. ! Along with other leaders at Burlington Public Schools in Massachusetts, I’ve begun seizing the potential of social media. I’ve found using social media helps my teachers and me do all our jobs better. Only a few years ago, Burlington High School didn’t allow cell phones in classrooms; in fall 2011, we became the first high school in Massachusetts-and one of the first in the United States-to distribute iPads to all our students. ! A major reason we were prepared to adopt iPads throughout the school in a way that benefited learning was that our teachers had formed connections with other experts across the country-through social media. By forming an online professional learning network of educators who were working in classrooms where every student had a web-enabled device, we gained insights into best practices with teaching with iPads. The network has continued to grow and improve our staff’s facility with technology. ! But this isn’t an article about iPads or technology integration. It’s about how my school became willing to look at the social media resources many tively. It’s important for leaders to use social media both to model good use for students and to take advantage of unprecedented opportunities to reach out. Building Digital Citizens ! Ultimately, our job in schools has always been to prepare students for what they’ll face when they leave our schools and transition to college or the workplace. Most school and district mission statements allude to preparing students to be responsible citizens. But school leaders need to face the fact that we’re not teaching responsible citizenship and modeling appropriate use of digital resources. The bottom line: Schools cannot teach appropriate use of digital communication tools if we don’t allow students access to these tools. ! Burlington’s students are learning to use social media and technology responsibly by contributing to the school’s progress in integrating technology into classrooms. We have a student-run help desk open throughout the school day, with students available to assist teachers and students with technology-related questions. This help desk is a course that students can take for credit. It takes advantage of our students’ expertise in using social media resources and prepares students to help their peers and teachers troubleshoot any issues they have with their devices. ! Our student technology team keeps a blog (http://bhshelpdesk.com) that posts reviews of new resources and “how-to” videos that walk people through tools like Facebook pages. This help desk class prepares our students to do the kind of innovative work with technology they’ll need in order to perform in the new global economy, as Tony Wagner1 has argued. Five essential practices that Wagner posts as key for education innovation-collaboration, multidisciplinary learning, trial and error, creating, and intrinsic motivation-are at the heart of this course. Page 9!! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! Delivering the (Good) News ! Social media are having a big influence on the way people and institutions deliver and receive news. Tools like Twitter and Facebook have displaced traditional media as the places where many people get news first. In the last few years, we’ve seen a revolution in Egypt fueled by a Facebook page and real-time Twitter feed chronicling Hurricane Sandy. Principals need to start using these resources to share school news. ! Principals now have the ability to put out positive news from our schools daily, rather than sit back and wait for the news media to show up. At Burlington High, we harness social media to provide a more transparent look at what’s happening with our classrooms. We put out all school news through a blog (http://burlingtonhigh.blogspot.com); Twitter account; and Facebook page. We haven’t sent out a print newsletter or press release to the local newspaper in years. Instead, local news outlets stay on top of the happenings at our school by checking our school’s social media outlets and following up when a story interests them. We are the source of breaking news from our schools. ! This became clear to me last year when I noticed that the Boston Globe has a direct feed from my blog and our Twitter account-and those of our superintendent-running on its website. Talk about transparency! ! People and groups can harness social media tools to create positive change because these resources connect individuals who share a passion for a particular cause. In the Burlington School District, our shared cause is to highlight as many of the positive happenings in our district as we can, including stories of how we’ve integrated technology and social media into our schools. ! Burlington’s students, parents and teachers enjoy the increased communication that these resources afford our school community. Our school blogs; Twitter accounts (including our school and district hashtags, which enable people to have a voice 24/7); and our school and district Facebook pages keep stakeholders connected. ! Recently, these resources allowed us to get additional stakeholder evaluations and school handbook ! ! Spring 2014 changes. In 2011, when Burlington’s shift to using more technology tools began, we were considering lifting our ban on cell phones. We used our reverse 911 system to call all the homes in our district to let people know what we were proposing and let stake holders weigh in. We took this feedback into account as we changed our policy (to, indeed, lift the ban). ! Our Burlington High School and district “Alert” Twitter accounts are reserved for emergencies. Parents and students who follow these accounts can get text messages sent directly to their cell phones without getting a Twitter account. During a few crisis situations, such as when the school received an anonymous written threat in 2009, Burlington parents had instant access to information and a place to have questions answered swiftly. This saved school administrators hours that in the past we would’ve spent answering phone calls from parents and news media. More important, parents’ anxiety was lessened. Supporting Teachers ! The main question many administrators have is, Where do we start? There are a number of sources school administrators can go to get a handle on steps for getting started with tools and resources like Twitter, RSS (really simple syndication) feeds, and so on. One great place to go is the International Society for Technology in Education’s standards for administrators (www.iste.org/standards), which provide concrete ways school administrators can show competency in five areas of leadership, connected to technology use (visionary leadership, digital age learning culture, excellence in professional practice, systemic improvement, and digital citizenship). ! A key starting point is to ensure that teachers no longer look at technology as an add-on, but as integral to their jobs. This requires training and support. One of our first steps was to arrange a whole-staff “tweet-up” during one of our professional development days at the beginning of the school year, which gave everyone a firsthand example of how Twitter works. ! (Continued on Page 10) Page 10! ! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! To get staff members comfortable with a variety of social media tools, Burlington offers teachers formal and informal sessions for learning how to use the resources available to them. The sessions are optional, but teachers can earn professional development points and inservice credits for attending. We offer more than 90 sessions to choose from during the three professional development days we provide teachers just before the school year starts. Typically, we offer a formal, detailed “how-to” session on a topic like Twitter or blogging that gives teachers the basics. We follow up by providing informal times during which teachers can try the tool out with colleagues who’ve previously used it and talk about best practices. ! These informal sessions are some of our most valuable professional development efforts. During our three-day professional development conference at the start of the school year, we dedicate time for teachers to get together and work with social media and other digital resources at their own pace, with our student technology team there for support. ! The innovative qualities Tony Wagner says future workers will need have become evident throughout Burlington High since we started using social media tools. Teachers and students now collaborate with other eager learners from anywhere at any time-accessing and learning with experts in subjects they are passionate about. “Social” media is also learning media. ! We principals will never get staff and students to employ social media tools for higher-level learning if we don’t use the tools, for basic communication at least. It’s simply a step principals need to take. 1Wagner, ! ! ! Spring 2014 Don’t miss the 2014-2015 Professional Development calendar beginning on Page 13! Champions for Children T. (2012). The global achievement gap, New York: Basic Books. Used with permission: Educational Leadership Vol. 70, No. 7, April 2013 Issue Patrick Larkin ([email protected]) is the newly appointed assistant superintendent for learning for Burlington Public Schools in Burlington, Massachusetts; for the previous five years, he was the principal at Burlington High School. www.nhsaa.org Page 11! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! ! ! ! Spring 2014 tive correlation with students eligible for free and reduced lunch. We also know that non-poverty stuBy Daniel Domenech dents attending a school with a high concentration of ! Several months ago, AASA poverty are adversely affected while poverty stucollaborated in the develop- dents attending a school with a low concentration of ment of a study authored by poverty thrive. Poverty does not affect intelligence although an impoverished environment can affect a Elaine Weiss, the national child’s ability to concentrate and focus. The Federal coordinator of the Broader, government needs to return to the role that it was inBolder Approach to Educatended to play in our educational system, leveling tion (BBA). The study, the playing field by providing formula grants to sys“Mismatches in Race to the tems education our children in poverty. Top Limit Educational Improvement,” concludes the The Advocate. April 2014 lofty goals established by Daniel A. Domenech, the AASA Executive Director, serves states in order to receive federal funding will not be as national spokesperson and advocate for public educaachieved because of “lack of time, resources and the tion, superintendents and other school system leaders. He tools to address opportunity gaps.” provides thought leadership in the education arena ! The BBA report cites the 2013 Council on Forthrough public appearances, media interviews and pubeign Relations Renewing America Progress Report lished articles. He is also the chief executive officer for the and Scorecard which acknowledges “the real scourge association and staff liaison to the AASA governance of the U.S. education system - and its greatest comstructure. petitive weakness-is the deep and growing achievement gap between socioeconomic groups that begins early and lasts through a student’s academic career.” ! The federal government has a role to play. The Fast Fact Elementary and Secondary Education Act was an attempt to level the playing field. A formula was cre! Parents often chaperone field trips and donate ated to distribute federal dollars to schools based on classroom materials to schools, the degree of poverty. The concept has been altered but a recent survey found that by the Obama administration through the use of teachers have other volunteer competitive grants such as Race to the Top. These needs. More than 60% of teachgrants are awarded to states and school districts that ers surveyed wanted parents to comply with the administration’s policy directives. tutor students and help with ! The models that states and districts were forced homework, according to the to adhere to by Race to the Top ignore the poverty survey of 1,000 parents and educators conducted by factor. Rather than focusing on out-of-school influWeAreTeachers and VolunteerSpot. And 44% would ences which impact learning, schools are left to adlike volunteers to prepare learning centers, which are dress extraneous variables, such as the evaluation of designated areas of the classroom where students teachers and principals, and the turning over of work on tasks in small groups. And 50% of teachers schools to charters and private management firms. say they could use in the classroom parent volunteers ! As of 2010, the child poverty rate for Black chil- who could teach computer skills to students. dren was 38 percent, followed by American Indian ! Some 73% of parents who do not regularly volchildren at 34 percent with Hispanic children at 32 unteer cite work conflicts. The survey authors sugpercent. The poverty rate for white students was 13 gest that those parents could work on classroom percent. Not surprisingly, the lowest-performing websites or newsletters from home, and video chat high schools have the highest number of low-income with students who need extra help in reading or students where 40 percent or more of the students are math. eligible for free and reduced lunch. Used with permission: District Administrator Magazine ! We know that performance on the National AsVol. 49, No. 10, October 2013 Issue sessment for Educational Progress has a high nega- The Advocate Page 12! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! NHSAA Membership Support Services ! ! ! ! The New Hampshire School Administrators Association offers its members districts the following three categories of high-quality, timely and economical services. (Pricing includes a 30% discount to NHSAA members). ! ! ! Spring 2014 Thank You to our 2013-2014 Business Affiliates ! It is through their special contributions that we are able to offer high quality professional development to educators throughout our region. Members are encouraged to acknowledge appreciation at the next opportunity. ***BENEFACTORS*** ★Educational Facility Planning... •Conduct an assessment of educational facilities •Review and analyze prior facility and/or program studies •Complete “Educational Specifications” •Perform other facility/educational related studies •Develop profile of number and type of rooms or spaces needed to! accommodate enrollment growth and program needs ★Educational Consulting Services... •Complete an organizational study •Assess staffing needs •Evaluate program offerings •Other services as required by members ★District-Based Professional Development... ! ! ! ! Workshops on: “Learning Styles” “The Purposes of Education” “Evaluation/Assessment Perspectives” “The Art and Science of Leadership” ! Work sessions can be designed to meet time constraints, ranging from a keynote address to a twohour after school session to a multi-day institute or retreat. Special programs can be arranged on topics related to technology or other areas of interest. ! All revenue generated from services supports the work and mission of NHSAA. Additionally, a consultant team will be tailored to meet your needs and will include the executive director of NHSAA and educational experts. Please feel free to contact Mark at (603) 225-3230, toll-free at (866) 753-4479 or e-mail him at [email protected]. Bernstein Shur, Andru Volinsky (603) 623-8700 Champlain College, James Garner (802) 383-6604 Criteria Furniture & Equipment, Donald Wilson (603) 926-4444 HealthTrust, Inc., Darlene Simmons (603) 230-3327 Honeywell International, Inc., Jim Lucy (603) 433-2758 Lifetouch National School Studios, Michael von Redlich (888) 882-4515 NH School Health Care Coalition, Lisa Duquette (800) 562-5254 Northpoint Solutions, Kellie Ljungholm (603) 224-5555 Primex3, Ty Gagne (603) 225-2841 Siemens Industry, Inc., Tom Seekins (207) 885-4115 SmartEDU, Inc., Thong Phamduy (978) 459-1241 ***SPONSORS*** Lawson, Persson & Weldon-Francke, P.C., Edward Larson (603) 528-0036 Learning Sciences Marzano Center, Stacy Penna (603) 397-9880 Liberty Mutual, Scott Anderson (888) 398-8924 Soule, Leslie, Kidder, Sayward & Loughmann, PLLC, Gordon B. Graham (603) 898-9776 ***FRIENDS*** Banwell Architects, Ingrid Nichols (603) 448-3778 Drummond Woodsum (603) 433-3317 Energy Efficient Investments, Inc., Thomas LoPizzo (603) 423-6000 MSB, Dan Courter (800) 618-3111 Upton & Hatfield, LLP, John F. Teague (603) 224-7791 Page 13! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! ! ! ! Spring 2014 New Hampshire School Administrators Association Celebrating our 73rd Year of Service to the Children of New Hampshire ! Professional Development Program 2014-2015 Contents: Schedule and Program Descriptions Season Ticket Registration Individual Program Registration Form NHSAA is working every day to be New Hampshire’s leading provider of high quality professional development to educators. Programs and registration available online at www.nhsaa.org Page 14! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! ! ! ! Spring 2014 New Hampshire School Administrators Association Professional Development Schedule 2014 - 2015 All sessions begin with an 8:00 a.m. registration Full-day programs run from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and half-day programs run as posted 1,2)! August 12 & 13, 2014 – Tuesday and Wednesday – Holiday Inn – Concord, NH “5th Annual NHSAA Collective Bargaining Retreat for Management” (Attendance is open only to eligible members of NHSAA and their invited guests.) Presenters: NH’s Top Attorneys, Experts in Health Care, and Featured Speakers ! In response to member requests, NHSAA will be offering its fifth annual “Collective Bargaining Retreat for Management” two-day workshop designed to provide system administrators an opportunity to learn together and share best practices in advance of beginning bargaining efforts. Topics will include: an update on new law changes and hearing decisions, a discussion on health care practices, impact of Affordable Health Care, local experiences with reducing costs for health insurance, status of retirement system changes, creative new strategies for bargaining, early retirement strategies, RIF-ing, teacher evaluation as part of CBA, strategies for focusing an impact on learning, ideas on “measuring effectiveness” of leaders and teacher performance evaluation, and selling agreements – do’s and don’ts. ! ! 3)! ! ! 4,5)! September 10, 2014 – Wednesday – Grappone Confernce Center – Concord, NH “Social Media Use by Educational Leaders” Presenters: Various Experts ! Specially designed workshop day aimed to demonstrate and practice why and how educational leaders can use social media tools to improve communication and community relations effectiveness. In an age of increasing use of various forms of technology for communication, educational leaders need to become more aware and comfortable in using new and emerging tools. ! ! September 24 & 25, 2014 – Wednesday & Thursday – Grappone Conference Center – Concord, NH “2014 Best Practices on Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment in New Hampshire” Cosponsored by the NH Department of Education An in-depth update on the current status of the curriculum development and its implementation in NH schools and outstanding assessment practices, co-sponsored by the NH Department of Education and the New Hampshire School Administrators Association. This year, a prime focus of Wednesday will be on leaders’ roles and Thursday on practitioners’ roles in improving learning. Participants will engage in a discussion with national and regional experts, as well as NH educators, designed to understand the components of these initiatives and examples of good practice in NH schools. The conference will also feature exhibitors from leading companies. Page 15! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! ! ! ! Spring 2014 6)! ! ! October 8, 2014 – Wednesday – Grappone Conference Center – Concord, NH "The Annual Bradley F. Kidder Educational Law Conference" Presenters: New Hampshire School Attorneys ! New Hampshire’s top school attorneys will highlight new developments in school law on the topics of new laws, collective bargaining, privacy, use of media, school finance, personnel, special education, and more. This workshop is sponsored annually by the New Hampshire School Administrators Association (NHSAA), the New Hampshire Council of School Attorneys (NHCSA), and the New Hampshire School Boards Association (NHSBA). 7,8)! ! ! October 30 & 31, 2014 – Thursday & Friday – Grappone Conference Center – Concord, NH "14th Annual Best Practices Conference on School Operations, Finance and ! Business Leadership” Presenters: Members of NHSAA and NHASBO, New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration, Practitioners, Attorneys, Auditors, and more ! Our annual two-day statewide work session sponsored by the New Hampshire School Administrators Association (NHSAA) and the New Hampshire Association of School Business Officials (NHASBO) includes presentations of best practices in developing general leadership practices, living with limited resources, management of risk, presenting and marketing school budgets, new national health insurance issues, financial management, emergency planning, facility design and management practices, bond issues, and other timely topics. Presentations will center on new developments in collective bargaining, state law, auditing requirements, data collection, state financing practices, school safety, lease purchases, Department of Revenue Administration, federal funding, and the sharing of successful “Best Practices.” ! This program will feature a detailed discussion of educational funding for fiscal year 2016 and beyond, an update on state policy issues, and an opportunity to visit with leading exhibitors. 9,10,11)! ! December 2 - 4, 2014 – Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday – Radisson Hotel – Manchester, NH "28th Annual Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference" ! New England’s largest technology in education conference includes nearly 200 concurrent sessions focusing on the use of technology in all aspects of education. In addition, approximately 90 exhibitors from across the country will showcase their latest products and services. The New Hampshire School Administrators Association and the New Hampshire Affiliate of the International Society for Technology in Education sponsor this three-day event. As of this printing, this year’s nationally recognized keynote speakers will be: Sylvia Martinez, Ken Shelton, and Rushton Hurley. Don’t miss this great event! Visit www.nhcmtc.org today for more detailed information. Page 16! 12)! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! ! ! ! Spring 2014 February 2, 2015 – Monday – Holiday Inn – Concord, NH "Legislative Priorities, Part One – 2014-2015" – **1/2 Day Program** – 8:00-11:30 a.m. (Attendance is open only to eligible members of NHSAA and their invited guests.) Presenters: State Elected Officials ! A half-day program designed to inform members of critical new legislative issues being considered in the new session of the 2015 Legislature, meet legislative leaders, share new research, discuss member issues, and review legislation on the web. 13)! ! March 9, 2015 – Monday – Holiday Inn – Concord, NH "2015 Best Practices in Personnel Leadership" Presenters: New Hampshire Educators, State Agency Leaders, Attorneys, and Practitioners ! An important annual session for leaders in personnel management that includes presentations of best practices in developing, supervising, compensating, evaluating, hiring, and discharging of employees. Presentations will center on new developments in state law and regulations and the sharing of successful strategies, policies, and practices. 14)! ! March 30, 2015 – Monday – Holiday Inn – Concord, NH "Legislative Priorities, Part Two – 2014-2015" – **1/2 Day Program** – 8:00-11:30 a.m. (Attendance is open only to eligible members of NHSAA and their invited guests.) Presenters: NHSAA Staff and members – Member only meeting ! A half-day program designed to inform members of critical new legislative issues being considered in the new session of the 2015 Legislature, discuss NHSAA positions, and plan strategies. ! ! ! ! Please note: Registration fees are non-refundable and subject to regular billing unless WRITTEN cancellation is received at least 7 days prior to the event. See next page for season ticket information. Please contact the NHSAA office for more information or visit our website at www.nhsaa.org. NHSAA 46 Donovan Street, Suite 3 Concord, NH 03301 Toll-free phone: 1-866-753-4479 Fax: 603-225-3225 E-mail: [email protected] Page 17! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! ! ! ! Spring 2014 The 2014-2015 NHSAA Season Ticket ! The 2014-2015 Season Ticket provides an opportunity for you to attend ALL of the 12 full-day professional development opportunities PLUS two half-day information sessions. Registrations for full-day sessions are $150.00 and registrations for half-day session are $85.00. All sessions include coffee, continental breakfast, and complete conference materials. Full-day sessions also include lunch. Each Season Ticket is the equivalent of 1 seat at each of the sessions offered. This represents a unique and valuable way to deliver timely, high-quality professional development to your administrative team and potential future leaders. 2014-2015 Season Ticket Costs are: $1,800 for one ticket (1 seat at each of the different sessions offered – a savings of $170 over regular ticket purchases) $3,600 for two tickets (2 seats at each of the different sessions offered – a savings of $340 over the regular ticket purchases) $1,700 each for three or more tickets (3+ seats at each of the different sessions offered – a savings of $810+ over the regular ticket purchases) 2014-2015 NHSAA Season Ticket Registration Form SAU #:____________________(if applicable) Purchase order number:__________________________________ Name of person ordering:_____________________________ E-mail:_______________________________________ Billing Address:__________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Please Note: Each season ticket holder will receive a letter of confirmation and an invoice. In order to ease the record keeping process, to promote accurate registration counts, and to allow for personalized name tags, participants are requested to register for each conference individually when it is advertised. Cost of NHSAA Season Tickets: 1 ticket $1,800.00 2 tickets $3,600.00 Additional tickets (3+) $1,700.00 ea. Total Number of Tickets_________ Amount Due $_____________ Please Mail or Fax the Registration Form to: NHSAA Bow Brook Place 46 Donovan Street, Suite 3 Concord, NH 03301 Fax number: 603-225-3225 Page 18! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! ! ! ! Spring 2014 Individual Program Registration Form 2014-2015 (Please use a separate form for each person attending. Copy as necessary.) Title of Conference:______________________________________________________ Date(s) Attending:_______________________________________________________ Name:___________________________________Position:_______________________ SAU#:_______________________School:____________________________________ Address:_______________________________________________________________ City:________________________________State:_________Zip:_________________ Phone:_________________________E-mail:__________________________________ Cost: $150.00 - Full Day Conference per person $ 85.00 - 1/2 Day Conference per person (applicable to conferences 12 & 14 only) Please note: Registration fees are non-refundable and subject to regular billing unless WRITTEN cancellation is received at least 7 days prior to the event. Billing Instructions: (Please check one) A Check Is Enclosed Apply Season Ticket Bill District Please fax or mail this form to: NHSAA Bow Brook Place 46 Donovan Street, Suite 3 Concord, NH 03301 Fax: 603-225-3225 Register online for a season ticket or an individual session at: www.nhsaa.org Page 19! ! ! ! CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN! ! ! ! Spring 2014 It’s Free…It’s Powerful…It’s Connected www.EDjobsNH.com Visit the largest web based vacancy service for ALL educational employment opportunities in New Hampshire. The site is operated exclusively for New Hampshire’s public school districts. Search, review and apply on-line Free! Teaching Positions Elementary School ~ Kindergarten - Grade 6 Middle School ~ Grades 5 - 8 High School ~ Grades 9 - 12 Administrative & Support Positions Central Office ~ Superintendent - Assistant Supt. Business Managers - Directors - Coordinators Accounting & Clerical Staff Building Level ~ Elementary Principals & Support Staff - Middle School Principals & Support Staff High School Principals & Support Staff Paraprofessionals ~ Building & Grounds Staff ~ Cafeteria Workers ~ Classroom Aides From Keene to Portsmouth & Pittsburg to Nashua serving Public School Districts across New Hampshire For more information contact NHSAA toll free 866-753-4479 Best wishes for a restful summer! NH School Administrators Association Bow Brook Place 46 Donovan Street Concord, NH 03301 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Prsrt. Std. U.S. Postage PAID Concord, NH Permit #82 Spring 2014 Newsletter Check it out, it’s FREE! www.EDjobsNH.com New Hampshire’s fastest growing web-based vacancy service for ALL educational employment opportunities!!! Spring 2014 NHSAA NEWSLETTER
