leadership in high schools

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5311801

Go to this link from National Public Radio to hear a recording by Thembi a young South African woman who became a aids activist and very popular for demystifying aids in her county and humanizing the face of this horrible disease.  Thembi was 16 when she first learned that she had contacted this disease.  Her voice resonates with emotional maturity, the musical voice and intonation evokes the rich culture of this part of southern africa…………..this weekend she died.  Learn about this battle in a modern world fought in the most developed county in Africa. 

Once a year as a supervisor/principal of this BOCES I have to complete summative evaluations for all staff including teachers, related service professionals. teacher assistants, aides and other support staff.  Suffice it to say that this most important work that speaks to assessments and accountability on the part of schools is like writing an essay that never ends.  I always feel that when I mark someone in need of improvement, I myself have failed as a principal……….the connection a principal feels to programs, teachers and staff is a very personal and profound relationship.  It is sustained by the excitement of new programs, tweeked programs, new emphasis etc.  This will be a very difficult week for me because all this work has to be completed before the June 1 deadline.  My rationale for waiting so long?

• I want to maximise opportunities for staff to shine
• I want to have examples of more than one stellar achievement.
• I want to give folks an opportunity to show growth and improvement. 
• I work best when under pressure and stress.  Words flow more smoothly and my creative juices are more visable in my writing style…..at least I think so:)

Approximately 78 students at the Hewes Center indicate need for mental health services this is out of a total population of about 110 students.  This number is astronomical by any school standard.  However given the fact that these students have “earned” their way out of their local public school – discipline referrals, failing academics, suspensions, absenteeism, truancy etc, this is not unusual for a BOCES alternative and special education setting. 

In light of the above need, we at the Hewes Center have solicited the help of the University of Buffalo, School of Social Work which has recommended two interns to our school program next year.  The recommendation requires that we in the BOCES interview the 2 candidates, provide a BOCES cooperative social worker for them and oversee a body of work that will allow us to chart how we find success for this student population.  Our two interviewing interns will be Jonathan Livengood and Kim Cofer.  Our cooperative social worker from within our BOCES who will oversee the work of these interns directly because of certification requirements is Yvonne Bisel.   Interviews will begin in early June. 

Digital Cameras & Video

Keep a digital camera in the classroom and you’ll most likely use it on a daily basis. Emailing photos is a great way for new teachers to build instant rapport with parents. Think of creative uses: Record the different stages of a science experiment, go outside and capture examples of geometry in nature and architecture, chronicle class events and projects throughout the year. You can post photos periodically on the web and also at the end of the year in a culminating slide show.

Get kids in on the action too. As roving reporters they can take photos for a classroom or school newspaper and later upload and format them on the computer. Students feel more invested in their work when given creative control and the leeway to learn-by-doing when it comes to technical equipment. Just make sure to begin with a lesson about gentle handling of digital cameras and establish rules about use.

Video can add a whole new dimension to student multimedia presentations, teacher-led lessons and school-related websites. Look for new handheld camcorders with on-board software for easy uploading to your computer or to video-sharing sites. They’re surprisingly affordable and a whole lot of fun!

For more information visit the “Digital Gadgets” section of Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators:
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/gadgets.html

Wireless Labs

Wireless technology is the ultimate way to integrate high-tech directly into the classroom. Portable wireless labs make sense for many districts. Make a case for getting your own school up to speed. Portable labs save space and money by sharing equipment throughout your school. Plus they give teachers and administrators greater flexibility when it comes to scheduling classes. Browse the CDW-G website for ideas. http://www.cdwg.com/ A typical wireless lab includes the following:

• 20 tablet PCs
• 3 wireless access points
• 1 mobile cart
• 1 interactive whiteboard
• 20 whiteboard responders
• 1 video projector
• 1 document camera
• 2 digital cameras
• 2 camcorders
• 1 laser jet printer

 Multimedia Software

Multimedia software facilitates active, self-directed learning. Students can make connections and discoveries on their own or collaborate with others in the classroom. They learn how to integrate a variety of content from a variety of media to create effective presentations, and they learn how to sift through and process the barrage of information thrown at them on a daily basis. Multimedia is much more than bells and whistles—it is a new way of teaching and learning that encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and communications skills.

Discovery Education streaming

http://www.discoveryeducation.com/products/streaming/

Looking for a video clip to illustrate a key concept? Or to enliven a lesson on social studies, science, math, literature, fine arts or foreign languages? Discovery Education Streaming is just the ticket. You get what you want, when you want it—whether you’re used to planning ahead or spur-of-the-moment. Discovery Education Streaming is a huge time-saver for teachers accustomed to scrambling around to find the right videos to fit the curriculum.

With thousands of high-quality curriculum-aligned clips for K—12, Discovery is the only digital video-based learning resource scientifically proven to increase student achievement. And it’s one of the most convenient and efficient ways to integrate technology into your curriculum on a daily basis (if we do say so ourselves).

Last year we successfully collaborated with Das Puppenspiel and wrote a grant that was funded by the Arts Council of Chautauqua County an organization that manages the local capacity grants for New York State in support of the ARTS.  This collaboration resulted in the puppet production of Peter and the Wolf (a Russian Fable).  This school year 2008-2009 we have again submitted a grant proposal for consideration by the Arts Council.  We hope to make the cut this February 2009.  Many teachers are involved in this venture and have lent their full hearted support to this project which will allow us to work again with Das Puppenspiel and bring to production another excellent puppet show that will utilize and develop the skills and talents of our students at the Hewes Center grades K-12.

The Arts Council works in collaboration with Erie 2 CC BOCES which supports a cooperative service titled the Arts in Education.  Through this Cooperative Service (Co-Ser),  schools within the supervisory district of this BOCES can invest money in the Arts and allow for the funding of valuable resident artists like poets, sculptors, actors etc. who come into school and work directly with teachers and students to make the arts living, breathable ventures that are multi-disciplinary in approach and celebrate the highest level of Blooms Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, focus on multiple intelligences and teach/model creativity for all types of learners. 

On Friday, January 23rd, 2009 about 60 students, their teachers and support staff at the Hewes Center, will travel by bus to the Reg Lenna Civic Center to attend a Hip Hop production.  Hip Hop music and dance interpretations are the current craze amongst young people.  This student field trip will extend the boundaries of understanding for both students and adults.  American culture in flux and in the making will be discovered anew by different generations that all make up the fabric of learning activity at the Hewes Center – Baby Boomers and generation Y will have the opportunity to celebrate the Arts on stage.  Conversations and positive relations will be built between students and adults via this outing.  I am very excited that so many teachers and students have shown enthusiasm for this field trip.  Thank you Laurie Wilcox, Jamie Monaco, Amy Stormer, Dru Cole, Cindy Jackson and Jim Hedlund.  The latter two teachers teach a course on the Foundations of Music and will delight in the extension of this learning via the Hip Hop production.  Our teachers and students will have an opportunity to meet Mr. Len Barry, Program Coordinator  of the Arts Council and we, Erie 2 CC BOCES, hope that this relationship will grow the collaboration of our instructional programs  with the Arts Council.  The  bounty of this great gem in our local community together with the collective talents of people like Len Barry allow schools like Jamestown, Ripley, Clymer (that I know of) to bring exciting programs to the level of students in these school districts.  We must get the message out to more school districts in Chautauqua County so that they too can participate in these student centered community based programs that expand the visions of our school and promote the mission of education. 

New US President Barack Obama claims to be a  firm supporter of the arts in education.  Go to the link below to hear a speech he gave to a high school in Pennslvannia when he was on the campaign trail wherein he celebrates the fact that in even the poorest of schools when he grew up, they had music and art teachers.  Let us hope that his committment is real and that we shall see greater collaboration between school and institutions that promote the arts in education. 

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98931463