Friday, July 29

High School:

• Updated book inventory numbers as students suddenly find books once their parents get fined
• Spoke with an elementary principal about allowing students there to participate in a research study regarding gifted children and literacy
• Scheduled a Colonial Day planning meeting for September
• E-mailed Renzulli Learning about a pilot program, spoke to a representative on the phone, and then submitted information for the quote
• Met with a high school teacher regarding the AP Economics curriculum. We do not agree on a few things about the curriculum so it got a little heated, but I held my ground to make sure things are done right.
• Spoke with the intermediate school principal about REACH teachers' schedules and concerns I have about them teaching too many different courses.
• Sent an e-mail to a teacher about the Renzulli Learning pilot
• Did some reading about a Florida district that is experimenting with using iPads instead of textbooks which led me to an online education reform symposium. I forwarded the information to the Superintendent.

 

Board Office:

• Prepared a social studies program evaluation proposal and submitted it to the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction
• Spoke with a representative from Maps101.com
• Submitted my monthly report

Thursday, July 28

Board Office:

• Developed a proposal for a CEU (Continuing Education Unit) for the fall called "Using Technology to Facilitate the 4 Cs: Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, Creativity." I spent most of my day reviewing possible resources for this course, which is based on a session I attended at Confratute.
• Forwarded information about a possible professional development opportunity related to minority students and gifted programs.
• Reviewed elementary REACH teacher schedules in preparation for a meeting with the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel.
• Reviewed a memo written by the Supervisor of Math.
• E-mailed the director of my region of NJ ASCD to volunteer to get more involved as one way to expand my Emerging Leaders experience.

Wednesday, July 27

http://hillsborough.patch.com/articles/social-studies-supervisor-selected-as-emerging-leader

 

Board Office:

• Met with the Superintendent on my way in to talk about the ASCD Emerging Leaders program. Apparently, the article in the local online newspaper caught the eye of a Board member and so it was discussed at last night's Board meeting.
• Responded to an elementary REACH teacher about the logistics of participating in a research study with the University of Virginia.
• Checked NJASK8 scores of students who were on the waiting list for English I Honors placements (since the English supervisor position is currently vacant). Shared the results with the Director of Guidance and mailed letters to the parents of students who are now eligible for Honors.
• Responded to a middle school teacher's request for a teacher's edition of a textbook.
• Attended 3 hours of CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training. More information about CERT is available at http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/. As part of a grant we received, all administrators are required to be certified. There are already 150+ staff members in the district who have gone through the program. This will include CPR, AED, and first aid certification as well as instruction in basic fire suppression, triage during mass casualty incidents, etc.
• Submitted a purchase order for Barnes & Noble and coordinated with the people in purchasing to ensure that I did these purchase orders correctly. My secretary normally handles this sort of thing, but she does not work in the summer.
• Began putting together a reference sheet about the digital geography resources we began subscribing to last year. I think these are an important part of our modern classrooms, but few teachers took advantage last year so I want to make it as easy as possible.

Tuesday, July 26

Board Office:

• Forwarded some resources for economics and financial literacy to the teacher teaching AP Economics
• Cleaned up around the office. Beginning August 8, a massive reorganization of the central offices will take place moving many people around. Although my office is not moving, I still need to do much of the cleaning because they'll be repainting all the offices.
• Worked on putting together all the documentation I need to request reimbursement for my two conferences this month
• Sent a request to the Business Administrator to transfer funds to cover additional textbook purchases
• Spoke with the AP Economics teacher on the phone about how we can meet the financial literacy state mandate within the AP Economics setting
• Spoke with the other teacher writing AP Economics curriculum about feedback and/or concerns
• Reviewed the McKinsey Report on education reform
• Reviewed the AP Economics curriculum and provided feedback to the curriculum writers

Monday, July 25

Board Office:

• Sent information about attending an AP Institute to the teacher who will begin AP Micro/Macroeconomics in the fall
• Forwarded information about a student teacher placement request to the high school teachers
• Responded to questions from an elementary REACH teacher about a research opportunity
• Sent final grade information to the database manager
• Provided feedback to the teachers writing the AP Economics curriculum
• Researched prices, obtained quotes, and started a PO for additional AP Economics texts due to increased enrollment
• Sent an e-mail to the coordinator of social studies education at Rutgers University about a book that she is writing in response to a teacher's question and forwarded follow-up information to the teacher
• Did some research on global education facilitators that might be cheaper or more flexible than Trillium Learning with whom I met last week

Tuesday, July 19

Board Office:

• Met with the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and other supervisors to discuss a development that will lead to the rehiring of a supervisor for Visual and Performing Arts.
• Discussed my impressions of last night's Board of Education meeting with the Superintendent.
• Responded to a parent request to meet to discuss concerns about her daughter's experience in World History Honors this past year and an appeal for the daughter to be allowed into US History I Honors despite not meeting the grade requirement.
• Processed supply orders that arrived.
• Sent out information to all REACH teachers about piloting Renzulli Learning next year.
• Met with the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction to discuss my Confratute experiences.
• Did some reading about AP Economics to help guide my review of the curriculum that is being developed.

 

High School:

• Met with the parent mentioned earlier. I did not grant an appeal, but I do think the concerns regarding the teacher have merit. However, bringing them to me now, after the school year has ended, does not allow me to do much about them.

Monday, July 18

Monday, July 18

 

Board Office:

• Worked on the paperwork for reimbursement from last week's Confratute
• Forwarded information about Congress in the Classroom to potentially interested teachers
• E-mailed teachers about books they requested
• Coordinated the extension of an online course with the Director of Guidance
• Responded to a parent's question about a missing textbook
• Responded to a question requesting placement in an AP class
• Forwarded information to elementary REACH teachers about participating in a research study
• Responded to an e-mail about training for the Community Emergency Response Team
• Forwarded a question about a co-teaching partnership to the Supervisor of Special Services
• Prepared to meet with representatives from Trillium Learning (www.trilliumlearning.org)
• Graded a make-up final exam
• Forwarded exam grades to the database manager
• Along with the Director of Technology, met with Trillium Learning. This group facilitates an online platform for students in the United States to work together with students in China and Taiwan. At a cost of $16,500 per school per year, we are going to investigate some other options for this type of meaningful global education.

L2L - Saturday

Saturday, July 23

8:30–10:00 a.m.	Breakout Sessions ·                                 Tips and Best Practices for Engaging Workshops and Events (Washingtonian III) ·                                 Engage the senses – color, graphics, video, text, sound ·                                 Livebinder – place to share files with participants to go paperless ·                                 Engage the mind – collaboration, application (make sure the content is useful for the participants), meaning making (engage participants in activities so they can make their own meaning of the content), differentiation (use pre-assessment), follow-up ·                                 Activity – Trio Dialogue - What does it mean for me? What does it mean for we? ·                                 Idea from discussion and presenter – ask attendees to plan for events by doing some kind of preassessment about what they expect to get out of the events, which sessions they should attend, and how they will reflect on their participation to make it meaningful ·                                 Differentiating Professional Development is important ·                                      Level 1 – Awareness or introductory ·                                      Level 2 – Skill development ·                                      Level 3 – Implementation ·                                      Level 4 – Institutionalization Practices ·                                 Next we did an activity where we rotated from table to table to talk about how we could implement some ideas in our PD events. However, it wasn't particularly effective for me because it was difficult to focus in large groups and there was not a great protocol for rotating from place to place. ·                                 Engage the emotions – debate, empathize, develop scenarios, address authentic issues ·                                 Use protocols for discussions, reflections, etc. within district – consider Protocols for Professional Learning from ASCD - http://tinyurl.com/3ckxlbm fda
10:00–10:20 a.m.	Break and Checkout
10:30–11:00 a.m.	Gallery Walk (Grand Dominion Ballroom)
11:00 a.m.–Noon	Role-Alike Sessions ·                                 Emerging leaders and OYEA cadre (Washingtonian II) ·                                 Timeline: ·                                 July – L2L ·                                 August – online interest inventory, matched with coach/mentor ·                                 September – invited to LILA, introduced to liaison to create a plan for outcomes of the program, attend orientation web seminars ·                                 October – turn in plans for outcomes ·                                 November – invited to Annual Conference Great, open dialogue about how we all want a real role in shaping the direction of education and how we want ASCD to offer us a real seat at the table to be a part of this. The facilitator (who is new to the position in ASCD) did a great job but there is clearly a disconnect between the desire to truly lead among our group (which includes people in huge leadership roles around the world) and the feeling of being potential future leaders.
Noon–12:45 p.m.	Lunch (Fairfax Dining Room)
1:00–3:00 p.m.	Closing General Session (Jeffersonian Ballroom)
3:00 p.m.	Adjourn

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L2L - Friday

Friday, July 22

7:00–7:45 a.m.	Breakfast (Fairfax Dining Room)
8:00–8:30 a.m.	Opening Remarks (Jeffersonian Ballroom)
8:30 a.m.–Noon	General Session: Revolutionizing the Way We Learn (Jeffersonian Ballroom)   This was an interesting approach that worked really well. Although a 3 ½ hour session seems daunting, the time moved by quickly with a nice coffee and snack break in the middle.   The session was facilitated by The Next Institute (http://thenext.ca/). A central facilitator worked with a violinst and a troupe of four improv actors to portray different situations and experiences related to education, leadership, and revolutionary change. It is hard to capture it all here, but there was quite a bit of interaction among the audience members and many participants joined the performance by telling a story or jumping into the middle of a scene. Contrary to expectations, no one was forced to participate so people like me could observe and take it all in while others jumped into the action.   As I talk to people from a variety of backgrounds, roles, and geographical areas, I find that I really need to develop my vision for education and where I think things should go. I go about my day to day work and do a good job, but I don't think I do a great job of thinking years ahead to where things need to be and what steps I need to be taking to get to that imagined destination.
Noon–12:45 p.m.	Lunch (Fairfax Dining Room) Lunch was great just like the previous meals although I ate way too much. This was a theme at UConn last week too. I think I just need to let go of the idea that I should be taking advantage of all the interesting tastes that are available.
1:00–2:00 p.m.	Breakout Sessions and Open Space ·                                 Leading Transformation (Washingtonian III) ·                                 Kim Carter, Executive Director, QED Foundation ·                                 www.qedfoundation.org   Microlab activity – structured conversation using timed prompts (1 minute to reflect, each member of pair gets two minutes to talk/listen) What drew you into education? How did you get to your present work? What keeps you coming back? -helping provide students with the kinds of experiences I had -did well in school and liked the school setting -teaching, encouraged by my own supervisors/mentors, taking chances and putting myself into situations that led to opportunities What is non-negotiable for you? What will you go to the wall for? -high expectations -fair and equitable opportunities How do your answers to those questions influence/inform your leadership style and beliefs? -opportunities for vanguard teachers -challenge and support -recognize great things that are going on   This could be an activity to do with teachers on the first day to learn more about their motivations.   Leadership = taking responsibility for what matters to you   Motivation: Two Kinds Peter Senge – Aspiration or Desperation Only aspiration can be sustained over the long term   Richard Lavoie Drivers: Belief that the goal is worthwhile Belief that one can achieve the goal Belief that the investment of time and energy is worth the final achievement Our job as leaders is to manage these drivers among people with whom we work. Transformational Leadership: Building collective will, knowledge, skill, and capacity Narrowing the gap between beliefs and practices In service of shared moral purpose   System Drivers – Michael Fullan Wrong: Accountability Individual teacher and leadership quality Technology Fragmented strategies These are not bad things but they cannot be the primary drivers that make the real change. Right: Intrinsic motivation Continuous instructional improvement Teamwork "Allness"   Rank – "Sitting in the Fire" by Arnold Mindell Ali would like to read this!   Transformational chart this is similar to our PLC paradigm shift concept but it shows us as not even being as far along as we think we already are
2:15–3:15 p.m.	Breakout Sessions and Open Space ·                                 ASCD Award Winners: Let's Hear Their Story (Grand Dominion V & VI) Luis Torres – Outstanding Young Educator Award – Bronx, NY http://www.ascd.org/news-media/Press-Room/News-Releases/2011-Outstanding-Young-Educators.aspx http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1879418898569 Deb Miller – Affiliate Excellence Award - President of Arkansas ASCD      Focus is on influence; programs, products, and services; communications; leadership and governance      Work with other professional organizations to support joint work to maximize on limited school money and time and to ensure a singular message Mary Wolf – Affiliate Excellence Award – President Elect, Pennsylvania ASCD      Create Learning Academies in the areas of Curriculum & Supervision to help administrators meet state requirements for continual learning      Increased membership      Increased corporate sponsorships Quest Early College High School – Vision in Action –  Humble, Texas http://www.humbleisd.net/qhs Criteria – Whole Child = healthy, safe, engaged, supported, challenged      Started when district gave a group of four teachers a year off to design their ideal school after traveling the country and doing research      Tenet #1: Healthy Lifestyle           Innovative wellness program           Promotes body, skill, and social fitness           Students set personal fitness goals      Tenet #2: Intellectually challenging, safe environment           ASPIRE: Promote College Readiness skills           Cognitive skills           Foundational skills           Intensive student support system      Tenet #3: Active engagement and connection to community           Service learning every Friday in community (3 hours instead of classes)           Service learning projects in the classroom           Senior internships           Senior social action      Tenet #4: Personalized learning with access to caring mentors           Family (small group of 25 students with 2 facilitators that meets for 40 minutes minimum per day), advisory (one-on-one meeting between students and facilitator that meets once per week), strong relationships, tutoring, small environment      Tenet #5: Prepared for success in college, further study, employment           Early College acceleration program, Life After High School program, senior exhibition, senior internships

 

3:30–4:30 p.m.	Role-Alike Sessions ·                                 Emerging leaders and OYEA cadre (Grand Dominion I & II) The ASCD Story Our group decided that we needed a way to keep in touch and support each other once we leave the weekend so I created a Facebook group. Excellent conversation with people sharing their concerns about what our role in the organization is really supposed to be. People are motivated and ready to take on leadership in ASCD and in the national education landscape. Now we want and need a direction to move in. It's great to be around other people who are similar!
4:45–5:30 p.m.	Express Mentoring (Grand Dominion Ballroom) This session was supposed to be an opportunity for the Emerging Leaders to go around "speed dating" style meeting various people in ASCD leadership roles at the national and affiliate levels. However, it seems that many people left after the previous sessions to head into DC for dinner so there weren't many "mentors" available for us to talk to. Add the fact that there was no way to know which people were fulfilling which responsibilities so it was challenging to find people to chat with who were in relevant roles. For instance, I still have not met the President of the New Jersey affiliate even though I know she is here.
5:30–7:30 p.m.	Dinner (Fairfax Dining Room)
7:00–8:00 p.m.	Emerging Leaders/Student Chapters Social (Grand Dominion V & VI) This was an ice cream social for the Emerging Leaders and a few people who were here from university-based chapters. A group of the people I had been hanging out with went out to Trader Joe's and picked up their own wine and beer. I met up with them for about a half an hour and then hung out in the pub with a friend with whom I traveled to Australia and New Zealand on a People to People trip in 1994. We had a few beers and caught up. From there I headed to bed, but it turns out the group was up in a little corner of the lobby area until 3:30am so I could have met up with them again after my friend left, but I think it was probably a better idea to get some sleep!

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L2L Day 1

Role-Alike Session

Emerging leaders and OYEA cadre (Grand Dominion I & II)

 

My table:

• Matthew – Memphis, TN – county district supervisor of English
• Patricia – Monterey, CA
• Blanca – El Paso, TX
• Rich Katz - Clinton, NJ – superintendent and principal (Class of 2010 Emerging Leaders)

 

Facilitated by Kevin Scott, Director of Constituent Services

Kevin.scott@ascd.org

@KevinASCD

Kevin Scott (Ascd)

 

Two summer memories:

 

As a child – bike riding with my friend all day and night, meeting up with people from the neighborhood for random games like wiffle ball

 

As an adult – DCI tour throughout the United States in 2002

 

We had to go around introducing ourselves to people we've never met before (including today) using these stories as a way to break the ice. I met people from South Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Argentina.

 

This is kind of a cool conference because every one of the 36 Emerging Leaders is here with no connection to any other person who is here. We also have the group that was selected last year. It's also really cool because I'm around other young people in leadership roles. I can't count the number of times this past year where someone commented on my being young when I introduced myself as the social studies supervisor.

 

Why are we here?

• Movement of youth to pump up the rest of the organization
• Open Space – a unique way of solving a problem
• Goal Setting
• Think about where we are going

 

Who are we?

• From 20 different jurisdictions (states, provinces, countries)
• A growing program that was established in 2005

 

What to do?

• Advance ASCD's positions on whole child, policy, healthy schools, and the core messages of learn, teach, and lead

 

Spoke with a veteran Emerging Leader (Rich Katz) about previous experiences. He is on the legislative team that comes to D.C. each January to set the organizations priorities and lobby. He also reviews manuscripts for proposed ASCD imprint books.

 

Collectively create a question that the group is interested in...

• Has to help the entire group

 

Reception, Dinner, & Post-Dinner Drink

 

This evening, we met in the beautiful rotunda of the hotel for a cocktail hour. I sat with a small group of other Emerging Leaders. It's nice to have a large group of young people with leadership roles in education. We compared notes on our experiences and got to know each other a little better.

 

I ate dinner (very good) with two people from South Carolina and one from Tennessee. The South Carolina group invited me to their room for a post-dinner drink where we continued chatting. A good night!