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| News Update |
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Click on topic below |
| 2008-2009 News Articles | ||
| Executive Evaluation Training Sessions | Happy Retirement, Mardy! | |
| Northwest RESA Hosts Executive Evaluation Training Sessions | ||
School Executives gather at NWRESA for training |
NWRESA welcomed hundreds of principals to Wilkesboro for the Executive Evaluation Training during June and July 2008. The training was mandated by the Department of Public Instruction and to meet the new NC Standards required for School Executives. In addition to the summer sessions, NWRESA consultant John Caldwell will present a two-day session (a repeat of the summer training for superintendents/evaluators and principals), on September 18 and 19, 2008 at the Holiday Inn express in Wilkesboro. This training will review the seven standards and the evaluation process for the new instrument. |
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North Carolina Standards
for School Executives As Approved by the State Board of Education December 7, 2006
Public education’s changed mission dictates the need for a new type of
school leader – an executive instead of an administrator. No longer are
school leaders just maintaining the status quo by managing complex
operations, but just like their colleagues in business, they must be
able to create schools as organizations that can learn and change
quickly if they are to improve performance. Schools need executives who
are adept at creating systems for change and at building relationships
with and across staff that not only tap into the collective knowledge
and insight they possess but powerful relationships that also stir their
passions for their work with children. Out of these relationships the
executive must create among staff a common shared understanding for the
purpose of the work of the school, its values that direct its action,
and commitment and ownership of a set of beliefs and goals that focus
everyone’s decision making. The staff’s common understanding of the
school’s identity empowers them to seek and build powerful alliances and
partnerships with students, parents and community stakeholders in order
to enhance their ability to produce increased student achievement. The
successful work of the new executive will only be realized in the
creation of a culture in which leadership is distributed and encouraged
with teachers, which consists of open, honest communication, which is
focused on the use of data, teamwork, research-based best practices, and
which uses modern tools to drive ethical and principled, goal-oriented
action. This culture of disciplined thought and action is rooted in the
ability of the relationships among all stakeholders to build a trusting,
transparent environment that reduces all stakeholders’ sense of
vulnerability as they address the challenges of transformational change.
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| MARDY BROWN RETIRES | ||
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Knowing effective reading strategies builds confidence and enhances reading comprehension. Mardy Brown, K-12 Language Arts Consultant for the Northwest RESA, presented a workshop filled with helpful strategies, interesting selections, and valuable resources. This well-paced workshop provided helpful ideas to motivate students. Participants shared the following comments:
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Artists and non-artists alike were given the opportunity to explore visual journaling with practicing art teacher, Mindy Essic of Winston Salem, North Carolina. Mindy provided an inspiring, hands-on day using cross-curricular strategies to enhance learning. Participants found a wonderful modality to enrich their teaching and enhance student learning.
Mindy will return July 31, 2008 to repeat an initial visual journaling workshop and again September 26, 2008 to do a follow-up training. Watch for registrations on the Northwest RESA website. (www.nwresa.org)
Read what teachers had to say about their day::
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July 26, 2007
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2007-2008 Practicing Leadership Academy Begins
Dr. Joe Sinclair, Director of NWRESA, welcomed
over 40 school officials to the 2007-2008 Leadership Academy for Practicing
Administrators which began on July 26, 2007 and will continue
through March 2008 at the Holiday Inn in Wilkesboro. Some of the top educators in North
Carolina are on tap to present and the purpose is geared toward providing school
administrators with ideas and strategies designed to benefit them
professionally. At the conclusion of the Academy, participants
will have earned 54 hours of intense instruction and 5.4 renewal
credits. This satisfies the new mandate:
"Effective July 1,
2007, school administrators shall earn at least five renewal credits
during each renewal cycle that focus on the principal’s role in teacher
effectiveness, teacher evaluations, teacher support programs, teacher
leadership, teacher empowerment, and teacher retention.”
(GS 115C-12(9)a)
In addition to Linda Suggs and Jack Hoke, other important topics pertaining to teacher recruitment and retention will be presented by some of the top state leaders in education including Hank Hurd, Doris Jones, Gordon Millspaugh, Steve Moree and Alisa McLean. During the 2006-2007 school year, the first Leadership Academy, which was also organized by the NWRESA, produced very positive results. Due to the high demand and limited space availability for the second academy, registration had to be limited. |
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A popular session for K-2 teachers has been “Literacy in a Bag.” This “Make and Take” workshop gave teachers the opportunity to create high-interest, book bag activities to integrate into the curriculum. Workshop presenter, Tori Wise, T.O.Y. for Moore Magnet School in Winston Salem, NC is currently teaching kindergarten. The workshop has been a favorite and repeats have been requested. |
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Strategic Reading in 3-5
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“Reading, Writing,
and Social Studies” |
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As Mardy Brown, Language Arts Consultant shared, “It is not very often that you have the chance to have a real author spend the day with you to share the makings of a novel!” Polio and leprosy instilled great fear and tangled emotions for many during troubled times. However, President Roosevelt focused on his abilities rather than his disabilities as he confronted the challenges of polio. Students face many obstacles today. Much can be learned as both teachers and students examine President Roosevelt’s remarkable life. An integration of themes took place throughout the day. A luau took place in the afternoon! Participants sampled an array of Hawaiian goodies! What a delightful day with Joyce!
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Just Say
Poetry |
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Participants made the following comments: · “I received wonderful ideas and am not afraid to write poetry with my students! · I wish this had been a two-day workshop instead of one!” · “I got more than I ever expected…new ideas, literature, and wonderful presenters!”
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Reaching All of Our Students |
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Participants shared the following comments:
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Writing
On Demand |
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Racheal Moyer and Mardy Brown |
Twenty-seven, English teachers gathered together to hear suggestions and writing tips from practicing teacher, Rachael Moyer, Hickory City Schools. Participants received practical, sensible ideas for writing practice in the classroom. In addition to testing information, helpful websites were shared as well. Thank you, Rachael! |
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Put Pizzazz into
your Students’ Writing: Using Fiction Techniques to |
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Twenty-seven elementary and middle school teachers joined Carol Baldwin recently at NWRESA in Wilkesboro, NC. With the common goal of improving students’ test scores (the specter which haunts many language arts teachers), they looked at how students can improve their essays by adding voice, using “show don’t tell writing,” and utilizing effective syntax. Along the way participants detoured into “the land of critical thinking” as they analyzed low-scoring narrative and expository essays (from Jane Kiester’s book, Blowing Away the State Writing Assessment Test) and re-wrote them in a student’s voice. Collaboration ruled the day as teachers enjoyed the interaction with their peers, were further validated in their teaching skills, and learned a few more tricks of the writing trade to take back to their classrooms.”
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Carol Baldwin, author and writing consultant recently addressed strategies to enhance style and voice in student writing. Qualities of dynamic writing were explored. Participants shared their ideas and effective strategies, as well. Rewrites went from boring to brilliant! |
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April 24, 2008 |
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Creative Teaching with an After-Christmas Budget workshop
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Everyone is a Storyteller - Kerry Madden, Presenter - November 8, 2007 |
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Mardy Brown and Kerry Madden
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Deanna "Dee" Hanlin is Northwest RESA's Math Consultant and a Texas Instruments T³ National Instructor. We congratulate her for the many math contributions she has made to educators throughout North Carolina!
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Leadership in the 21st Century |
Dr. Alisa R. McLean presents at the |
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