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Volume 12, Number 6                                 The Source
March 16, 2012
Don't Forget to Vote for Iowa ASCD Board of Directors   

Thanks for sharing your voice by voting now at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/IowaASCD2012Election

Voting will take place from March 1 - 31, 2012.  Announcement of those selected will be April 12 at the Iowa ASCD Curriculum Academy as well as in the April 19 edition of
The Source.

Thanks for electing your representatives to the Iowa ASCD Board of Directors!
 
Are You Heading to Philadelphia for the ASCD Conference in March?   If So, You Are Invited to a Party! 


You are invited to attend a social reception sponsored by Illinois ASCD, Indiana ASCD, Iowa ASCD, Michigan ASCD, Minnesota ASCD, Missouri ASCD, Nebraska ASCD, Ohio ASCD, Pennsylvania ASCD, and Wisconsin ASCD at the ASCD Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Light refreshments will be served. Piano entertainment will be provided by Wisconsin ASCD's Tony Frontier.

Saturday March 24, 2012 - 4:30 - 6:30 P.M.

Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Independence Ballroom
1201 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

This event is sponsored by the Follett Software Company.
Middle and High School Principals Attending the ASCD Conference Are Invited to Special Dinner on Sunday, March 25   

Cambridge Educational Services is proud to co-sponsor their Unified Testing Readiness Dinner for middle school and high school administrators with Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin ASCD associations at this year's ASCD conference in Philadelphia.

 

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant

1 South Broad Street

Phildelphia, PA 19107

 

McCormick & Schmick's is conveniently located a few blocks from the conference convention center.

 

They invite you to enrich your ASCD conference experience by learning about the Unified Testing Readiness Initiative (UTRI) in middle schools and high schools that wish to boost graduation rates and send more students on to college. The central focus of UTRI is the "family resemblance" of standardized exams, including state exams; the EXPLORE - PLAN - ACT tests; and the SAT and PSAT/NMSQT tests. A global and comprehensive program of testing readiness leverages the "family traits" to create a single, unified plan to improve student achievement on standardized exams from middle school through high school. Cambridge has pioneered the development of UTRI at more than 400 schools across the country.

 

Middle school and high school administrators must RSVP in advance. To view the agenda for grades 6-12 and RSVP, visit  www.cambridgeed.com/meet-us or  email [email protected] no later than March 19th. For questions, contact Erika James at (800) 444-4373 ext. 226.

Advocacy and Influence:  Iowa House Hosts Public Hearing
 
On Monday, March 5, the Iowa House of Representatives convened and held a public hearing on HF 2380, the Education Reform bill. Representing Iowa ASCD was Director Pam Vogel, who was present to speak on the need to have annual evaluations for principal and teachers using the current Individual Professional Development Plan and a simpler and more informative summative evaluation instrument. Iowa ASCD member Lynne Campbell, science consultant from AEA 267, was also present to speak about the need for additional funding for the early literacy programs, to include summer programs and other interventions, without using grade 3 retention. Other members of Iowa ASCD submitted written proposals for the Education Committee to consider, as it develops its final plan to be presented to the full House.

capitolOver 70 people signed up to speak at the Hearing; however, there was time for slightly fewer than 50 people to address the legislators and attendees. At the conclusion of the Hearing, those who were unable to speak on the House floor were invited to present their case to representative members from the House Education Committee in the Supreme Court Chambers.

Since there are a number of elements within the House bill, many different topics were addressed by those who spoke. It was clear that most of those who spoke were in favor of change in education in Iowa.

Amendments are being drafted and discussed as legislators prepare for the discussion before the House of Representatives. The Senate is also drafting its versions of an education bill. Iowa ASCD will keep members informed of the progress of the Education bill.

To track legislation in the House, click here. You can get contact information for your legislator at this address.
Advocacy and Influence:  Support U.S. Senator Reed's "Effective Teaching and Leading Act"    

 

On October 6, 2011, Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island introduced  and referred  S. 1674 to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.  S. 1674 or "The Effective Teaching and Leading Act" focuses on the improvement of teacher quality recognizing the quality of the teacher as the single most important in-school factor impacting student learning and achievement.   The purpose of this Act is to build the capacity of effective teachers and principals in our schools through:
1.   the redesign of teacher and principal evaluation and assessment systems:
2.    comprehensive, high quality, rigorous, multi-year induction and mentoring programs;
3.    systematic, sustained professional development for all teachers that is team-based and job embedded;
4.    systematic, sustained professional development for all principals, other school leaders and support staff, and
5.    increased teacher leadership opportunities, including compensation for teacher leaders who take on new roles and responsibilities in providing professional development, mentoring, instructional coaching and rigorous evaluation.

ASCD supports the Bill as evidenced through a circulated petition requesting signatures for the bill at their national training on advocacy and influence. ASCD Director of Policy recently shared "We applaud Sen. Reed for introducing S. 1674 because it signals a federal commitment to providing educators with the substantial knowledge, skills and training necessary to address students' evolving needs.  We believe this legislation will promote job-embedded professional development for teachers that will result in student learning gains and also expand professional development opportunities for principals, who studies show, are one of the most important components of successful schools."

Iowa ASCD asks you to take a moment to review the Bill.  Access the Bill through the link below, consider the impact of such legislation on your school district, and respond to ensure that your voice is heard.  Better yet, make a personal connection with those representing you in Congress!

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s1674/text
Register for Iowa ASCD Curriculum Leadership Academy - Focus on RTI

 

Register now for the 11th Annual Iowa ASCD Curriculum Academy on April 11 and 12 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Johnston, IA.  

Curr Academy 

Iowa ASCD, in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Education, is featuring Connie Maxson, Dave Tilly, and the State's RTI team throughout the Curriculum Academy. Jason Glass, Director of Education at the Iowa Department of Education, will present an afternoon keynote on the relationship of Iowa's Blueprint and RTI. The Cedar Rapids, Mason City, and North Polk School Districts will provide information about their use of data teams and professional learning communities in managing RTI. Lynnville-Sully Elementary will present their RTI program which includes programs for advanced learners. East Sac School District will report on their continued progress in the implementation of RTI.   

 

Download the registration form now!  Space is limited! 

Attention Teachers of Second and Third Graders:  Register Now for A Conference for and by You!

save the dateRegister now for a special conference, Impacting Learning in My Classroom, just for you! ISEA and Iowa ASCD are collaborating to offer a hands-on day of learning for, and by, second- and third-grade teachers.

Grade 2
  • April 26 - Impacting Learning in My Second-Grade Classroom
  • Focus - See First Hand Best Practices in Iowa Core Literacy, Iowa Core Math, Technology with My Students, and RTI with My Students; time for networking as well.
  • 8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. (continental breakfast and lunch served)
  • Stoney Creek Inn, Johnston, IA
  • $90 if ISEA or Iowa ASCD member; $150 for non-members
  • Includes opportunities for follow-up webinars and twitter chats as well as Grade 2 web site resources

Grade 3

  • April 27 - Impacting Learning in My Third-Grade Classroom
  • Focus - See First Hand Best Practices in Iowa Core Literacy, Iowa Core Math, Technology with My Students, and RTI with My Students; time for networking as well.
  • 8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. (continental breakfast and lunch served)
  • Stoney Creek Inn, Johnston, IA
  • $90 if ISEA or Iowa ASCD member; $150 for non-members
  • Includes opportunities for follow-up webinars and twitter chats as well as Grade 3 web site resources
Iowa ASCD - Twitter!

Stay current with learning! Follow Iowa ASCD on Twitter!   

http://twitter.com/#!/IowaASCD  

E-Learning - Accountability Measures to Consider

Education Week recently summarized experts' key steps to integrate accountability into virtual schools' programs.  These are tips we all need to consider as we continue with e-learning for our students.
  • Have students take exams in person to ensure they are doing their own work and absorbing information.
  • Assess how students are doing numerous times throughout a course and provide intervention strategies as early as possible
  • Use programs that can track detailed data on how long it. takes a student to complete assignments, how often students are participating, and how frequently students and teachers have contact.
  • Judge online schools by the same measures that brick-and-mortar schools are evaluated by; for example, adequate yearly progress and state testing

Check out additional information at Ed Week's article on e-learning

 

Added Note:  Are you aware that the U.S. government is working to assure that all students have access to e-books by 2017?  Will you be ready?
Webinars:  Opportunities for Professional Learning
  • What Makes the Adolescent and Teen Brain So Different? 
    • Presenter:  Dr. Judy Willis
    • Provider:  ASCD
    • Date:  April 11, 2012 (2:00 P.M. CST)
    •  Register Free  

Iowa ASCD is the source for developing instructional leadership. Serving more than 790 educators - teachers, principals, superintendents, directors of curriculum, technology specialists, college professors, AEA staff - Iowa ASCD strives to develop the collaborative capacity to impact the learning of each and every student in Iowa.

 

In This Issue
Be Sure to Vote
Party in Philadelphia
Invitation to Principals
House Hosts Hearing
Senator Reed's Bill
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Grades 2 and 3 Conferences
Iowa ASCD Twitter!
E-Learning - Are You Prepared?

Quick Links:

 

Iowa ASCD  

 

Iowa ASCD Ning 

 

Iowa ASCD Twitter

 


Iowa ASCD Contacts

 

President

Leslie Moore

 

President-Elect

Jason Ellingson 

   

Past President

Julie Davies

 

Membership Information

Bridget Arrasmith

 

Secretary

Marcia Tweeten 

 

Treasurer

Julie Davies  

 

Members-at-Large

Julie Grotewold 

Bart Mason 

Cindy Swanson 

Kevin Vidergar 

 

DE Liaison

 Eric Neessen 

 

Higher Education

Jan Beatty-Westerman 

Elaine Smith-Bright 

 

Communications Editor

Tom Ahart 

 

Leadership Council (ASCD)

Pam Armstrong-Vogel 

Susan Pecinovsky 

 

Curriculum Leadership Academy

Sue Wood 

 

Fall Institute

Kelly Adams 

 

Summer Institutes & Planning Chair 

Cindy Swanson 

 

Technology

Chris Welch  

 

Membership Relations and E-Learning

Amy Wichman 

 

Executive Director

Lou Howell