District Administration articles from February 2002

District Administration archives from February 2002

Pencils, not missiles. (Editor's letter).
February 1, 2002... As I write this, it's been nearly four months since the terrorist attacks changed this country. To date, I haven't covered the topic in my monthly letter, and the magazine has not devoted much space to this story or the fallout it has caused,...

The gap concerning parent involvement. (District plus: tips and ideas for successful district leadership).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A new study by the National Center for Education Statistics looks at how effective parent outreach efforts have been by administrators. As might be expected, there is a gap between efforts schools say have been made to include parents and what...

How to save on telecommunications costs. (District plus: tips and ideas for successful district leadership).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... School districts can save up to 40 percent on their telephone bills by joining the American TelEd Communications Alliance. Annual dues are $75. The alliance negotiates with AT&T, Sprint, Qwest and other carriers for reduced rates on long...

Maintaining contact with students. (District plus: tips and ideas for successful district leadership).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... One worry of teachers considering a move into administration is that they'll lose touch with students. "It just does not happen unless you let it happen," says David Sloan, a former principal and superintendent who is now an associate professor...

When to hire counsel. (District plus: tips and ideas for successful district leadership).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... When school districts face liability for suspicious illnesses among students, one school board president suggests seeking expert advice. Robert Haas, president of the River Valley school board in Marion, Ohio, says the district's board...

Minnesota districts drop plans for a four-day school week. (News connection: up-to-date and usable education information from schools, government, business, research and professional organizations).
February 1, 2002... It can't be easy to have Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura on your case. Two superintendents--one in Elk River, the other in Osseo--took heat from the governor and parents for advocating a four-day school week to save on transportation and energy...

Bitter feelings remain between jailed New Jersey teachers and parents. (News connection: up-to-date and usable education information from schools, government, business, research and professional organizations).
February 1, 2002... The striking teachers in Middletown, N.J., are back in their classrooms, but the community is not back to normal. There is still a painful rift between teachers and parents, says Jack DeTalvo, superintendent of the Middletown Township District...

Research organization criticized for selling student data. (News connection: up-to-date and usable education information from schools, government, business, research and professional organizations).(National Research Center for College and University Admissions)
February 1, 2002... Each year, teachers and guidance counselors across the country collect more than two million surveys from students, who offer their names, addresses, grade-point averages, backgrounds and social views. The survey is sponsored by the National...

Should students grade one anothers' work? The Supreme Court will decide. (News connection: up-to-date and usable education information from schools, government, business, research and professional organizations).
February 1, 2002... Kristja Falvo, a mother of four, started the legal right to change the practice of students correcting one anothers' papers. That was 1998, when her son, Philip, was in sixth grade in Owasso, Okla. She says he was called "dummy" and "stupid"...

Memphis district gives cash incentives to nationally certified teachers. (News connection: up-to-date and usable education information from schools, government, business, research and professional organizations).
February 1, 2002... Teachers in Memphis, Tenn., stand to add $6,000 to $10,000 to their annual salaries thanks to a new incentive program. The increases will go to teachers who earn National Board Certification--the highest teaching certification available. ...

Online teachers college receives $10 million grant. (News connection: up-to-date and usable education information from schools, government, business, research and professional organizations).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The federal government is granting $10 million to Western Governors University and its online teachers college. The money will help the relatively new university--established in 1997--to expand academic programs. The university targets...

Scholastic acquires Tom Snyder Productions. (News connection: up-to-date and usable education information from schools, government, business, research and professional organizations).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Scholastic Corp. paid $9 million in late 2001 for Tom Snyder Productions, a software company based in Watertown, Mass. Tom Snyder Productions was founded 22 years ago by its namesake, a former teacher. Its 144 products cover social studies,...

Education bill finally passes; draws fire from national associations. (Legislation).(No Child Left Behind educational reform legislation)
February 1, 2002... The No Child Left Behind education bill, signed in January, was a bit of a split decision for President Bush. The bill represents a significant shift in federal education policy by forcing schools to be accountable for their students' learning...

Report: Asian studies are lacking in schools. (Social Studies).
February 1, 2002... Nine out of 10 adults say it's important for students to study Asia in school, and more than seven in 10 students want to learn more about Asia-related topics, including languages, literature, art, music, history and politics. According to Asia...

Literature for healing in troubled times. (Language Arts).(Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Reading or hearing stories about peace and love can work wonders for a frightened child. So the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators has compiled a list to help teachers and librarians choose books for children in crisis. The...

The science of food safety. (Science).
February 1, 2002... In classrooms across America, students are frying hamburgers. But it's not for home economics. Through an experiment where they test the amount of cultured bacteria inside the burgers with various cooking temperatures (and then test cheese for...

Teaching math by seeing math. (Mathematics).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Implementing the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2000 standards is no easy task for many districts. Meeting the standards means making fundamental changes in traditional teaching practices, gaining a deeper understanding of content...

Making performance-based learning work: this Alaska school district junked its traditional education system and was rewarded with a Baldrige Award. (district profile).
February 1, 2002... Imagine having to fly in a twin-engine airplane to visit one of your schools. Average round-trip price: $2,500. But, there is no other way, and worse yet, weather frequently interferes. "Sometimes, you have to turn around," says Bob...

Hostage negotiator becomes superintendent: from college dropout to volunteer worker in the Mideast to hostage negotiator, this superintendent cuts through adversity and tension naturally. (administrator profile).(Bill Keim)
February 1, 2002... Bill Keim is not your typical superintendent. He dropped out of college his first time around. He traveled the Middle East to help children and then operated an orphanage in Bethlehem. He even helped negotiate the release of American hostages...

The new three-fifths compromise: why won't the Supreme Court treat children as people, too? (speaking out).
February 1, 2002... As a kid I grew up singing "Kids are People Too" along with Wonderama TV host Bob McAllister. Ever since I've believed that kids are people with all the rights and privileges afforded to other citizens. Apparently, members of the Supreme Court...

Supporting tech leadership: these regional groups offer sound advice and training. (the online edge).
February 1, 2002... When a K-12 administrator asked me to recommend technology leadership resources, first on my list were the Web sites of the Regional Technology in Education Consortia. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the "R-TECs" are located in 10...

Mind matters: what brain-based research means for educators and for the future of math, language arts, foreign language, the arts and special education.
February 1, 2002... We remember that Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492; that Jimmy's father, the fire chief, showed us how to "Stop, Drop and Roll"; and that crabs shed their shells, a lesson we learned while soaking in the briny smell of salt water during a...

Everything old is new again: here are three notable renovations that can help guide you through your district's current or upcoming work. (Focus: school building)(Cover Story).(Cover Story)
February 1, 2002... The average public school in America is 42 years old. More than a quarter are over 50 years old, leading the National Education Association to estimate that it will take about $322 billion to modernize U.S. public schools. Why? Deferred...

Schools gone bad: mold, lead, toxic air and ground pollutants are attacking the nation's schools. Here are some examples of sick schools and ways to prevent potential health problems among students and staff. (Focus: school building).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... In Elmira, N.Y., more than two dozen current and former students, teachers and custodial workers of Southside High School, which was built on a former industrial site, have cancer. Is there a connection? In Hartford County, Md., Edgewood...

Speeding forward: this year's K-12 winners offer more complex and comprehensive curriculum applications than ever before. (Curriculum Web Site Awards 2002).
February 1, 2002... As schools' Internet use takes advantage of the explosive growth in complex digital content, schools need Internet access that can support rich interactive multimedia and real-time applications. Therefore high-speed Web connectivity is rapidly...

New tools can assist in presentations. (New products: tools for schools).
February 1, 2002... Canon, www.usa.canon.com Hardware, $4,699 (projector) and $899 (scanner) When you've got a bright idea to share--whether it's with staff or students--the last thing you want to worry about is the room's lighting. Canon's new LV-7345...

Track staff development. (New products: tools for schools).
February 1, 2002... Trivision, www.trivision.net, Software, $1 per teacher/month E-onCampus Professional Development 1.0 helps district administrators manage a professional development program by tracking curriculum, course enrollment and credential status....

Train your ears with music tutor. (New products: tools for schools).
February 1, 2002... Ars Nova, www.ars-nova.com, software, $125 Practica Musica ear training and music theory software is now available in version 4.3, which contains additional beginning and advanced activities and a feature that makes it easier to organize...

Keyboard in your pocket. (New products: tools for schools).
February 1, 2002... Kensington, www.kensington. com, hardware, $49.95 PocketType is a portable keyboard designed for the Handspring Visor, Visor Deluxe, Visor Platinum, Visor Pro and Visor Neo handheld computers. The small, clip-on keyboard allows you to...

K-12 supplemental materials. (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... See one of the world's largest collections of supplemental materials to extend and update basal textbooks, enrich classroom instruction, and encourage reading and research. With Harcourt Brace as its parent company, Steck-Vaughn is introducing...

Special education software 3 free CD-Demos! (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... Laureate offers over 80 programs for Early Intervention, Autism/PDD, Developmental Disabilities, Language-Learning Disabilities, Title 1, ESL, and Reading Difficulties. We've created three CD Demos to help you choose software quickly and...

The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition. (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... Each month the Classroom Edition covers the business and financial scene expressly for teens. It's coverage that connects with their world and their interests. Thirty copies of the colorful monthly student newspaper, teacher guide with...

How can listening lead to independent reading? (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... Recorded Books[TM] increase reading skills dramatically, raise reading scores by multiple grade levels, and motivate struggling readers to keep on reading! With over 4,000 unabridged audiobooks for the "listen and read" approach, Recorded...

We the peoples: the role of the United Nations in the twenty-first century briefing papers for students. (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... This book from the United Nations is for students and educators engaged in discussions and hands-on activities on such issues as health, environment, human rights and peace. Grades K-12 Call (800) 253-9646 or visit us at www.un.org/publications...

Free Perma-Bound 2002 new title catalog! (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... Now with over 40,000 titles, Perma-Bound has the strongest title selections, teaching materials, educational software, and books on the market. We offer novel units, student packets, and exclusive Perma-Guides. We also offer Accelerated Reader...

Lawrence Productions offers a variety of award-winning, curriculum-based educational software. (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... Lawrence Productions offers a variety of award-winning, curriculum-based educational software. Uniquely innovative in our creative solutions, we educate and inspire both children and young adults with such titles as Lawrence D. Duck, Mystery...

The bookstore for today's educators. (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... The NEA Professional Library is the nation's leading book publisher devoted exclusively to professional development resources for the education community. Each title is designed to inspire, guide and inform teachers and other educators on...

Character education since 1992. (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... Join more than 5,000 schools nationwide. in just one minute a day, you can enhance your school climate while building character, self-esteem and a more caring community of learners. It's a simple program that gets results. Call us at 1(800)...

Career assessment software. (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... Now career planning is easy, accurate and affordable with CareerScope[R] career assessment software. An aptitude battery and interest inventory in one, CareerScope provides a self-administered personal career assessment within 60 minutes....

Now, all my students love math! (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... Accelerated Math[R] math management software helps teachers dramatically increase student math achievement in grades 1 through calculus. Accelerated Math prints unique assignments tailored for each student's ability, scores papers...

You've invested in graphing calculators. Now reap the rewards for you and your students. (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... Discovering Algebra: An Investigative Approach is the first text that fully integrates the benefits of graphing calculator technology in all aspects of the curriculum. Discovering Algebra is what your graphing calculator was made for... ...

Digital interactive whiteboard. (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... Interactive Presentation Manager (IPM) brings your multimedia classroom presentations to life with powerful and easy to use "Softkeys" that link to computer files for "on command launch." Using your PC and an LCD projector, the IPM provides...

Free CD-ROM! Motivate students to read. (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... Accelerated Reader[R] is the most effective program ever designed to help teachers motivate and manage literature-based reading practice. Now the newest version of the software--AR[TM] Universal--runs Recorded Voice Quizzes for emergent...

Take a field trip to the stars without leaving your school! (Bulletin board: free catalogs and literatre).
February 1, 2002... With a STARLAB Portable Planetarium, the stars come to you saving the expense, hassle and worry of field trips. In the exciting environment of STARLAB, treat students to interactive, interdisciplinary lessons and activities for topics ranging...

Identifying that one thing: a simple approach to program evaluation. (understanding the times).
February 1, 2002... Simple approaches often work best. They can be especially effective when tackling complex challenges like evaluating academic programs, administrative systems and organizational practices. But coming up with simple approaches that actually work...