leadership in high schools

I am studying the readership of this blog via the clustermap that I have posted.  Initially when I started this blog I intended it to be a communication tool with the faculty and staff

that I work with.  My purpose was to encourage the development of classroom blogs  increase the use of  instructional blogging to improve students communication skills with

ineractive media.  Today, in reviewing the readership of this blog, I want to reach out to the readership. 

• What do you want to know about in terms of managing a school in New York State, in  its broadest sense? 

The above question is being addressed to readership throughtout the world.  I do not mind what your current job is or whether you work in a school or not.  Your questions need to be posted to this blog in the comments section and I will address them through  my posts.

Even in this globally unsettling time, educators are on the move.  Many interested in expanding their skills and broaden their experiences. 

This week I am saying goodbye to Christine Burdick, former Supervisor of Instructional Programs/Principal at the Chautauqua Lake and LoGuidice Center.  Christine also worked with Brocton, Fredonia and Lakeshore School systems.  Prior to this she worked in the School Improvement programs of Erie 2 CC BOCES.  She has worked 8 years in this organization and is now moving on to work for the Sherman Central School system as both a Staff Developer and a Special Education Chair. 

Fran Frey is another Principal/Director of Special Education that is moving on.  This time to Allegeny-Limestone School District.  She will be assuming the role of Director of Special Education for that School District. 

Our Teacher Assistant, Lauren Hanson is hours away from hearing if she got the consultant teacher job at Warren School District.  Lauren joined the BOCES just a few years ago, got tenure this year as a Teaching Assistant while completing her Masters in Special Education with certification in both Pennsylvania and New York. 

All three women are examples of educators who are not allowing the gloomy economic times to stand in the way of their professional progress. 

pbs.org is a wonderful teacher instructional resourse.  Check it out and this following story that is available  on this site.  

Sangeeta Bhatia was a featured scientist on the NOVA program tonight on public television.  She is both an engineer (MIT) and medical doctor pioneering external artifical kidneys as well as pioneering breakthrough research into non-invasive targetting of cancer cells.  What is doubly interesting about Sangeeta is that she is a daughter, wife and mother of two little girls who manages to balance her hectic life without sacrificing her family.  She gives her family credit for helping her be rounded and successful.  She went out and bought her daughters Marie Curie dolls instead of Barbies -”Barbie hated science.  Marie Curie had two daughters, one who also was awarded a Nobel prize just like her mother. 

Section 504 — an important civil rights law — available to more students with LD and/or AD/HD. ection 504 — an important civil rights law — available to more students with LD and/or AD/HD.

The above link references the broader expansion of Seciton 504 accomodations and elligibility for students who were hitherto deemed inelligible. 

David Warlick was the guest presentor.  David is a former North Carolina Teacher and Administrator.  Check him out using Google.

Here are some thoughts he shared

• Exponential Information growth – 37 libraries of Congress (the largest library in the World is the Library of Congress in Washington DC, USA) is the value of each minute of global information growth
• Learn something new everyday and share it
• We should teach our students Literacy information which is reliable, trustworthy and credible so that it can be used efficiently and effectively for personal growth- how to gather, sift through, analyse, evaluate and disseminate information using the world wide web.  Our students do not know how to do this. 
• More to come…………