Seven standards for effective professional development

The best teacher professional development happens in collaborative learning communities.

Terms like “work collaboratively,” “share what you know,” and “problem-solve as a team” are commonly associated with the kinds of 21st-century skills that most people agree today’s students should learn—but according to a professional development expert with decades of experience in the field, those terms should apply to teachers, too.

During the American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on Education, Stephanie Hirsch, executive director of Learning Forward (formerly known as the National Staff Development Council), discussed how her organization has redefined its standards for teacher professional development to keep up with what is being expected of today’s students.

“What we mean by PD is not some one-off seminar,” Hirsch said. “So many times I hear people say, ‘This was a waste of time. Nothing changed.’ Well, … PD is only as good as its implementation. So let me tell you what we know: PD [should be] ongoing, and it means teachers collectively sharing the responsibility for all students—from grades to lesson plans—and that happens by implementing teacher teams that meet up regularly.”…Read More

Author: Only community can save public education

Fewer than 20 percent of U.S. taxpayers have children in public schools, says author Jamie Vollmer—and that shows a need for school leaders to be proactive in reaching out to the community.

Think of it this way: Would you support a presidential candidate you knew nothing about? What does this candidate think about taxes? How is this candidate helping those around him? What does this candidate believe in, and heck, what’s his favorite food? Well, said Jamie Vollmer, a businessman, author, and supporter of public education, wouldn’t people like to know how their local schools worked, too?

Vollmer, president of Vollmer Inc., author of Schools Cannot Do It Alone, and opening keynote speaker at the American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on Education, argued that both education leaders and U.S. citizens understand that it’s about educating the whole child and that there needs to be reform.

However, the people’s perception is that reform should come through the firing of school leaders and teachers, because that’s the rhetoric being peddled. Yet, school leaders and teachers know that reform needs to occur by changing an antiquated system that’s still focused on mass rote learning for testing and a one-size-fits-all-approach to learning.…Read More

AASA 2012: Facing some of education’s toughest challenges

AASA 2012: "Big Conversations, Big Solutions."

The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) will launch its annual Conference on Education on Feb. 16 in Houston, Texas.

This year’s conference will focus on “Big Conversations, Big Solutions,” as attendees focus on issues such as budget shortfalls, student achievement, and collaboration.

Conference breakout sessions are organized into different focus zones to help attendees make the most out of the conference.…Read More

Expert: Federal school reform plan is wrong

Some experts suggest that the nation's approach to school reform is headed down the wrong path.

The president is wrong. Arne Duncan is wrong. The media are wrong. Many state administrators are wrong: This was the message on the current state of school reform in a Feb. 18 keynote session at the American Association of School Administrators‘ National Conference on Education.

You wouldn’t expect to hear these inflammatory statements boldly pronounced by a woman who looks more suited to serving lemonade to grandchildren than inspiring hundreds of attendees at 8 a.m. amid the mountainous backdrop of Colorado.

With her elegantly cropped gray hair, string of pearls, and deep blue eyes on a petite face lined with years of experiences, Diane Ravitch, research professor of education at New York University and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, had a few choice words on how current tough tactics supported by federal policy to encourage school reform are harming education rather than supporting it.…Read More

AASA focuses on teamwork, collaboration

AASA attendees affirmed their commitment to helping deliver top-notch education to students.

Nothing makes people come together in good spirits like unexpected warm weather in a terribly cold season, and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) took advantage of this by focusing on the importance of teamwork and collaboration during its 143rd annual Conference on Education in incredibly balmy Denver, Colo.

With sunny skies and a temperature of 55 degrees, attendees gathered at AASA’s opening session to discuss, among other things, how AASA’s mission statement has changed to reflect the modern superintendency.

Instead of focusing on professional development, which the organization says is still important, the statement now reads: The mission of [AASA] is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children.”…Read More

Meet our 2011 Tech-Savvy Superintendent Award winners

eSN’s 2011 Tech-Savvy Superintendents were selected for their dedication to student learning and technology implementation.

Partnerships with local businesses to provide free Wi-Fi for students … a virtualization project that reportedly has saved $1.5 million in energy costs … an instructional content repository so teachers can share lessons, activities, and assessments: These are among the many impressive ed-tech accomplishments of our 2011 Tech-Savvy Superintendent Award winners.

Sponsored by SMART Technologies Inc., RM Educational Software, JDL Horizons, and K12 Inc., the 11th annual Tech-Savvy Superintendent Awards recognize senior school district executives from around the nation who best exemplify outstanding leadership and vision in using technology to advance their district’s educational goals.

“Research shows that technology can facilitate better teaching and learning, but only when used judiciously,” said Dennis Pierce, editor of eSchool News. “And that starts at the very top, with strong district leadership. If you start with a clear vision for how to implement technology effectively, and you make sure your staff is well trained and supported, and you seek to transform instructional practices to leverage technology’s full potential, then technology really can empower education. And that’s what the winners of our annual Tech-Savvy Superintendent Awards are doing.”…Read More

Roughly half of U.S. superintendents to retire soon

A new report examines how the superintendency is changing.

Today’s school superintendents are more likely than they were 10 years ago to be women, and to be older—and nearly half are planning to retire in the next five years, according to a study released by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA).

“The American School Superintendent: 2010 Decennial Study” is based on a survey of nearly 2,000 superintendents from school districts across the U.S. It examines historical and contemporary perspectives on the superintendency, characteristics and demographics of superintendents and their districts, superintendents’ professional experiences and relationships with school boards, the nature of the school superintendent role itself, and the social and political climate in which a school superintendent works.

The survey suggests that a diverse knowledge of many subjects, including law, finance, and technology, is desirable for today’s superintendents, who face myriad challenges in leading the 21st-century school system.…Read More

The Great Education Conversation

Click here for up-to-date AASA conference details.

The sky’s the limit at the National Conference on Education–the premier destination to learn new approaches and to challenge your thinking. At this conference, you will get a 360-degree perspective from public school systems large and small, urban, suburban and rural, and you’ll have the opportunity to talk to your peers face-to-face about their best practices. You will also hear from a host of nationally renowned speakers who are leaders in the field of public education. Challenge your thinking as you explore innovative solutions, and make professional connections that will elevate your career. Join us for three days in Denver–rejuvenate your passion for education and take home concepts that will help your district strive toward a new summit.

Click here for the most up-to-date AASA conference news.

…Read More

AASA’s 2011 conference will focus on innovative practices

AASA's conference aims to help school leaders excel.

The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) kicks off its 2011 National Conference on Education on Feb. 17 in Denver, Colo. This year’s conference will focus on the “Great Education Conversation,” and will highlight how groups outside the public school system have supported and criticized the traditional education framework.

Speakers and sessions will aim to move past criticism and blame to examine the accomplishments and successes of teachers and students. Debates will focus on methods to identify innovative concepts to improve schools.

Alan November, senior partner in November Learning, will lead a session titled “Transforming Schools: From Technology to Information and Global Communications Planning.”…Read More

Leadership in focus at annual AASA conference

eSchool News honored the 10 winners of its 2010 Tech-Savvy Superintendent Awards.
Education leaders from coast to coast gathered in Phoenix last month for the American Association of School Administrators' annual conference.

Educational leadership was the focus of the American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on Education in Phoenix last month.

One outstanding leader, Harlem Children’s Zone CEO Geoffrey Canada, provided a sobering wake-up call for U.S. policy makers, while another, National Superintendent of the Year winner Elizabeth Morgan, discussed the keys to her district’s success.

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Arne Duncan called for a change in how the nation’s school superintendents are prepared, saying their training should be more relevant to the challenges they’ll face in their jobs every day.…Read More

Superintendent of the Year shares the keys to her success

Morgan credited software from Performance Matters for helping school leaders track student progress toward academic goals.
Washington County, Md., Superintendent Betty Morgan credited her district's use of technology in helping track students' progress toward academic goals.

For National Superintendent of the Year winner Betty Morgan, who pilots the helm of Maryland’s Washington County School District, technology is integral to a school system’s efficiency.

Morgan’s district, whose 22,000 students come from areas ranging from urban cities to rural Appalachian communities, is considered an example of excellence for other districts to follow.

Forty-one percent of the district’s school-age population qualifies for the federal lunch program. Yet Morgan—who is in her ninth year as superintendent of Washington County—has been able to increase the district’s graduation rate and reduce its dropout rate through the development of a student-focused strategic plan.…Read More

Tech-savvy superintendents honored in Phoenix

Editorial Director Gregg Downey of eSchool News poses with Eric Conti, one of the 2010 TSSA winners.
Editorial Director Gregg Downey (left) of eSchool News poses with Eric Conti (right), one of the 2010 TSSA winners.

Snow wreaked havoc with travel plans in several U.S. states last week, but the sun was shining in Phoenix on Feb. 11 as eSchool News honored 10 superintendents who are among the nation’s most successful in leading their schools into the 21st century.

The occasion was eSchool News’ Tenth Annual Tech-Savvy Superintendent Awards, sponsored by K12 Inc., the Pearson Foundation, Promethean, and JDL Horizons’ Eduvision. The winners were honored at a private ceremony held in conjunction with the Century Club 100’s annual meeting during the American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on Education.

Winners were nominated by the school field and then chosen by the editors of eSchool News with the help of Tech-Savvy Superintendent laureates from prior years.…Read More