e-Update
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August 2009
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Published by
The Association of Wisconsin School Administrators
4797 Hayes Rd.,
Suite 103
Madison, WI 53704
P: (608) 241-0300
F: (608) 249-4973
Web: www.awsa.org
Views expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect AWSA policy or advice.
Questions or comments about this newsletter? Contact Tina Hogle at tinahogle@awsa.org
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Feature Article
The Common Core Standards Initiative
In a rapidly developing movement called the Common Core Standards Initiative, national draft standards in mathematics and English language have recently been made public...
Back to School Energy Boost!
Are You Riding the Energy Bus?
Jon Gordon’s No Complaining Rule! is a book that helps us learn how to reduce, if not eliminate, negativity in the workplace. There are excellent tips on how to combat cynics, naysayers...
Legal Update
Claims and Lawsuits Against School District Employees: Who Defends? Who Pays?
Several times in recent weeks, I’ve received calls from AWSA members who are concerned, and in a few cases, upset because they’ve just been served with either a Notice of Claim or a Summons and Complaint naming them as defendants...
State Advocacy
SAA Summer Capitol Report
Techno Tip
Making use of the AWSA website and new "Members Only" features
Focus on Leadership
A message from AWSA President Julie Brilli
Professional Development Opportunities: Upcoming Events
AWSA News
New Website
Thanks to all of you who have given us feedback on the new AWSA website. It is a "work in progress" and we will continue to tweak it based on your...
Critical Trends Surveys: Coming to You Soon!
Each commission advisory committee has put together a Critical Trends Survey
Wisconsin Education: Past, Present and Future
When you make your next trip to the AWSA office you'll see that we've updated the conference room...
State News
Funding Available
Wisconsin is among five states sharing $82 million in federal competitive...
Associate Principal of the Year Nominations Sought
The Wisconsin Associate Principal of the Year program recognizes APs whose leadership has resulted in improved student learning...
National News
NAESP: Nomination sought for board
NASSP: Education Secretary Arnie Duncan addresses principals
From the AWSA Home Page
John Kotter's book entitled Our Iceberg Is Melting, about changing and succeeding under any conditions, is a good read given the circumstances we find...
Resource Center
This month we feature three books and one journal.
AWSA's resource center provides a lending library of educational leadership books and journals. A complete listing is available by clicking HERE (you must be logged in to access the lending library).
Calendar of Events (this link will take you to the Calendar page on the AWSA website)
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With support from the Obama administration, 49 states and several national education organizations have signed on to the Common Core Standards Initiative. The Common Core Standards Initiative has released an initial "working draft" of its college and career-readiness standards. State leaders will be providing feedback on these draft standards for incorporation into a final document. After this input is processed, a revised version will be formally released for public comment in mid-August.
Drafts Standards for Reading, Writing, Communication July 14, 2009
Drafts Standards for Math July 16, 2009
In July, AWSA leaders met with representatives from Achieve, Inc. to receive information about the national rollout of the Common Core Standards. AWSA will be working with the DPI and providing updates on how this process will unfold in Wisconsin. Information will be included in the Update, on our website and in our conferences during 2009-10.
The emphasis for the initiative is to develop common standards that are “fewer, clearer, higher.” They will be internationally benchmarked, research- and evidence-based and ready for states to adopt. The Initiative noted that “deliberations will be confidential throughout the process (but) states and national education organizations will have an opportunity to review and provide evidence-based feedback on the draft documents.” What is known at this time includes the following:
• The lead partners in this project are the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) of which former state superintendent, Libby Burmaster, is a past president. The other key organizations involved include: The American Diploma Project, Achieve, Inc., ACT, and the College Board.
• The actual benchmarks being used were developed by the American Diploma Project.
• A first draft of the college and career readiness Common Core Standards, based on the premise that meeting these standards will allow a student to be able to take a college entry-level course and earn a “C” or better, has been completed and the standards development committees are currently reviewing the critiques of the feedback groups.
• K-12 Common Core Standards in mathematics and English language arts are scheduled to come out in January, 2010. Project leaders said more K-12 representation would be added later to work on these K-12 standards in mathematics and English language arts.
• Once the K-12 standards are released early next year, the project envisions it will take up to three years for states to adopt them given the states’ natural policy cycle, the need for new assessments, and modifications to professional development. Initiative leaders expect and want a cyclical review of the standards once they are put in place.
• The Initiative recognizes that the standards will only be as good as the tests. The leaders will be working with Secretary Duncan to develop the RFP for the $350 million (from the $5 billion Race to the Top Fund) he is making available to states to enhance their assessments. Only states that adopt the standards will be eligible for this test money.
The following link provides the latest information on the national standards movement: http://www.ccsso.org/whats_new/press_releases/13359.cfm
The following link provides more detailed information on Wisconsin’s revised Model Academic Standards: http://dpi.wi.gov/cal/standards-revisions.html
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Are You Riding the Energy Bus?
 Jon Gordon’s No Complaining Rule! is a book that helps us learn how to reduce, if not eliminate, negativity in the workplace. There are excellent tips on how to combat cynics, naysayers, and those who have a half full glass to get them aboard our “Energy Bus”! Jon Gordon recently inspired education leaders during a keynote at the Pacific Union Railroad’s Principal Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.
Gordon’s book The Energy Bus (Wiley and Sons, 2007) helps us to deal with the challenges we have within our schools and districts. Gordon gives practical guidance drawn from real experiences to help us create a plan to overcome adversity. As we enter the 2009-2010 school year, we can be inspired by our own passions and the suggestions this book gives about how to be a true Chief Energy Officer. Of course, we need to begin by setting the tone and getting our “team”/staff on the bus.
As you prepare to set the stage in front of your faculty, students, and parents, remember the adages that you can choose to be positive or negative. You can choose to catch people doing things right or wrong. We know we can not create success alone and that the collective strength of our peers, colleagues, teachers, students, and parents can be parlayed into a culture and climate that fuels the Energy Bus we drive each day at school.
Gordon establishes an ultimate rule of positive energy in this book (Chapter 19) that can help guide us during our initial steps to spring into the school year. “Our positive energy must be greater than anyone’s negativity. Our certainty must be greater than everyone’s doubt. Strive for greatness in all that you do within your school for all whom you serve.”
I believe that your will and optimistic spirit will keep your Energy Bus fully fueled to influence each day in a positive manner by striving for greatness in all that you do! Take the vision you have created and share it enthusiastically by walking your talk and acknowledging all who are on board. Invite everyone on your Energy Bus and know it is okay to post, per Gordon, that “No energy vampires are allowed!” Have fun this school year and enjoy the teaching and learning ride that you will lead! ~ Kelly Meyers
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By Attorney Jayne Kuehn, DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C.
Several times in recent weeks, I’ve received calls from AWSA members who are concerned, and in a few cases, upset because they’ve just been served with either a Notice of Claim or a Summons and Complaint naming them as defendants in an action for a serious offense, or perhaps a failure to act, that has resulted in significant harm and monetary damage to the plaintiff. Typically, they are not the only parties named as defendants. The claim or suit usually also names the school district, the members of the school board, perhaps another administrator and maybe a teacher or other employee. In proper legal syntax, the defendants are alleged to have been negligent, abusive, delinquent, or biased, and in violation of numerous school district policies, state statutes, and, in some cases, even constitutional guarantees. In order to repair the damage done, the plaintiffs demand a resolution of the grievances and usually a large monetary award.
Being on the receiving end of either the Claim or a Summons is not a pleasant experience, but one which must be dealt with. There are many legitimate claims and suits against all types of municipalities and state governmental entities, including school districts. There may have been an injury at school, either student or staff, a failure to comply with IDEA rules, a harassment incident, or any number of other violations. The first step in the process of recovery is the filing of a claim. Sec. 118.26, Wis. Stats. requires that in order for an action to be brought or maintained against a school district, the claimant must follow the procedure for claims against governmental bodies found in Sec. 893.80, Wis. Stats.
This statute provides in part that “...within 120 days after the happening of the event giving rise to the claim, written notice of the circumstances of the claim...” must be served on the governmental agency and the employees and officers who may be defendants to the action. The claim must include an itemized statement of the relief sought. Any time an employee of the school district receives this type of notice, it should promptly be given to the superintendent or the attorney for the school district. The insurance carrier for the district should also be notified of the pending claim as soon as possible. The claim may never proceed to litigation, but notice of the possibility must be given in order to preserve the rights of the claimants under the statute. An individual employee does not need to respond to this claim, nor does he or she need to retain legal counsel, unless the claim is alleging an offense beyond the scope of that employee’s employment.
The next step in a claim against a school district is the filing of an actual lawsuit. If such an action is filed, not only the school district, but also the board members, the superintendent, the building principal and other employees may be named as parties. If an employee is served with a Summons or Complaint naming him or her as a defendant, it is imperative to alert the superintendent and the attorney for the school district as soon as possible. There is a fairly short period during which the Complaint must be answered or judgment can be summarily granted. As the employee of a political subdivision in Wisconsin, which includes school districts, the statutes provide for both defense and indemnification. Sec. 895.46, Wis. Stats. provides as follows: “If the defendant in any action or special proceeding is a public officer or employee and is proceeded against in an official capacity or is proceeded against as an individual because of acts committed while carrying out duties as an officer or employee and the jury or the court finds that the defendant was acting within the scope of employment, the judgment as to damages and costs entered against the officer or employee in excess of any insurance applicable to the officer or employee shall be paid by the state or political subdivision of which the defendant is an officer or employee.”
The statute goes on to say that, regardless of the results of the litigation, the government unit, if it does not actually provide legal defense for the employee’s defense, must pay reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of defending the action, unless, and this exception is critical, the court finds that the employee was not acting within the scope of his or her employment. Generally the attorneys for the school district and the liability insurance carrier provide the defense and separate counsel for the employee is not necessary. However, if it appears that the interests of the district and the employee are not the same, or that the district is in some way attempting to shift the blame or liability from the district as the employer to the employee as an individual, then it is imperative that the employee retain separate counsel as soon as possible to look after his or her individual interests. The responsibility for payment will ultimately still fall on the district if the court determines that, regardless of the verdict, the employee was acting within the scope of employment. Defense of and indemnification for acts of governmental employees by the employer is an important safeguard. Without this protection, it would be a risky decision to choose employment in such a public position with responsibility for so many employees and so many children.
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Notes:
~~Did you know that AWSA's past legal articles are archived on our website? You can find them at: http://awsa.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=78~~
~~The majority of AWSA members report that their district provides liability coverage. Does yours?~~
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State Advocacy
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- Option to Merge School Districts Often Met With Hesitance
The SAA is AWSA's advocacy organization. The mission of the SAA is to represent the interests of Wisconsin school children. The SAA advocates on behalf of school leaders in their efforts to strengthen Wisconsin’s national leadership in education to ensure that Wisconsin’s children receive the highest quality education possible.
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Making Use of the AWSA Website and New "Members Only" Feature
The best way to access all the benefits of our new website, including easy form completion, is to log in.
Never logged in? Simply use your preferred email address as the username and AWSA as the password. If you are an active member, you'll be asked to create a new password so your information is secure.
No more downloading forms, printing, filling in by hand, and then faxing or mailing to AWSA with payment.
When logged in, all of your basic information will automatically populate registration and renewal forms, so that the information doesn't need to be manually entered each time. This will make registrations quick and easy!
You can also pay online with a credit card, or select the online option to pay by check or purchase order and request an invoice. You should automatically receive an invoice for each transaction in your email. If you don’t receive the invoice, simply log on to your portal page to print unpaid invoices, which can then be forwarded to your business office. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Alli at the AWSA office.
If your secretary usually renews your membership and/or registers you for conferences and workshops, please share your login and password information with her or him .
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by Julie Brilli, AWSA President
I hope you have had time this summer to rest and rejuvenate yourselves. Our work demands are, once again, on the rise. The students and staff will be returning with the excitement that a new year brings. Our ability to serve them is paramount in the success of the schools.
Due to the fiscal hardships of the state, many of us faced unprecedented district budget challenges that consumed a great deal of our energy. Creativity and courage were necessary to lead through these murky waters. However, in our commitment to serve children, it is our creativity and courage which enables us to do what is right when the moment demands it.
Your association, as always, has been working feverishly to support your efforts. A focus on the future through Policy Governance will help us to enhance our services to our members. State and national advocacy will ensure that the interests of children are served as the voices of principals are heard. Staying on the cutting edge of educational issues will put AWSA in a position of being proactive as the new Obama administration unveils its latest proposals on educational improvement. AWSA is committed to supporting the work of the principals.
Board of Directors
In June, the board of directors held its first meeting since formally adopting the Policy Governance framework last year. Policy Governance is designed to allow boards of directors to focus on larger issues, delegate with clarity, and rigorously evaluate the accomplishment of the organization. The board will evaluate the association’s effectiveness by the extent to which:
1. Members improve their capacity as effective educational leaders. Members will have access to:
a) Current body of research and information on educational leadership to support student learning
b) Exemplary professional learning opportunities
c) Opportunities to collaborate with colleagues from across the state
2. Members have their interests advocated for in regulatory and legislative areas affecting education.
3. Members be supported by legal services from both individual and educational leadership perspectives.
In the advocacy arena our focus will be to explore how we best work to achieve a fair, adequate and sustainable system of financing the education of all of our children.
NAESP/NASSP State Leaders Conference
In July, a team from AWSA attended the NASSP-NAESP State Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C.
I attended a meeting at Achieve’s headquarters to receive an update on the Common Core Standards initiative (See related article on pg. ). AWSA will work to keep us all updated on the national standards and assessment movement.
We heard from Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. He talked about the administration’s initiatives regarding the Race to the Top funding that has received a lot of press coverage recently. However, I was struck by two messages that have not received as much attention. First, leadership matters! He stated that the key to quality schools is having quality principals and that the policies of the Department of Education will reflect that emphasis. Secondly, he stated that he supports many of the changes to NCLB advocated by principals regarding:
- use multiple assessments and growth on formative assessments in gauging whole school success;
- allow English language learners to develop English proficiency before their test scores count to student or school success;
- allow students with disabilities to be assessed on the grade level recommended by the IEP team using assessments selected by that team; and,
- allow the national graduation rate to be extended to within five years of entering high school, and allow for students with disabilities who complete high school before age 21 to be counted as graduates.
Finally, our team visited the offices of our Congressional delegation regarding issues related to: the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Federal 2010 Budget, ESEA Reauthorization, and to garner support for three separate legislative proposals: Literacy for All, Results for the Nation (LEARN) Act, Success in the Middle Act and the Graduation Promise Act. The association will stay in touch with the delegation over the course of the year to provide the principal's perspective on federal education policy.
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| Machell Schwarz, Principal of Baraboo High School (AWSA President-Elect), Gregg Wieczorek, Principal of Arrowhead Union High School South Campus (NASSP State Coordinator), Steve Pophal, Principal of D.C. Everest Jr. High School (NASSP President), Julie Brilli, Principal, Merrill Elementary HLC in Oshkosh, Jim Lynch, AWSA Executive Director and Mark White, Principal of La Crosse’s Hintgen Elementary School (NAESP State Representative). |
Start the Year Strong
“…Good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher... it comes in a myriad of forms, but good teachers share one trait: they are truly present in the classroom, deeply engaged with their students and their subject. They are able to weave a complex web of connections among themselves… the connections made by good teachers are held not in their methods but in their hearts – the place where intellect and emotion and spirit and will converge in the human self." -- The Courage to Teach by Parker J. Palmer
Principals are teachers. The work we do daily requires us to work from the heart. I hope that your work is off to a great start in 2009-10!
Partners in Education,
Julie A. Brilli
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Professional Development: Upcoming Events
Annual Convention: The Future of Education is NOW!
October 28-30, 2009
It's a new world, and the changes are coming at us and our students rapidly and ceaselessly.
In order to help our students meet the challenges of a global community in a technology focused age, we need to inform ourselves about the skills students will need to be successful in their lifetime and the ways in which to lead our schools to this end.
- Keynote speakers:
Neil Howe, Steve Gilliland and a special preconvention session with Todd Whitaker
- Concurrent sessions on best practices with Wisconsin administrators
- Networking with colleagues during sessions and at social events
- Hot Topic sessions on R t I, Legal and Legislative Updates, and Bullying Prevention
- Exhibit Hall with the latest products and services from AWSA's business partners
- Bookstore
- And more!
Take advantage of our NEW online registration!
For more information about the convention and to register online, click HERE.
Save These Additional Dates!
Interview & Interrogation Skills for Administrators: December 1, 2009--Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells
AWSA Legal Seminar: December 2, 2009--Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells
New Building Administrators Conference Series Session III: December 3, 2009--Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells
Commission Conferences (designed by our colleagues, for our colleagues!)
High School Principals Conference, January 28-29, 2010--Concourse Hotel, Madison
Associate Principals Conference, February 3-5, 2010--Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells
Elementary Principals Conference, February 11-12, 2010--Hotel Sierra, Green Bay
Middle Level Principals Conference, February 18-19, 2010--Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton
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AWSA News
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| 1926-2000 |
New Website
Thanks to all of you who have given us feedback on the new AWSA website. It is a "work in progress" and we will continue to tweak it based on your excellent suggestions. One of the changes we've made is the breakdown of administrative vacancies by school level/title.
As you know, a major operational change requires ongoing learning, adjustments and philosophy of continuous improvement. We appreciate your patience as we move through this process!
In an effort to make excellent information available to each other, we ask that you send us links to books, articles, videos and podcasts that you have found to be most informative and pertinent to your work as an administrator. Links can be sent to Tina Hogle (tinahogle@awsa.org) and they will be posted in the "Information by Topic Area" section of the website. As this area grows, we envision it will become an indispensible source of information for all of us.
Critical Trends Surveys: Coming to You Soon
Each commission advisory committee has put together a Critical Trends Survey to provide focus for committee work and help guide future plans for the association. The survey will be e-mailed to all members in early August. Please respond!
Wisconsin Education: Past, Present and Future
When you make your next trip to the AWSA office you'll see that we've updated the conference room with new artwork that reflects Wisconsin's rich education history and celebrates our state's past, present and hopes for the future.
In addition to depicting historical milestones in education history, the bright colors reflect the optimism we have for reaching our goal of educating each and every Wisconsin student to fulfill his or her potential and serve each other and the global community.
The artwork was commissioned by Madison artist Becky Redelings.
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2001 and beyond...
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Associate Principal of the Year Nominations Sought
The Wisconsin Associate Principal of the Year program recognizes APs whose leadership has resulted in improved student learning, instructional collaboration, and a safe and positive school environment. If you know an associate principal who is deserving of consideration for this award, please complete the nomination form by clicking HERE or visit the website for the appropriate link.
Nominees will receive the official Wisconsin AP of the Year application, which is also the NASSP AP of the Year application. Those who complete the application will be considered for the state level award by a panel consisting of representatives from WASDA, DPI, WPTA, WEAC and WASB.
Funding Available through the DPI
Wisconsin is among five states sharing $82 million in federal competitive charter school funding grants announced today by the U.S. Department of Education.
The news release has been posted on the Department of Public Instruction newsroom website http://dpi.wi.gov/eis/newsroom.html . Please direct comments or questions about this news item to Patrick Gasper, (608) 266-3559, or patrick.gasper@dpi.wi.gov.
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Nominations Sought For Position on NAESP Board of Directors
The NAESP Board of Directors has openings for director, zone 6 which includes the states of Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan. The three-year terms will begin July 1, 2010. Serving on the NAESP board of directors gives you an opportunity to help the association fulfill its goals for thousands of principals, impact the education of millions of children, and lead the association and its members in advocating for the profession and the value of public schools.
Eligibility requirements
To be a candidate for the NAESP Board of Directors you must be an active or life member and be currently employed as an online principal or assistant principal.
Responsibilities and expectations of board members:
• Attend four Board of Directors meetings each year (time commitment is 20-25 days per year)
• Attend state conferences within your zone
• Attend an overseas conference during your second year on the board
• Give oral reports on recent activities during board meetings
• Be responsible to states in the zone and the members they represent
If you are interested in being a candidate for the NAESP board of directors speak with AWSA executive director, Jim Lynch. Forms and materials will be available August 1 and must be submitted to NAESP by November 15, 2009.
Please contact Dr. Michael L. Schooley, NASSP Deputy Executive Director with any other questions regarding the process or to request a prospective candidate data packet.
NASSP News
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (right) greets NASSP President Steve Pophal prior to Duncan's remarks to the leaders of the state and national principals organizations at the 2009 National Leaders' Conference. Read a recap of Duncan's comments on EdWeek's Politics K-12 blog, or listen to the complete address and Q&A.
From the Education Week Blog...
“We need a team of warrior principals to leave the easier places and go into the most underserved communities with a chance to build a new team,” Mr. Duncan said to the roughly 350 principals who are in Washington this week for the annual meeting of the National Association of Elementary School Principals and National Association of Secondary School Principals. Duncan said he would need to enlist about 1,000 principals a year, over the next five years.
The secretary has been pushing hard for turning around thousands of failing schools, and has already implored other groups of educators, including the charter school movement, to get involved in that work. Duncan also asked the principals to work on fixing the “broken” teacher evaluation system by developing evaluations that are “fair, thoughtful, but meaningful.”
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John Kotter's book entitled Our Iceberg Is Melting, about changing and succeeding under any conditions, is a good read given the circumstances we find ourselves in as school leaders during this time of significant financial duress in our state. The book provides background for people who have overseen deliberate changes as well as those who have never led significant pragmatic change. The concept of setting a vision and bringing people to the table to collaboratively work on solutions to problems is reinforced throughout the book. This is a quick read with a number of salient points that may be helpful as you prepare for your school year.
Asking not only the right, but the tough questions.
Jo Nelson's book entitled The Art of Focused Conversation for Schools can provide another backdrop to hone our conversational skills as we move into another school year that is sure to be filled with both rewards and challenges. Nelson's book is very detailed, and presents excellent frameworks for a range of conversations you have likely had or will have within your school with your staff, students, and parents.
And, as always, let's keep our discourse focused on what is best for kids!
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Resource Center
To borrow any of the books in our Resource Center, contact Robing Herring at robinherring@awsa.org or call 608-241-0300.
 The Principal as Instructional Leader in Literacy
Leading Student Achievement Series
As part of the Leading Student Achievement Series, this practical guide supports school leaders in improving literacy instruction and achievement for K-12 students. This volume explores the role of the principal and shared leadership in the improvement process, guides school leaders in developing effective school teams for improving literacy, demonstrates how to create and implement a literacy plan, recommends practices that support classroom instruction, and examines how to promote home-school-community partnerships.
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 The Four Agreements
don Miguel Ruiz
In The Four Agreements, don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love.
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 Every Child Has a Thinking Style
Lanna Nakone
Everyone has a natural thinking style--a set of preferences that helps with relating to the rest of the world. Using the latest research into how we think and learn, Lanna Nakone has divided children into four groups: maintainers, harmonizers, innovators, and prioritizers. For each type, an organized world is a safe haven. In this fresh, practical, and insightful guide, Lanna Nakone gives parents a new way to understand and encourage children's thinking styles, sensory preferences, gender, and personality tendencies to help them tailor their child's environment to make it a safe, more learning-friendly place.
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 Educating Boys
An ERS Focus
This Focus On examines where boys are underachieving and some possible reasons for their under-achievement, including biological and environmental factors. It also offers strategies that teachers can employ in their classrooms in order to address the educational needs of boys.
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AWSA
4797 Hayes Road, Suite 103 | Madison, WI 53704 | (608) 241-0300
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