Information Technology Essential Standards

The Instructional Facilitator's did a great job with their presentation on the Information Technology Essential Standards last month for both Principal's and Assistant Principals.  The link to the presentation can be found here:



ITES

The YouTube clips are great, demonstrating some of the strategies that allow teachers to incorporate these standards into their instruction.  I really like the young girl explaining how "QR Codes" work.  As a matter of fact, I created a QR code the day after the meeting and it is still on my office door.

Located in the presentation are five "Fast Facts" of the ITES:

• The ITES are to be embedded within all areas of the curriculum.

• Classroom teachers are responsible for teaching the new ITES standards beginning this current school year.

• Media Coordinators and Technology Facilitators, as ITES experts, will collaborate with teachers to plan, create, teach, and assess effective student instruction.

• The ITES must be taught in all North Carolina schools-in places where technology is prevalent, as well as schools with limited technology access.

• Technology and information tools and resources must be taught and used in authentic ways.

This is simply a small sampling of the technology needed to incorporate the new Information Technology Essential Standards into our classrooms.  It's important for school leaders to become familiar with these standards, as well as comfortable discussing their implement them into instruction.    


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CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.

Pre-Payment Update for NC Educators

In November, I published a post called "No More Pre-Payment for Educators in NC". 

In an effort to address concerns raised by teachers and still move forward with ending pre-payment as called for under the 2011 law change, the N.C. Association of School Administrators and the N.C. School Boards Association gave the committee chairs a slightly revised proposal from the previous array of pay date options that we had endorsed. The revised proposal from NCASA and NCSBA would do the following:

• Delay the ending of pre-payment until July 1, 2013 for all districts.
• Require all school districts to provide their first paycheck by Aug. 31 each school year but include pay only for the days worked.
• Allow for district flexibility with the establishment of pay dates that would follow the initial August pay date.
• Allow for multiple payroll checks each month.
• Enable an early payroll date in December.

Here is the revised proposal from the NCASA and NCSBA Regarding Pay Date Options for School Districts in North Carolina

To all educators in North Carolina, make sure to follow this story.  It impacts all of us!

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CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.

The Proposal in NC & My Thoughts

There have been some hot stove topics recently in the local media dealing with student-athletes.  Here are some of my thoughts:

There is a debated discussion right now dealing with high school athletics in North Carolina and whether parochial and charter schools should compete in the same postseason as public schools.  Some schools are currently members of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and belong to NCHSAA conferences, thus competing in the same postseason for team and individual state championships.  Recently, a proposal was put forth into motion to allow these schools to continue competing in their conferences, but have separate state playoffs (only parochial and charter schools). 

The basis for this proposal was due to the fact that parochial and charter schools do not have any attendance boundaries, where public schools have strict attendance boundaries.  I can speak from experience: the required paperwork for each student-athlete to verify they indeed live in the correct zone is endless in my previous district. 

Is it fair to have these schools compete against each other in state competition?  In my high school athletic career, I played at a public school and we would qualify for the Men's Tennis State Tournament and have to compete against Detroit Country Day School and University Ligget, both private schools.  One year, in which we finished 4th overall (the previously mentioned two schools finished #1-2), we joked about being state runners-up in the "public school tournament".  We were all competing, but definitely were not on a level playing field.  Then again, that was public vs private, which we already have the private-school competition. 

I also wonder why Magnet schools have not been included in this proposal.  If the primary reasoning is attendance, shouldn't Magnet schools be included?  Magnet schools pull students from anywhere within their district, regardless of their "home school".  In some districts which allow in-district transfer, a student has to sit out for 365 days before competing in athletics.  Student-athletes are allowed to play immediately in Magnet schools.

If Magnet Schools are included, then what about schools with International Baccalaureate (IB) programs?  These students don't necessarily attend the school closest to their home address.  I would hate to think students would chose not to participate in an IB program because of athletics, but it very well could happen.

If this proposal is adopted, it could drastically change high school athletics in North Carolina.  I will be very interested to see the result of the proposal and the ongoing discussion that will certainly take place.

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CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.

What Sean Payton's Suspension Can Remind School Leaders

The recently suspended Head Coach of the National Football League's New Orleans Saints: "As the head coach, anything that happens within the framework of your team and your program, you're responsible for."

This is an extremely important reminder to all School Leaders, especially Principals.  I think anyone involved in education can simply replace "head coach" with "school leader" and "team" with "school", resulting in the following:  "As the school leader, anything that happens within the framework of your school, you're responsible for."

The great Bobby Bowden said, "It was my job to be a chief executive officer and oversee the entire program.", when discussing the importance of having an idea of what was going on throughout his program.  He also acknowledged that, due to the size of a Division I college football program, it was impossible to stay on top of every single individual.  Therefore, he put forth a large emphasis on surrounding himself with assistant coaches that held the same beliefs about right and wrong.  He relied heavily on their judgement to make him aware of anything worthy of attention.

School leaders must also do the same.  It is an unrealistic expectation for a Principal to be directly involved in every single aspect of the school, as this type of micro-managing would drain any school leader into immediate burn-out.  But, as Coach Sean Payton eluded to, the school leader is responsible for everything within the framework of the school.  Therefore, it is crucial for a Principal to surround themselves with an administrative team in which they trust, as well as empower teacher leaders within the school.

We live in the modern society where responsibility must always fall to someone and, fair or unfair, this usually falls to the top.  Sean Payton's suspension, although unrelated to education, is a perfect reminder to all school leaders. 

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CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.

What Makes A Successful Student?

“WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL STUDENT?”

by

James Robert White, Ed. D.

STAY IN SCHOOL!

THINK CAREFULLY!

USE TIME WISELY!

DEVELOP GOOD STUDY HABITS!

ENGAGE IN MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES!

NEVER  SKIP CLASSES!

TAKE LEARNING SERIOUSLY!

SUCCESS                   SUCCESS                   SUCCESS

[Copyright © January 25, 2005]

(Dr.) James Robert White, Ed.D.

Assistant Principal ▬ Catawba Heights Elementary School

101 Ivy Street

Belmont, North Carolina 28012

(704) 827-3221 Fax: (704) 827-2419

Thanks for reading and please follow me via Twitter @CSmithGoBlue

CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.

What Makes A Successful Teacher?

“WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL TEACHER?”

by

James Robert White, Ed. D.

TREAT ALL STUDENTS FAIRLY!

ENTHUSIASM FOR YOUR WORK IS A MUST!

ALLOW STUDENTS TO BE CURIOUS!

COMMUNICATE REGULARLY WITH PARENTS!

HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF AND THE STUDENTS!

EMPHASIZE STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY!

RESPECT STUDENTS’ OPINIONS!

SUCCESS           SUCCESS           SUCCESS

[Copyright © January 25, 2005]

(Dr.) James Robert White, Ed.D.

Assistant Principal ▬ Catawba Heights Elementary School

101 Ivey Street

Belmont, North Carolina 28012

(704) 827-3221 Fax: (704) 827-2419

 

Thanks for reading and please follow me via Twitter @CSmithGoBlue

CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.

What Makes A Successful Parent?

What Makes A Successful Parent?

In an ongoing series and in preparation for Elementary and Middle School Parent-Teacher conferences, an Assistant Principal in my district has created a display for parents.  You can also check out TIPS for Successful Parent/Teacher Conferences.

“WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL PARENT?”

by

James Robert White, Ed. D.

PRACTICE   WHAT   YOU   PREACH!

           

ALWAYS   LISTEN  TO  YOUR  CHILD!

RESERVE  QUALITY  TIME  DAILY  TO  SPEND  WITH  YOUR  CHILD!

ENCOURAGE  YOUR   CHILD  TO  ALWAYS  DO  HIS/HER  BEST!

NEVER  GIVE   UP!

TEACH   RESPONSIBILITY!

[Copyright © January 25, 2005]

(Dr.) James Robert White, Ed.D.

Assistant Principal ▬ Catawba Heights Elementary School

101 Ivey Street

Belmont, North Carolina 28012

(704) 827-3221 Fax: (704) 827-2419

Thanks for reading and please follow me via Twitter @CSmithGoBlue

CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.