April 7, 2008
A very special thanks to our guest bloggers!NSBA and BoardBuzz would like to thank the following bloggers for the time they donated to the blog and the great perspectives they offered on the conference. Thank you!
Andrew C.M. Mizsak
Bedford City School District (Ohio)
Brian Wheeler
Albemarle County Public Schools (Virginia)
Jennifer Abell
Charles County Public Schools (Maryland)
John Boerger
Lake Stevens School District #4 (Washington)
Molly O’Holleran
North Platte Public Schools (Nebraska)
Rich Benson
Mount Prospect District 57 (Illinois)
Rich Parker
South Whidbey School District (Washington)
Terri Sharpp
Lindop District 92 (Illinois)
Tom Reed
Loudoun County Public Schools (Virginia)
Sandra Smith-Jones
Virginia Beach City Public Schools (Virginia)
Posted by Christina Gordon, NSBA Staff, at 12:08 PM | About this Weblog
April 1, 2008
In Appreciation to NSBAIn Appreciation to NSBA
Some additional thoughts about the Annual Conference
This topic was supposed to be the basis of my previous post, but obviously my passion got the best of me, and I went down a different path.
Congratulations to now-NSBA Past President Norm Wooten (Alaska), now-President Barbara Bolas (Pennsylvania), and Executive Director Anne Bryant and the entire NSBA Team for putting on a great conference here in Orlando.
Continue reading "In Appreciation to NSBA"
Posted by Andrew Mizsak, Blog Team, at 2:09 PM
Final Conference Thoughts: It was great!Continue reading "Final Conference Thoughts: It was great!"
Posted by Andrew Mizsak, Blog Team, at 10:20 AM
Magna 2008 Awards Program: Good Featured Speaker, Wrong VenuePeabody Hotel Plaza A-D Monday, March 31,2008
The American School Board Journal annually showcases award-winning projects and outstanding programs that are examples of excellence in school governance. The 2008 Magna award winners were fantastic! (www.asbj.com/magna)
Lorna Donatone, president of corporate sponsor Sodexho School Services (www.sodexhoUSA.com), spoke eloquently in praising the Magna award recipients. The accolades and monetary gifts were much appreciated. The distinctive programs in these outstanding schools can translate into similar success in your school districts.
Following the meal, Linda Perlstein, author of Tested: One American School Struggles to Make the Grade, documented the difficulty in tapping into creative and innovative educational programs due to the stringent requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). What should have been a celebratory and inspiring speech was a talk of frustration and needed reform to the federal mandates of NCLB. The venue was inappropriate!
I would recommend that NSBA and the American School Board Journal select a speaker who has the knowledge and experience of a district that has aspired to greatness. Wouldn’t it be a great tradition to have one of the previous year’s grand prizewinners speak briefly of how their district became more effective leaders? The past award winner could share how their district still makes school more relevant, breaks down barriers for English Language Learners, improves health and wellness, increases high school graduation rates, or engages their community. This is what attendees at Magna award luncheons want to hear and celebrate.
The Magna award winners share practical advice on how their districts solved pressing problems. The following districts made inspiring school reform during 2008. We salute you!
Grand prizewinner under 500 enrollment, The Santa Ynez (Calif.) Valley Union High School Board created a program that outfits their students with Global Positioning Systems, Geographic Information systems and other tech tools to serve their community in mapping sea cliffs in Isla Vista and retracing the Fremont Trail.
Grand prizewinner in the 5,000 to 20,000 enrollment, the Clarke County School District, in Athens, Ga., created a program to reduce the high dropout rate symptomatic of intergenerational poverty. It also brings back students who have already dropped out with flexible schedules, job training and childcare and parenting classes.
Grand prizewinner in the over 20,000-enrollment category, the Cherokee County School District of Canton, Ga. offers high school programs that fit the needs of the economically diverse student population. Nontraditional middle and high schools were created to meet the needs of students facing academic challenges or disciplinary issues. Another high school allows students to take night school. Gifted students can take advantage of joint-enrollment classes with local colleges.
We salute the grand prizewinners and the other thirty school districts that have taken bold steps to advance student learning. It was inspiring to be in the presence of such greatness!
Molly O’Holleran
2008 NSBA Blogger
North Platte Public Schools
North Platte, Nebraska
Posted by Molly O'Holleran, Blog Team, at 6:05 AM