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March 29, 2008
Understanding Student AspirationsFocus on Understanding Student Aspirations: Enhancing the Learning Environment
Saturday, March 29, 2008 3:45 P.M.
What makes a conference fun? It is the combination of learning new concepts, networking with other board members and superintendents, and (if you’re lucky) listening to someone who makes you laugh out loud while you’re being told some difficult truths. Positive change occurs when district leadership thoughtfully considers student, staff, and parent perceptions of school culture and climate.
Over the past twenty years Russell Quaglia (See http://www.qisa.org/about.php) has surveyed over 500,000 students and staff. Quaglia sums up his findings this way: “When administrators, teachers, and students become full partners in schools, self-worth is deepened. Everyone becomes more actively engaged in the teaching and learning environment. A sense of purpose permeates the efforts of all participants.”
Quaglia’s eight conditions that make a difference in student achievement fall into three categories: Self Worth (including belonging, heroes, and a sense of accomplishment), Active Engagement (including fun and excitement, curiosity and creativity, and spirit of adventure) and Purpose (including leadership and responsibility, and confidence to take action.) What surprised me is how important being recognized, supported, and valued contributes not only to a good climate but also to student and staff achievement.
In some ways Dr. Russell Quaglia’s three precepts parallel Dr. Willard R. Daggett’s three themes of Relationship, Rigor, and Relevance. (See http://www.leadered.com/) Both gentlemen base their hypotheses on research that provides a community-wide, common sense approach to increasing student learning, student achievement, and student success.
Posted by Molly O'Holleran, Blog Team, at 3:28 PM | Educational Sessions & Workshops
Meeting new Friends is a Convention HighlightOne of the best parts of coming to an NSBA convention is meeting board members, superintendents, and family members from other areas. In just a few minutes, you can learn a lot aboout school districts in other parts of the country. It helps make the bus rides or waiting in line more enjoyable. Since arriviing at noon yesterday, I've met some fantastic folks from Texas, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, Alabama, and even Florida. I'd like to meet folks from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and any US Possessions. We have many common problems, but we also have a common goal, 'improving the education of our nation's children'.
Posted by Tom Reed, Blog Team, at 3:12 PM | Orlando | Comments (1)
Blogging Increases Board Member's Community VisibilityConsultant and freelance writer Craig Colgan and school board members Brian Wheeler and Jennifer Abell provided a wonderful overview about blogging. They spoke to an over-flow crowd about this new and powerful tool. Craig's Blog Municipalist discusses blogging issues while Brians' Blog, SchoolMatters, and Jennifer's, Ready, Willing and Abell , deal with their school board issues. Everyone was encouraged to use blogs as another way to communicate with parents. If you have questions about blogging, these are the folks to contact!
Posted by Tom Reed, Blog Team, at 2:35 PM | Educational Sessions & Workshops | Comments (2)
Reading...and lots of itContinue reading "Reading...and lots of it"
Posted by Andrew Mizsak, Blog Team, at 12:32 PM
National Advocacy Networks Congressional LuncheonFeatured speaker Ken Kay opened the luncheon session by endorsing state partnerships with 21st Century Learning. 21st Century Skills promote economic stability and personal success in the United States. Anyone is welcome to explore Route 21 on their web site (www.21stcenturyskills.org). The Framework for21st Century Learning model looks like a half rainbow resting on four steps. Check it out.
The rate at which information is changing has created the need for a new educational model. Every twenty-four months the amount of technical information doubles. It no longer is enough just to know information. The questions become where do I find information and how do I work with information once I find it? The trend for current students will be three to five careers per lifetime.
Kay focused on federal and state legislation. Board members and superintendents can become federal advocates to spread the word about the relevancy of these skills. Legislative Bill S1483 (the Rockefeller Snow Legislation) is the 21st Century Incentive Fund. It provides a federal match for states who are part of this partnership. Nine state partnerships exist. Ask your governor and state commissioner of education if they would support this partnership in your state.
NCLB doesn’t come to terms with national assessment of many 21st century skills including technology competency. Kay sees NCLB being revised to include measurement of these global benchmarks. School systems need to emphasize critical thinking and problem solving. Our K—12 educational pedagogy and assessments must be in alignment with relevant career options that may not even exist at the current time. Our students will be competing with other students internationally for jobs. Funding should support education that prepares students for working and living in our changing global economy.
Posted by Molly O'Holleran, Blog Team, at 11:32 AM | Special Programs & Events
Got Gangs?I'm still thinking about the session I attended yesterday about gang prevention and intervention. Khaldun Everage, Gang Specialist for Chicago Public Schools made a huge impression on anyone who was in attendance. As part of CUBE's pre-conference programming, his energy and enthusiasm for a topic that is tough to handle was amazing. Mr. Everage's presence and style is engaging and he never let the school board members and others in the room grow bored. The message is clear--the gangs are almost everywhere and if you think they're not in your school system, whether your urban, suburban, or rural, you're wrong.
Gangs are powerful and they're getting more sophisticated. Mr. Everage stressed the importance of listening, not just as school board members, but every level of staff in the schools needs to listen to what students are talking about, from teachers to cafeteria workers. Popular culture often celebrates gangs and even those who many view as positive artists are still flashing symbols or perpetuating gang life. This was an afternoon that will be hard to forget.
Posted by Kevin Scott, NSBA Staff, at 11:19 AM
CUBE in the MorningCommunity Advocacy and Parental Engagement is clearly what will move a school to higher heights meaning achievement and accreditation. However, when the Parental Engagement is absent what is a school to do? Go to the community and build partnerships just don't complain, invest in parent liasons, just don't complain, invite college stduents to mentor or tutor, just don't complain.
If the mission is important then the message should be too - Get involved for the children's sake.
Urban districts continue to face problems with assigning students to schools where students want to actually attend. Sometimes it is overcrowding or sometimes oversubscription. The answer some say is to duplicate what is going on in the oversubscribed or overcrowded school in strategic areas throughout the districts.
Posted by Sandra Smith-Jones, Blog Team, at 10:47 AM | Special Programs & Events
Music to MotivateThe high-powered Concert Jazz Band from Westside High School in Omaha, NE provided quite a treat for conference attendees during the first general session the Annual Conference. The group, from the Westside 66 district, is easily one of the top jazz bands in the country.
Even more special was the band's encore performance as part of the Luncheon Concert Series.
Kudos to the band and their director for their hard work and energizing the conference!
Posted by John Boerger, Blog Team, at 10:43 AM | Conference Daily
Improving the Public Image of Your Board SessionThis was a very good session. The presenters were engaging as they explained the perception the community had, and the image they looked to create. The marketing efforts undertaken to improve this image were extensive. They included hosting expert speakers (covering professional learning & bullying prevention), opening of a state-of-the-art learning center, the creation of a leadership academy (for both teachers and administrators), a T-Shirt project (for 5700 students and staff), a new website, TV & radio advertising, as well as others. Their results were impressive! Rising ACT scores, better teacher and staff recruitment, legislator interest in the district, and a new "virtual school" for alternative learning. Overall, a wealth of information!
Continue reading "Improving the Public Image of Your Board Session"
Posted by Rich Benson, Blog Team, at 10:16 AM | Conference Daily
Lots to help school boards make informed decisons about health issues at this NSBA conferenceThis year's conference is providing a great opportunity for school board members to learn about a wide range of health issues, their impact on learning, and policies and practices that will make a difference for students and their success in school.
Posted by Brenda Greene, NSBA Staff, at 9:45 AM | Educational Sessions & Workshops
A Morning Chock-Full of InformationContinue reading "A Morning Chock-Full of Information"
Posted by Andrew Mizsak, Blog Team, at 8:38 AM | Conference Daily
Seeing the SchoolsCUBE is one of the groups that has pre-conference meetings before the NSBA Annual Conference, and about 50 school board members visited three different Orange County Schools on Thursday. I went along for the ride and got to see hands on some of the great things that are happening in Orange County. Our morning started off with a briefing from the school district where superintendent Ronald Blocker emphasized that academic rigor is the most important component for his district. He encourages all students, regardless of their background or family situation to strive for academic success. I visited Jackson Middle School, where Dr. Joseph Miller and his staff have embraced the AVID program (Advancement Via Individual Determination). AVID is tough, but worth it. Students go through an application to determine their likes, dislikes, and where to focus their attention. These students are often those who have the “potential” stamp put on them, but lack the structure and the support system to know how to get from potential to college (yes, they talk about college in middle school). All the subjects are taught, but Dr. Miller and his staff work in a unique way so that the students are active and engaged. They’ve been so successful there, they were named an AVID Development School and are accustomed to men and women coming in to eaves drop and see what’s happening.
Dr. Miller emphasized that his staff has complete buy-in with AVID and are eager to learn more about how to help the students at Jackson through regular staff development. Jackson also has an IB program for middle grades and as we visited classrooms we could see student work that incorporated higher level thinking and encouraged personal exploration for students. Tutors brought in from high schools and local colleges helped in a math class and as we disrupted classes the day before their spring break, students were still on task and working well. It’s encouraging to see that at any school, but one that has a high poverty rate and student turnover is especially important. It was evident that the students there were learning and engaged and Jackson clearly is a school that shows hard work and a great staff create success for students.
Posted by Kevin Scott, NSBA Staff, at 7:49 AM | Special Programs & Events
Making Meetings MatterI had the pleasure of attending one of the Early Bird sessions called Making Meetings Matter. The presenters were from the Illinois Association of School Boards and it was very informative with wonderful attendee participation and discussion. Here's some of the highlights...
Ingredients of a Successful Meeting
1. A focus on board work
2. Effective participation by individual members
3. Effective leadership by the presiding officer
4. Efficient procedures for transacting routine business
5. Well-understood rules of order
6. Legal compliance
7. Good record keeping, both minutes and policies
8. A mutually supportive relationship with the superintendent
9. Procedures for policy making and other board functions
10. Public participation that is orderly, democratic and constructive
Continue reading "Making Meetings Matter"
Posted by Jennifer Abell, Blog Team, at 6:23 AM | Special Programs & Events
A brush with greatnessLast night was really a thrill. During the Leadership Reception (with NSBA officers, Board of Directors, and state presidents), an unexpected guest dropped in. As I was waiting for the receiving line to greet the officers, a colleague brought a familiar face to step in front of us. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor had decided to join the reception.
She was wonderful! Justice O'Connor spent time chatting with reception attendees, and when Anne Bryant introduced her, she was gracious enough to speak to the crowd. She thanked the school board members for the work they do on the behalf of children to make education better -- and she acknowledged what a difficult job school board members have.
This blogger was not only moved, but inspired. For more inspiration, be sure to go to Justice O'Connor's General Session later this morning.
Posted by Christina Gordon, NSBA Staff, at 6:13 AM
Districts' teacher quality strategies: learn, discuss and shareTeacher quality is the most important school-related factor in raising student achievement, which means recruiting and retaining outstanding teachers should be a top priority for every school district. But that may be easier said than done. Join two members of NSBA's Advocacy office Sunday from 3:45 p.m. - 5 p.m. in the convention center's W311G for an interactive session, "Because Teachers Matter: Effective Strategies for Strengthening Teacher Quality."
We'll take a look at why this issue continues to gain prominence in policy circles, the impact of federal legislation, and key lessons learned from district and state experiments, followed by a discussion among board members of their own district's efforts to strengthen teacher quality.
Posted by Marc Egan, NSBA Staff, at 12:40 AM | Educational Sessions & Workshops