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Dec 22, 2009 |
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Midwinter Conference promises Rigor, Relevance and Relationships
...and plenty on Revenue, too
You can’t afford to miss the MASA January conference!
We know that in tough times, conference attendance is often one of the first line-items to be cut. But we firmly believe that NOW might be the most crucial of all times to attend the MASA conference.
The Conference Planning Committee will bring in pertinent key-note speakers, timely state and national updates, and clinic sessions to match requests from colleagues around Michigan.
We know you’ll find the 2010 Midwinter conference to be extremely valuable to your professional growth and networking needs.
Come to Detroit in January – you won’t be disappointed!
On behalf of the Conference Planning Committee,
Bruce Burger, Chairperson
Superintendent Gibraltar Public Schools
Conference Links
- Pre-conference events, January 27
(details coming soon)
1. Revenue Enhancement
2. Newer Superintendents Budgeting & Negotiations Workshop
3. Podcasting for Administrators
- Keynote Kickoff:
Leading Change in a High Reliability District Requires Courage and Commitment
James Eck, McREL (read bio)
Senior Director for the Leadership Workgroup in Field Services
- Featured speakers:
- Mike Flanagan, Michigan State Superintendent
- Robert Bobb, Detroit Public Schools
- Mark Bielang and Mary Kusler, AASA
- Brad Biladeau, MASA
- Peer-to-Peer sessions:
- Lead Forward—learn more and provide input to the end goals, action summary and talking points for each of 18 initiatives developed by the MASA Council.
- GenNet—learn about the status of the Genesee County seat time waiver. View materials, agreements, program descriptions and more. Hear success stories and how your district can participate. Offer ideas for future online learning opportunities.
- Lead Forward—learn more and provide input to the end goals, action summary and talking points for each of 18 initiatives developed by the MASA Council.
- Clinic sessions sure to hit the mark:
Budget & Finance- Understanding School Finance (Preconference for Newer Superintendents)
- Raising Revenue for Your District (Preconference)
- Changing Demographics & What Needs to be Done
- School Finance Update with Dave Martell, MSBO – offered twice
- Understanding Your Labor Costs and How to Impact Them with Tom White and Micki Magee, MASB
- School Facility Use by Outside Groups – Who Pays for it?
Managing change
- Consolidation – the Nuts & Bolts
- Strategic Planning – Deep Implementation, One Page Plan
- Right Sizing a District and Meeting Financial Challenges
- A System’s Approach to Leading to Positive Change
- Mastering Stakeholder Relations in Difficult Times
Leadership for Learning
- Follow-Up with James Eck of McREL – Execution of the District-Leadership Responsibilities and McREL’s “bonus finding”
- Common Prep & Block Resulting in Less Student Failure
- A Story of Transformation & Growth, Leadership Team Development and Collaboration to Raise Student Achievement and Close Gaps
- Data Informed Planning and Decision Making
- The Role of the Superintendent in Creating a System that Supports Teacher Leadership
- PLC’s Coaching for Learning and Monitoring the Results
Leadership & Governance
- Leadership Coaching: Benefits and Opportunities
- School Board Governance Fishbowl
- Update on Small and Rural District Issues with Don Wotruba of MASB and Mary Kusler of AASA
And more!
- Podcasting for Administrators (Preconference)
- Building Marketing Best Practices into Your District’s Website
- The War Against Boys: Is it Real in Your District?
- Healthy Buildings
- Learning Point Panel
- Courageous Journey Cohort Breakouts
- Learning Point Panel
Leader print edition arriving soon
The latest print edition of this newsletter should be arriving in your mailbox any day. The issue's theme is Courage, and also includes Midwinter Conference details and the full "Lead Forward" report.
Library of Michigan's 2010 Michigan notable books reflect our State’s legacy of perseverance
The Library of Michigan announced the list of the 2010 Michigan Notable Books – 20 books highlighting Michigan people, places, and events.
“This year’s selections prove that persevering through economic and personal hardship is nothing new for Michiganians, and that this enduring and independent spirit has a long, rich history in the Great Lakes State,” said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan.
The Library of Michigan museum store will carry the 2010 Michigan Notable Books and the books will also be available at the Michigan e-store at http://apps.michigan.gov/MichiganeStore/public/Home.aspx.
For more information about the MNB program, call 517 373-1300, visit www.michigan.gov/notablebooks or e-mail michigannotablebooks@michigan.gov.
2010 Michigan Notable Books
View descriptions
- American Salvage: Stories by Bonnie Jo Campbell.
- Annie’s Ghosts: A Journey into a Family’s Secret by Steve Luxenberg.
- The Art Student’s War: A Novel by Brad Leithauser
- Bath Massacre: America’s First School Bombing by Arnie Bernstein.
- Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford’s Forgotten Jungle City by Greg Grandin
- Have a Little Faith: A True Story of a Last Request by Mitch Albom.
- Isadore’s Secret: Sin, Murder and Confession in a Northern Michigan Town by Mardi Link.
- January’s Sparrow by Patricia Polacco.
- The Lost Tiki Palaces of Detroit: Stories by Michael Zadoorian.
- Michigan’s Columbus: The Life of Douglass Houghton by Steve Lehto.
- Nothing But a Smile: A Novel by Steve Amick.
- Orlando M. Poe: Civil War General and Great Lakes Engineer by Paul Taylor.
- Our People, Our Journey: The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians by James M. McClurken.
- Pandora’s Locks: The Opening of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway by Jeff Alexander
- Roses and Revolutions: The Selected Writings of Dudley Randall edited by Melba Joyce Boyd
- Season of Water and Ice by Donald Lystra,
- Stitches: A Memoir by David Small.
- Travelin’ Man: On the Road and Behind the Scenes with Bob Seger by Tom Weschler
- Up the Rouge!: Paddling Detroit’s Hidden River by Joel Thurtell
- When March Went Mad: The Game That Transformed Basketball by Seth Davis.
Michigan Notable Books is a statewide program that began as part of the 1991 Michigan Week celebration, geared to pay tribute and draw attention to the many people, places and things that make Michigan life unique. In that regard, MNB successfully highlights Michigan books and writers focusing on the Great Lakes State. Each title on the 2010 list gives readers insight into what it means to make your home in Michigan and proves some of the greatest stories are indeed found in the Great Lakes region.
This year's Michigan Notable Book selection committee includes representatives from the Library of Michigan; Borders Inc.; Cooley Law School; The Detroit News; Detroit Public Library; Grand Valley State University; Lansing City Pulse; Michigan Center for the Book; Michigan Historical Center; Schuler Books & Music; and the Traverse City Record Eagle.
The Library of Michigan is part of the Michigan Department of Education. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan.
SOS Update - Two New Videos for SOS!
SOS Michigan has posted two new videos for your viewing and use. The videos are intended to provide factual background information that will help your staff and community better understand the economic situation Michigan faces, and the alternatives for the future.
We encourage you to share them with your district’s union leadership, employees and with your school and community groups. You may reproduce them or link to them as you wish.
We believe the first step to solving our situation is gaining a common understanding among our diverse stakeholders. SOS will continue to produce these types of videos on a variety of topics for your use; please let us know if there are any specific issues you’d like to see, or any particular speaker who you feel has a message that should be shared.
Video #1: The Facts about Michigan’s Economy
Featuring: Jeff Guillfoyle, president of the Research Council of Michigan; Doug Roberts, former state treasurer and director of the Institute for Social Policy Research at MSU; and Doug Drake, senior policy analyst for Public Policy Associates and former tax analyst for the Michigan Department of Management and Budget.
This video provides an economist’s view of Michigan’s economy – how we got to this point and what’s likely for the future. You may view the 37-minute video in full, or watch individual speakers/segments. The video is intended to provide insights into Michigan’s current economic situation. The speakers-- three highly recognized experts--shared a perspective that Michigan is experiencing a different type of economic setback than in the past – we’ve lost more jobs and income than any time in recent state history, and that our climb back will be slower than in the past. The reduction in business activity and earnings also means that state revenues that are the basis for funding schools and other public services will rebound slowly. If nothing is done to change how schools and other services are funded, the state and our schools will receive less funding than in the past.
Video #2: The Facts about Michigan’s Taxes
Featuring: Charles Ballard, economist from Michigan State University
This video provides facts about taxes in Michigan, and expert opinion on how we can best change our sources of funding for education and state services. The presenter is Charles Ballard, a well known and respected economist from Michigan State University. He makes the case that Michigan isn’t a high tax state and that there are a number of changes we can make to create a more fair and balanced tax structure. He offers factual data to support his opinions and includes specific policy suggestions for the future.
Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA) December 14, 2010, named Olivet Community Schools superintendent David J. Campbell as the 2010 Michigan Superintendent of the Year.
Executive Director William H. Mayes visited the Olivet Community Schools (OCS) Board of Education meeting December 14, 2009, to announce that Campbell had been named 2010 Michigan Superintendent of the Year.
“This is a most prestigious honor,” said Mayes during the presentation. “You can be proud to have been chosen from a group of highly qualified nominees. It is clear to me—as it was to our selection committee—that Mr. Campbell is committed to providing a caring and academically challenging environment that prepares students to meet the challenges of a changing world.”
Campbell will receive an award plaque and address a gathering of more than 400 school leaders at the MASA Midwinter Conference in Kalamazoo during a noon luncheon event.
In November 2009, a panel of distinguished judges selected Campbell from a pool of about a dozen highly qualified nominees. The selection of the Michigan recipient is part of the American Association of School Administrator’s National Superintendent of the Year Program. As the MASA honoree, Campbell also became a finalist for the National Superintendent of the Year Award.
“We believe the attributes David Campbell possesses and his exemplary performance during 17 years of employment in Olivet qualify him as a viable candidate for Superintendent of the Year,” OCS Board of Education president Bethel V. Page concluded in her July 2009 nomination letter on behalf of the full board.
Mr. Campbell was selected by a distinguished panel representing Michigan’s various education stakeholders, including the Michigan Teacher of the Year, parents, business officials, school boards, principals, and higher education. MASA will recognize Campbell at its Midwinter Conference in Kalamazoo in January 2010. He will have opportunities throughout the year to address superintendents statewide, and his name will be inscribed on a commemorative plaque on display at the MASA office in Lansing.
The Superintendent of the Year Award is presented by MASA to one member who has shown tremendous effort and dedication to enriching the lives of children and the community as a whole. Mr. Campbell is recognized for his promotion of positive team morale, which has earned the respect of the students, staff, and community.
"Mr. Campbell is a compassionate professional who leads by example," said Page. "He is always concerned with the 'total student,' considering academic as well as social and emotional needs."
As evidence of Campbell’s quality leadership, nominators pointed to Campbell's skills at conflict resolution with a humanistic approach, while keeping the best interests of the district at the forefront of any decision that is made.
“He has dealt with several extremely difficult personnel issues during his tenure as Superintendent,” Page said. "Dave always leaves the staff member, community member, or student with their dignity intact. This is a truly remarkable trait.”
Campbell is being recognized also for his advocacy for putting students first—always. The Board cited his concern with the “total student,” caring about academic as well as social and emotional needs. They accredited this positive and safe learning environment as a key factor in his approach toward fulfilling the district’s stated mission to provide a caring and academically challenging environment that develops responsible citizens prepared to meet the changing demands of our society. His nominators contend that this culture of respect, along with two major facilities upgrades spearheaded and overseen by Campbell over his 9 years as superintendent, has led to steadily increasing enrollment without any formal marketing effort.
Finally, the Board acknowledged Campbell’s earned respect and influence beyond the school walls, where he maintains positive relationships with multiple stakeholders. Campbell is a frequent speaker at education conferences on topics as varied as finance reform and teacher/administrator evaluation. He is actively involved with MASA at the state and region levels, and frequently travels to Lansing to meet with legislators, the State Superintendent of Instruction, and even once with Governor Granholm.
“Dave’s work ethic is unmatched by anyone in our district,” said Page. “He is continually reading, doing research, taking graduate classes, attending seminars and conferences to improve himself as a leader, keeping Olivet Community Schools at the forefront of academic innovation."
Region 6 names Superintendent of the Year
For the other regional winners please see the December 11, 2009 print edition. The following story did not arrive in time for the publishing deadline.
Region 6 of the Michigan Association of School Administrators has announced its 2010 MASA Regional Superintendent of the Year Award recipient. Thomas Pillar, Superintendent of the Waverly Community Schools, will receive the Regional Superintendent of the Year Award at an event to be held in 2010.
The Regional Superintendent of the Year Award is presented by each of nine regions in the MASA organization to an individual who has shown tremendous effort and dedication to enriching the lives of children and the community as a whole. Dr. Pillar is recognized for his 41 years of service in education, eight of which has been in the Waverly Community Schools.
“The Board of Education is proud to see Dr. Pillar receive this award for his hard work and dedication to students over the last 8 years at Waverly,” said Waverly Board of Education president John Boughton.
Nominators point to Dr. Pillar’s leadership through a number of initiatives during his tenure at Waverly, which include: the district’s completion of a $49 million construction bond project, the installation of walkable trails and sidewalks through the "Safe Routes to Schools grant, and the transition to a new alternative education program, Ombudsman that has successfully graduated potential drop students.
“Even with the financial struggles, Dr. Pillar has managed to keep the District solvent, preserved student programs and maintained excellent instructional leadership allowing students to obtain high achievements and become fine citizens in the Waverly community,” said Region 6 president and Dansville superintendent Ron Stoneman.
MASA is a statewide association that represents the superintendents and first-line administrators of Michigan’s local and intermediate school districts. The mission of MASA is to develop leadership and unity within its membership to achieve the continuous improvement of public education in Michigan.
Midwinter Conference to Honor Retirees
MASA will honor members who retired since June, 2009, or who are planning to retire by June, 2010 at a luncheon to be held during our Midwinter Conference on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. The following persons will be honored:
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Each member will receive a Distinguished Administrator plaque. If there are others who are not listed above, would you please write, call or email Kristy Warner at: MASA, 1001 Centennial Way, Suite 300, Lansing, MI 48917-9279, 517.327.9262, email: kwarner@gomasa.org.
Retirees, Mark Your Calendars
MASEL Florida Luncheon – February 18, 2010
MASEL-FL plans to gather for its 46th annual meeting and lunch on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at the Peridia Golf and Country Club, 4950 Peridia Drive, Bradenton, FL. All MASA retirees who will be in Florida are urged to attend this meeting to catch up with old colleagues. The featured speaker will be Dr. Dave Gayler, Superintendent of Charlotte County Schools.
Spouses and friends of retirees are welcome at this meeting to enjoy the great location and lunch.
Reservation information will be mailed to all retired members with a Florida address on the MASA mailing list the first week in January.
MASA Executive Board elections
Petitions due February 1 for officers to the MASA Executive Board
In accordance with the MASA Constitution, individuals interested in seeking election for the upcoming open seats on the Executive Board must file petitions in the MASA office on or before February 1 of each year.
For the spring election, we will have four positions on the ballot:
- President-elect, commencing July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.
- Director 2010-2011—continuation of the Director term through June 30, 2011 (currently held by Mary Vratanina who was appointed to the seat due to the passing of Geoffrey Balkam).
- Director 2010-2013 (two seats)
To be placed on the ballot a candidate must designate the seat they are running for and file petitions signed by ten active members in good standing, from at least three different MASA regions, on or before February 1, 2010.
Petitions may be obtained by calling 517.327.9262 or emailing Kristy Warner at kwarner@gomasa.org.
legislative updates:
MASA Legislative Updates
Race To The Top, Funding Issues, and More Read the most recent MASA Legislative Updates any time at www.gomasa.org. Click on “Government Relations,” and scroll down to “Legislative Updates.”
Four finalists selected for the 2010 national superintendent of the year program
The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) has announced four finalists in the 2010 National Superintendent of the Year program.
The four finalists for 2010 AASA National Superintendent of the Year are:
- Joyce C. Levey, superintendent, Tuscaloosa City Schools, Alabama
- Elizabeth Molina Morgan, superintendent, Washington County Public Schools, Maryland
- Walt Rulffes, superintendent, Clark County School District, Nevada
- Cynthia Stevenson, superintendent, Jefferson County Public Schools, Colorado
The four national finalists were chosen from 49 Superintendent of the Year finalists, including Michigan’s 2010 Superintendent of the Year, David J. Campbell of Olivet Community Schools. The four finalists will be at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 12, 2010, where they will be interviewed by a national blue-ribbon selection panel of educators, businesspeople and government officials.
All state and national applicants were measured against the following criteria:
- Leadership for learning – creativity in successfully meeting the needs of students in the school system.
- Communication – strength in both personal and organizational communication.
- Professionalism – constant improvement of administrative knowledge and skills, while providing professional development opportunities and motivation to others on the education team.
- Community involvement – active participation in local community activities and an understanding of regional, national and international issues.
Read more about the candidates and about the award program at http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=11102.
Facebook Challenge
Help AASA reach 500 fans on Facebook before Dec. 31, 2009! Here’s how you can help:
- Go to http://www.facebook.com and log into your Facebook account (or create an account if you don’t have one)
- Go to http://www.facebook.com/AASApage
- Click on "become a fan" at the top of the AASA page.
Thank you for your help! Please forward this e-mail to others in your network who might be interested in the news and resources offered on the AASA Facebook page. To learn more about Facebook, read "Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Facebook?" at http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=8312
With Their Whole Lives Ahead of Them
A recent Public Agenda survey, "With Their Whole Lives Ahead of Them," reveals some eye-opening facts, but here’s one school leaders can do something about: Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of students paying their own way through college report that their high school counselors did only a poor or fair job of helping them through the college application process.
Without good guidance from school counselors, youth like those surveyed are left to figure out how to prepare for, pay for, and succeed in college by themselves. As federal and state leaders are calling for more college graduates, students need good school counselors more than ever. But too many school counselors go underused in our middle and high schools, relegated to taking attendance or administering tests—rather than using their role as advisors and advocates to leverage a real shot at college for all students.
That’s just one of many surprising new realities facing America’s college students, according to “With Their Whole Lives Ahead of Them,” a report based on a new Public Agenda survey of more than 600 young adults. The study compared the views of students who started, but did not finish, their college education with those who received a degree or certificate.
It turns out that most young adults who started college but didn’t finish left because they needed to work more to make ends meet. Managing work, school, and family was their biggest challenge.
When it came time for these students to consider going back to college, it was again their work and family responsibilities that kept them from reenrolling.
“The conventional wisdom is that students leave school because they aren’t willing to work hard and aren’t really interested in more education,” said Jean Johnson, director of Education Insights at Public Agenda. “What we found was almost precisely the opposite. Most are working and go to school at the same time, and most are not getting financial help from their families or the system itself. It is the stress of this juggling act that forces many of them to abandon their pursuit of a college degree.”
The survey results also showed that while the college selection process is frenetic and unnerving for many college goers, those who failed to graduate faced more limited options and took a much more haphazard and uninformed route. Generally, they chose their college based on “convenience” factors, such as location, cost and how well classes meshed with their work schedules.
Moreover, those who failed to graduate were not getting financial support from their family and the system. Of those who did not graduate, 58 percent did not receive support from parents or other relatives, and 69 percent did not receive support from a scholarship or financial aid.
Despite that, 89 percent of those who failed to complete a degree said they have thought about returning to college, and nearly all (97 percent) said it is important that their own children attend college.
Visit: http://www.publicagenda.org/theirwholelivesaheadofthem
- Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools Symposium
Jan 14-16, 2010
Washington D.C.
- Exploring the Superintendency
Four-part series begins Jan. 20, 2010
Continues Feb. 17, March 24, April 21
- Podcasting for Administrators
Midwinter Pre-Conference Event
January 27, 2010
Detroit - School Finance, Budgets and Negotiations: New tools for newer superintendents
Midwinter Pre-Conference Event
January 27, 2010
Detroit - Raising Revenue for Your District
Midwinter Pre-Conference Event
January 27, 2010
Detroit
Michigan Association
of School Administrators
1001 Centennial Way, Ste 300
Lansing, MI 48917
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