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Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.

What are your reasons to celebrate this school year?

We can all agree that the challenges we’ve seen in the last two years are unprecedented. However, when we consider all that’s happened and all that we’ve learned, there is also much to celebrate.

We can celebrate because students are back in school. We can celebrate the fact that libraries and librarians are in the spotlight. We can celebrate the fact superintendents no longer have to moonlight as meteorologists to call a snow day because we can deliver instruction virtually. 

We can’t forget specific challenges and controversies, though—we’ve argued about masks, vaccines, and books. Teachers are leaving the profession. Librarians are facing criminal consequences over their collections. District leaders are attempting to navigate an increasingly political landscape where it’s becoming nearly impossible to please everyone. …Read More

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The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) Announces New Regional Directors

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 30, 2021) – The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) has elected Pedro Rivera and Dr. Frank Rodriguez to its Board of Directors. Rivera, who is the former Pennsylvania Secretary of Education and currently serves as president of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Pennsylvania, was named the Director of Region 6 Northeast. Rodriguez, who is superintendent of the Beaufort County School District in South Carolina, was named director of Region 7 Southeast.

ALAS announced the appointments during the ALAS 18th Annual National Summit in October. As regional directors, Rivera and Rodriguez will support the work being done by the ALAS State Affiliates in their respective regions. Region 6 Northeast includes the Washington DC area, New York, and Pennsylvania. Region 7 Southeast includes Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

“Our regional directors are an incredible resource for school and district leaders in their regions,” said ALAS Executive Director Dr. Maria Armstrong. “President Rivera and Dr. Rodriguez understand the education issues that impact the Latino community and have long histories of educational leadership. We look forward to their support of our state affiliates and the Latino-serving leaders in these regions.”…Read More

Civil Rights Activist Sylvia Mendez to be Special Guest at ALAS Linking Latina Leaders Event Feb. 19

Civil rights activist Sylvia Mendez will join the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) for their February networking event, Linking Latina Leaders [L3]. The free event to ALAS L3 members and their guests, takes place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. EST on Feb. 19, 2021 and addresses the theme: “Breaking Barriers to have an Inclusive Equitable Education.” To register, visit http://bit.ly/ALASL3Feb.

The event is facilitated by ALAS L3 members Patricia Trejo, Dr. Patricia Ordoìnez-Feliciano.

“Our Linking Latina Leaders events focus on our female members and leadership development – to connect, and for those who may be interested in joining ALAS to network with members nationwide and gain a better understanding of the ALAS vision, mission and goals in leading our most marginalized and students of color ,” said Dr. Maria Armstrong, executive director of ALAS. “We are incredibly excited and looking forward to hearing from Sylvia Mendez, an inspiring leader and trailblazer in education, at our February event.”…Read More

ALAS Applauds the Appointment of ALAS Member Dr. Miguel Cardona as U.S. Secretary of Education

The Association of Latino Administrators & Superintendents (ALAS) applauds the appointment of ALAS member Dr. Miguel Cardona to the position of U.S. Secretary of Education.

“Dr. Cardona’s appointment is a breath of fresh air for educators across this country,” said ALAS Board President Dr. Francisco Duraìn. “I am so proud that President-elect Joe Biden has selected someone with experience in public education who will bring the issues of educational equity for all students to the Department of Education.”

ALAS, which has more than 7,000 members in 23 states, sent a letter to President-elect Joe Biden earlier this week supporting the nomination of Dr. Cardona, who currently serves as Connecticut’s Commissioner of Education. He is also a member of the Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents.…Read More

Curriculum Associates Sponsors the 2020 ALAS Scholarship Awards to Support the Professional Advancement

For the sixth consecutive year, Curriculum Associates has partnered with the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) to support the professional advancement of Latino administrators by helping them earn advanced degrees in education. This year’s ALAS Scholarship Award recipient, Luis Murillo of Center Consolidated School District 26JT in Center, Colorado, will receive $10,000 to support his continuing education as he works toward his ultimate goal of becoming a district superintendent.

“Since the inception of the ALAS Scholarship program, Curriculum Associates has been alongside us every step of the way,” said Dr. Maria Armstrong, executive director of ALAS. “Annually they provide one worthy ALAS member with a $10,000 scholarship to pursue their doctorate degree at a school of their choice. The expansion of Latino/a/x leadership across our nation is paramount to the educational system and to our youth. This type of commitment is not only rare, but it is also a testament to the mutual alignment of values and core beliefs that makes this partnership longstanding. Curriculum Associates is a true partner, and for that we are grateful.”

Murillo, an experienced educator and champion of all students, is currently pursuing a doctoral degree through the American College of Education and aspires to become superintendent in the near future. Murillo double majored with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and psychology from Adams State University, earned his master’s degree in Counselor Education, and later began his career as a school counselor and Spanish teacher at Ortega Middle School in Alamosa, Colorado. After serving at the school for seven years, he was hired as the principal of Skoglund Middle School in 2013, where he has focused on equity and access for all students. At the state level, Murillo is a delegate of CO-ALAS and has spearheaded a southwest conference in order to seek and connect Latinx leaders across the state. Nationally, Murillo is a recent graduate of ALAS’ Superintendent Leadership Academy Cohort 9.…Read More

Making access and equity a reality for diverse students

Large school districts in different parts of the United States have now developed systematic ways to increase diverse students’ access to advanced courses, and the districts are also providing other important aspects of equity, including an education that prepares the students for 21st century careers.

During a recent edWebinar, hosted by AASA, The Superintendents Association and AASA’s Leadership Network, Dr. Christine Johns, Superintendent of the Utica Community Schools in Michigan, and Dr. Ann Levett, Superintendent of the Savannah-Chatham Public Schools in Georgia, explained how their districts were achieving better outcomes for their student populations and offered recommendations for other district leaders.

Related content: Did you know online learning can lead to equity?…Read More

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Support the Nation’s School Leaders Navigate 2020-2021

mindSpark Learning, a Denver-based national nonprofit dedicated to empowering educators with industry-oriented professional learning experiences, announced today the launch of reSOLVE, a three-part series designed to help district and school leaders across the U.S. mitigate the new paradigm of teaching and learning in uncertain times.

School districts across the nation are evaluating mixed in-person and remote learning teaching strategies for the 2020-2021 school year and must be prepared to pivot quickly depending on the course of COVID-19. reSOLVE brings together district superintendents, assistant superintendents, curriculum directors, principals, assistant principals and deans to develop or fine-tune their contingency plans for the upcoming school year with the support of industry experts.

reSOLVE is free for all participants. The series leverages mindSpark Learning’s robust equity-centered design thinking process to ensure participants engage empathetically with their stakeholders in their decision making and develop responsive blueprints. Its collaborative structure connects leaders with other school districts and provides a way to network with others across the country. In three sessions, reSOLVE participants will:…Read More