District Administration articles from June 2007

District Administration archives from June 2007

The wake of tragedy: every district is vulnerable in some way to internal and external threats.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... AS OUR MAY ISSUE WAS ABOUT TO BE PUBLISHED, WE RECEIVED the horrifying news with the rest of the world about the shooting massacre at Virginia Tech, the deadliest attack by one person in U.S. history. The gunman, Cho Seung-Hui, who had...

Must sell the states.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... On first glance at the NCTM Focal Points, we are taken with the idea of targeting fewer concepts at each grade level while developing mathematical thinking and more in-depth understanding of the concepts. Your report raises several pros and...

Identifying math big ideas.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... The NCTM is highly regarded by mathematics teachers and is on the forefront for teaching and learning. By establishing Focal Points for prekindergarten to grade 8, the "big ideas" or most important topics are set for students to move...

Missing materials and methods.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... NCTM's Focal Points provide a consistency to ensure that all students receive the best education possible, and having fewer math topics to study in depth is an idea that I embrace. I was pleased that addition, subtraction and numeration were...

Antithetical to student-centered teaching.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... My first reaction to the Focal Points report is that it seems to focus on "math as math," instead of math as a tool for understanding our world. Such instruction often begs the question, "Why do we need to know this?" asked by nearly every...

New opportunity to improve.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... I concur with the claim that elementary school teachers and preservice teachers fear math because they don't know it well and they don't know how to teach it. Unfortunately, teachers are in the position to pass that fear along to their...

Fun without fear.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... I so commend you for your bonus section of DA in April, "The MUSTy Bookshelf." You touched on many educational issues that without humor are sometimes hard to discuss. You took valuable space in your journal without fear, showed fun, and I as a...

Stager off the mark.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... In response to your article over using anatomically correct words in children's books, I wanted to simply give my opinion, which you asked for at the end. It is not my job to introduce male/female body parts to other people's children. I do not...

Stager on the mark.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... Your article on "Good Books and Bad Reactions" in April was right on the mark. It amazes me that the adults in our organizations don't realize that overreactions to these types of things prompt the same in students, who are emulating their...

Hoot and holler.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... "Curriculum Crassifieds" in the March issue was a real hoot and is sure to show up in some of my presentations with your name attached. You should add to this on a regular basis. I also liked the two new editors' comments on district Web sites...

Not-so-high marks.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... My district coordinator sent me your article "Teaching Techniques for Supervisors," because I dislike using manipulatives and hands-on activities in class. The reason is they take up too much time. In addition, I don't believe that kids draw...

Reprint request.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... I just finished reading your article "Teaching Techniques for Supervisors" in the January issue of DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION I found it to be direct, succinct and eminently useful. I'm wondering if I might share it with my mentoring group of...

Kinnaman's call long overdue.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... Your call to action on designing and building "School 2.0" in January 2007 was long overdue. Thank you for taking the leadership that is the first step for making this happen. No doubt you have already heard from naysayers eager to throw the...

Help for engineering.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... We're delighted that the Engineering K12 Center www.engineeringk12.org was selected as your "Dr. Hotlist Site of the Week." We've worked hard to reach K12 audiences with our message about how engineering can be a valuable resource for the...

High marks from Bush (Neil, that is).(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... Your January issue of DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION is filled with useful information. I particularly like your piece "Teaching Techniques for Supervisors," advising teachers how to manage their classrooms. The underlying assumption that kids learn...

Instructional technology for all students.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2007... We are pleased the editors selected the Center for Implementing Technology in Education www.cited.org Web site to be featured in DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION as the "Dr. Hotlist Site of the Week." CITEd supports leadership at state and local...

Vallas leaves Philly for New Orleans.(Paul Vallas resigning from Philadelphia school district to go to New orleans )(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT CEO Paul Vallas announced in April that he would be leaving the 174,000-student system, saying that he had fulfilled his five-year commitment to serve the district. Vallas' administration effected a substantial...

Free books hit the Gulf Coast.(free books distributed to childrens most affected by hurricanes)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION Margaret Spellings in April visited Charles B. Murphy Elementary School in Kiln, Miss., to launch the 2007 Gulf Coast Summer Reading Initiative, a public-private partnership between the USDE, First Book, and...

Top five urban school districts.(Broad foundation announcing award to for the best urban district school)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... THE BROAD FOUNDATION ANNOUNCED IN APRIL THE FIVE URBAN SCHOOL districts that are finalists for this year's Broad Prize for Urban Education, an annual $1 million award to honor the urban districts making the greatest progress in raising student...

Fast fact.(BRIEFINGS: News Update)
June 1, 2007... ELLs are projected to comprise 25 percent of K12 student enrollment by 2010. Source: National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition

New survey reflects attitudes tied to student boredom.(Survey)
June 1, 2007... THE FACT THAT A GROWING number of students are bored and disengaged in schools might be common knowledge, but a recent report from Indiana University's High School Survey of Student Engagement (HSSSE) offers a more illuminating picture of the...

Grant gives Charleston nurses a boost.(grants help the school districts to hire the services of nurses in schools)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... ALL OF CHARLESTON COUNTY (S.C.) SCHOOL DISTRICT'S (www. ccsdschools.com) eighty schools boast improved health services and nursing care for their students, thanks to a federal Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant of more than $8.3 million over...

Experts stress parent involvement.(the influence of parents participation in education programmes)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... SCHOOL LEADERS LEARNED IN April at the Council of Urban Boards of Education's annual Issues Forum why it's more important than ever to create effective parent engagement programs. Jeana Preston, the program director of the California Parent...

Federal bulletin stirs ambiguous fears over school bus security.(Federal Bureau of Investigation warns the law enforcement groups about the security of school buses)
June 1, 2007... A BULLETIN RECENTLY RELEASED by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security cautions local law enforcement that foreigners with ties to extremist groups have obtained school bus licenses. Following the release of the bulletin, however, an...

School safety and security seminars.(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... IN OCTOBER OUR EDUCOMM LEADERSHIP SERIES will sponsor two one-day seminars on school safety and security, in Framingham, Mass., and Tarrytown, N.Y. The events will be led by leading national experts William Modzeleski, associate assistant...

Web resources for school security.(prevention of school violence and safety and security of schools)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Keep Schools Safe (www.keepschoolssafe.org) A school violence prevention, safety and security resource. National Crime Prevention Council (www.ncpc.org) The nation's leader in helping people keep themselves, their families and...

USDE study on educational technology effectiveness.(Department of Educations report on the usage of software in education)
June 1, 2007... IN APRIL THE U.S. DEPARTMENT of Education released the study "Effectiveness of Reading and Mathematics Software Products," whose findings assert that test scores are not significantly higher in classrooms that use reading and mathematics...

Web resources for blogging.
June 1, 2007... ePALS SchoolBlog (schoolblog.epals.com) A safe online place for collaboration among teachers, students and parents. Imbee (www.imbee.com) A secure social networking and blogging destination for students. Legal Guide for...

K12 Spanish language immersion program.(programme for teaching of spanish language in schools )(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... THE METROPOLITAN SCHOOL District of Lawrence Township, Indianapolis, Ind., is using native teachers in three of its magnet schools to teach a core curriculum in Spanish to native English students. A lottery determines which students will be in...

Arts for education and community.(classes of arts and music for students of Dallas independent school district)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS WILL ENJOY 45-minute art and music classes each week by the fall of 2008, as the district adds 140 certified music and art specialists to its staff. The program will also provide an even distribution...

PolarTREC.(Maggie Kanes research trip to Arctic polar region)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... WITH AN INVITATION FROM PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating in the Arctic), Maggie Kane, an 11-year middle school teaching veteran at Prescott (Ariz.) Mile High Middle School, was given six weeks of leave last year...

As NCLB reauthorization looms, many debate the logistics.(No Child Left Behind Act of 2001)
June 1, 2007... AT A TIME WHEN POLITICAL sentiment over issues as far-reaching as the war in Iraq, health insurance and gay marriage could not be more polarized, one issue that both Republicans and Democrats seem to be agreeing on is that the federal No Child...

Stat blast.(BRIEFINGS: Inside the Law)
June 1, 2007... 1% of teachers say NCLB is an effective way to assess the quality of schools.

Supreme Court continues to review race in assigning schools.(cases of parents participitation in education and school districts)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... AS REPORTED IN THE FEBRUARY issue of DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, "Supreme Court Reviews Race in Assigning Schools," the two school diversity cases, Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 and Meredith v. Jefferson...

Pastor's visit to public school ignites controversy.(pastors views about homosexuality creates controversy)
June 1, 2007... SEVEN MEMBERS OF A BIBLE study group at Danbury High School in Connecticut attended an after-school meeting to hear a preacher deliver an antigay message in celebration of the national Day of Truth in April. North Carolina pastor Valerie...

Jury awards USDE whistle-blower $7.6 million.(James Lindberg)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... IN APRIL THE SACRAMENTO County Superior Court awarded $7.6 million to James Lindberg, a former California Department of Education official who claimed he faced retaliation from his superiors after reporting the misuse of millions of dollars in...

Teachers' union and administration collaboration.(the results of collaboration between teachers union and administration)
June 1, 2007... AT THE NORTH ALLEGHENY School District, Pennsylvania's seventh-highest-performing district out of 500, students have benefited from a partnership between an unlikely pair: the North Allegheny Teachers' Federation--the district's teachers'...

Lights, camera, learning.(usage of technology for students improvement in grades)
June 1, 2007... TEACHERS AND STUDENTS at Escondido Union School District (Calif.) are becoming veritable desktop moviemakers thanks to a digital media project that has boosted teacher morale and student achievement. Project LIVE (Learning through...

Refreshing the ISTE technology standards: Senior Editor Gary Stager interviews Don Knezek, CEO of ISTE, on the revised National Educational Technology Standards (NETS).(Interview)
June 1, 2007... DON KNEZEK OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR TECHNOLOGY in Education has served with the organization for years. Since 1999, he has directed the association's National Center for Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology, targeted to...

Action teams: parents and communities partner to boost student achievement.
June 1, 2007... PASCO SCHOOL DISTRICT IN Washington state and Saint Paul Public Schools in Minnesota are, at first glance, very different. Pasco, an agricultural community with roughly 46,500 residents but growing rapidly, had 12,516 students enrolled in 16...

Re-construction: districts save cash and time in adaptive reuse of buildings.(FACILITIES & CONSTRUCTION)
June 1, 2007... SCHOOLS TEACH RECYCLING on many levels today. Students learn the importance of reusing newspapers and plastics in preserving resources and minimizing waste, and they practice recycling each time they place something in the recycling bin....

Professional development for the new century: teacher education programs address a growing number of non-English speaking students.
June 1, 2007... MOST DISTRICTS FACE AN UPHILL challenge when it comes to English Language Learners, or ELLs. Not only are there language barriers, but also the numbers of such students are skyrocketing. The federal No Child Left Behind act further squeezes...

Multimedia lit: synching teaching and technology yields great results if administrators and teachers are up to the task.(CURRICULUM)
June 1, 2007... USING MULTIMEDIA AND OTHER resources to bring books to life and get pupils in any grade excited about reading isn't a new concept. For years, English and language arts teachers have turned to outside sources to add another dimension to their...

Gateway E-155C Convertible notebook: Gateway.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.gateway.com Hardware, Starting at $1,849 In April, Gateway introduced its thin (1.17 inches) and light (4.5-pounds) Convertible notebook with tablet and touch screen capabilities. With Microsoft Vista installed, users can access...

X300 access terminal kit: NComputing.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(NComputing introduces X300 access terminal kit)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.ncomputing.com Hardware, Pricing varies based on district/ school technology needs and implementation choices This kit can help educators cut computing costs by allowing them to share one host PC with three additional users or up...

SAS EVAAS: SAS.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Educational Value-Added Assessment System)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.sas.com, Software, Pricing varies depending on district size SAS EVAAS (Educational Value-Added Assessment System) delivers Web-based reporting of value-added analysis of schools and districts and measures of individual student growth...

Creative Suite 3: Adobe.(Adobe Systems Inc. introduces Creative Suite 3)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.adobe.com, Software, School licensing from $3,999 to $11,499 Adobe now offers six new configurations of its suite of products, including Creative Suite 3 Design Premium and Design Standard, Creative Suite 3 Web Premium and Web Standard,...

ClozePro: Crick Software.(ClozePro Inc. introduces Crick Software)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.cricksoft.com/us Software, $199/single user license ClozePro's activities reinforce learning in any curriculum area. With a few clicks teachers can run an activity on-screen or print it as a worksheet. Features include customizable...

Exploring Math with MicroWords EX: Logo Computer Systems.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.microworlds.com Activities, Starts from $29 to $1,519 The MicroWorlds collection of math activities for students in grades 4-7 is available in print and on CD. It helps them visualize mathematical ideas and address concepts in...

ElectronicSchoolBoard: Intercom Network.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.electronicschoolboard.com Web-based solution, Annual subscription starts at $6,700/1,000 students ElectronicSchoolBoard's paperless meeting solution allows limitless meeting types with unlimited agenda categories for regular board...

Activboard+2: Promethean.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Promethean World introduces Activstudio projectors)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.prometheanworld.com/us Hardware, $4,655/ academic price This short-throw mounted projector adjustable whiteboard eliminates the need for expensive in-ceiling wiring and installation. The all-in-one system is height adjustable and...

P100 document camera: Elmo.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.elmousa.com, Hardware, $3,850 The P100 presentation tool is high-definition TV ready, offering 30 frame-per-second capability. It comes with an advanced 64x zoom document camera, 1.3 million pixels from a CMOS image sensor for...

Alarm over IP: Alarm Link.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.alarmlink.com Hardware, $169.95 per unit This module was specifically designed to handle the data requirements of alarm transmitters. It bypasses traditional telephone carriers, ensuring that alarm transmitters can reliably...

Comprehension strategies kit: Sundance Publishing.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.sundancepub.com Program, $249 each/$485 complete kit This reading program is designed to help students develop the six comprehension strategies: monitor and clarify, make connections, visualize, ask questions, infer and predict,...

Crazy Machines 1.5: Viva Media.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.viva-media.com Software, $19.99 The latest Crazy Machines release challenges students to brainstorm over 200 new challenges. They begin the game in Inventor's Training Camp where they sharpen their skills by solving 100 puzzles or...

Hot topics high interest reading: Evan-Moor.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.evan-moor.com Reading kit, $74.99/starter kit Targeting struggling readers in grades 4-8, the four-page cardstock design encourages students to read about exciting subjects, such as firefighting, wakeboarding and dogsledding, in a...

PockeTracker red/green: Visionbase.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.visionbase.com Hardware, Starting at $1,995 PockeTracker, a mobile, handheld, ID card tracking device, now incorporates technology by HID Global Corp. In addition to reading ID cards using the card technology of the user's choice,...

24/7: science behind the scenes: Scholastic Library Publishing.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.scholastic.com Books, $26 library bound, $7.95 paperback The new Scholastic Library series of nonfiction books tell stories about cutting-edge technologies and scientific techniques used by real-life detectives. Written for...

VmathLive: Voyager Expanded Learning.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(VmathLive online educational resource)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.vmathlive.com, Online resource, $79 per student VmathLive uses print and technology to extend the time students spend learning and practicing essential math skills. Students compete against other students in the United States,...

SRA Snapshots Video science: SRA/McGraw-Hill.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.sraonline.com Program, $15.96 per student edition, $349.98/teacher material This supplemental videotext program teaches upper elementary students core science concepts. The combination of video lessons and student books can prevent...

D3M education connection: D3M Alliance.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.e2rp.com, www.edustructures.com System, Starting at $600 Five technology companies launched this portal-based system to help local and state education agencies reduce the number of steps it takes to access, manage and share...

PD 360: School Improvement Network.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.schoolimprovement.com/pd360 Online resource, Starts at $1,995/school site, $250/individual user PD 360 resources provide teachers with instant access to experts, over 1,000 best-classroom examples and more than 300 learning...

Math'scool: BestQuest Teaching Systems.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.bestquest.com DVD, $249 per module Math'scool offers instruction through graphics, illustrations, diagrams, models and real-world problem-solving situations in every lesson. Animated characters and appealing story lines also...

Video Management System 3.0: Wren.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.wrensolutions.com System, Starts at $200 per camera This latest version facilitates the management of surveillance cameras from a PC. A site mapping feature provides one-click access to live camera views and more extensive...

PC Flash Cards: PC Flashcards.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.pcflashcards.com, Study aid, $29.95 This computer-based study aid eliminates the need for handwritten flash cards. It is part software program and part Web-based study community, where students enter information, organize their cards...

Kid's College: Learning Through Sports.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.learningthroughsports.com Web-based software, $6,500/schoolwide installation The 3D version of Kid's College features live action and realistic visuals that teach math, reading and language arts to K8 students. Teachers select...

Mult-e-Maths LE version: Hitachi Software.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)
June 1, 2007... www.hitachi-soft.com Web-based software, Free to Starboard users Users of StarBoard now have exclusive access to this interactive math tool package. With more than 500 activities and lesson plans, it provides educators with a hub to...

SkoVision--school improvement planning: Merkurium.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(SkoVision web interfaces from Mercurium)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.merkurium.com Software, Starts from $1.25 per student Through SkoVision's centralized database and principal-friendly Web interface, school improvement plans can be developed in a team-based approach. Administrators throughout the...

Everybody Counts! Everybody Counts.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.everybodycounts.net Program, $95 curriculum guide, $15 overview video This updated version of Everybody Counts teaches students about various disabilities and how children cope with such challenges. The program, which targets...

ECS StAR: ECS.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(ECS student testing, assessment and reporter)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.ecs-star.com, Web-based system, $8,995 The Web-based ECS student testing, assessment and reporter (StAR) helps teachers make data driven decisions by presenting student test results online in graph and report formats. Teachers can...

MyLunchMoney.com: School-Link Technologies.(New Products: THE LATEST OFFERINGS IN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE and THE INTERNET)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.mylunchmoney.com Service, 3.95% of total transactions plus 25 cents per transaction School-Link has partnered with First of Omaha Merchant Processing and Payment Processing to offer parents a secure online account to better manage...

Ensuring Success in Math and Science: Curriculum and Teaching Strategies for At-Risk Learners: Solution Tree.(Leadership Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.solution-tree.com $21.95 This is an analysis of the systemic and instructional problems that contribute to math and science failure. Tobins' long- and short-range strategies for closing the performance gap include redeveloping...

Surviving and Thriving as a Superintendent of Schools: Leadership Lessons from Modern American Presidents: R & L Education.(Leadership Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.rowmaneducation.com $21.95 The author, a former superintendent, presents a positive perspective of what superintendents need to do to become successful. He reflects on predicaments he has experienced, then analyzes the events in the...

Big-Time Fundraising for Today's Schools: Corwin Press.(Leadership Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.corwinpress.com $34.95 In order to bring public school fundraising to the next level, school leaders must collaborate with educational stakeholders in the community to set up development offices and education foundations. This book...

Collateral Damage: How High-Stakes Testing Corrupts America's Schools: Harvard Education Press.(Leadership Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.harvardeducationpress.org $24.95 The ways that high-stakes testing threatens the purposes and ideals of the American education system are documented and categorized in this provocative book. The analysis provides a comprehensive...

Media Relations for Schools: Including Crisis Communications: Solution Tree.(Leadership Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)
June 1, 2007... www.solution-tree.com $17.95 Educators will learn how to establish proactive and positive media relations to minimize negative press coverage of sensitive issues and build community support for school policies and initiatives. Using almost...

Research and Educational Leadership: Navigating the New National Research Council Guidelines: R & L Education.(Leadership Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.rowmaneducation.com $24.95 The implications of Scientific Research in Education (2002), a publication by the National Research Council, are addressed in this book. It points out the strengths and weaknesses of the NRC's recommendations...

Leadership and the School Librarian: Essays from Leaders in the Field: Linworth Books.(Leadership Books: RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT LEADERS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... www.linworth.com $44.95 Librarian leadership roles are identified and readers are provided with ideas that will allow school library media specialists to use their leadership skills in advocacy, collaboration, instruction, literature,...

Critical eating: a fresh way of looking at school food.(Problem Solution: SUCCESS STORIES FROM DISTRICTS ACROSS THE NATION)
June 1, 2007... PROBLEM SEVERAL YEARS AGO, STUDENTS in the Burlington (Vt.) School District lived without any real regard for a healthy diet or nutrition. Obesity-related illnesses plagued the 10-school district, and many of its 4,500 students were not...

Apps on the Web: free tools on the Web offer districts application alternatives.(ONLINE EDGE)
June 1, 2007... THEY HAVE STRANGE LOOKING names like "Picnik" and "Zoho," and you've probably not heard of many of them before. But growing numbers of free online tools are becoming available for tasks such as e-mail, word processing, photo editing and more....

Oprah's edifice complex: what lessons for educators emerge from Oprah Winfrey's $40 million school?(SPEAKING OUT)(Viewpoint essay)
June 1, 2007... I HAVE LONG BEEN AN ADMIRER of Oprah Winfrey (see "Everything I Know About Reading Instruction I Learned from Oprah Winfrey," Curriculum Administrator, May 2000). She has been a force for good and a champion of literacy. And because Oprah said...

Building leadership through delegation: the ability to delegate effectively increases productivity and builds leadership.(SUPERVISOR'S OPINION)(Viewpoint essay)
June 1, 2007... IF LIKE ME YOU ARE FACED with a lengthy to do list and a shrinking window of time, delegation has an appealing allure. Of course, delegating is more than giving your stuff to somebody else. David Peck, founder of Leadership Unleashed, a...

Safe school preparations for your district: here are critical activities to update your crisis response plans.(PROFESSIONAL OPINION)
June 1, 2007... PICTURE THE LAST DAY OF summer in your school district, the day before the teachers return. You have worked to finalize the master schedule, plan a meaningful staff development program, and ensure an efficient registration and orientation...

Social studies: mastering content and skills.(Research Corner: ESSENTIALS ON EDUCATION DATA and RESEARCH ANALYSIS)
June 1, 2007... By Edvantia HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, economics, civics and government--subjects included beneath the "social studies" umbrella--are defined in No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation as core subjects. But "social studies is getting short shrift...