 |
|
Electronic Connections ~ July 2009
Promoting exemplary practices that ensure all learners reach their fullest potential
|
|
|
|||
| From the President's Desk ... On behalf of the California ASCD Leadership Council, we thank President Sandy Bacon for her two years of outstanding leadership. Sandy's focus on "Leadership through Influence as an Educational Community" was demonstrated by the California's work on the International ASCD initiatives and statewide issues, in partnership with ACSAand other agencies and sponsors. Sandy will not only continue to serve California ASCD as the Past President, but she will serve on the International ASCD as a member of their Leadership Council.  During this next year, California ASCD will continue to provide information to California educators about exemplary curriculum, instruction, and leadership practices through our Electronic Connections e-blasts and professional development opportunities. California ASCD will also continue to work with other state associations and sponsors to ensure that, despite tough economic times, programs and services will be offered to promote improvement in learning and teaching. Please support California ASCD by being an active member and recruiting others to do the same. Mike Hendricks CASCD Incoming President |
| Budget Update ACSA (Association of California School Administrators) is heavily involved in the State Budget process, and works closely with legislators and the governor to ensure Proposition 98 is protected and California schools have the resources they need to serve students. ACSA provides regular updates on State Budget machinations to keep members aware of the latest developments. These updates can also be obtained by e-mail. Click here to subscribe to ACSA mailing lists. |
| Fullerton Union High School student wins national title Vanessa Garcia convinced everyone she felt guilty about having an abortion - even though she did not have one. Only five minutes before stepping in front of a huge crowd, Garcia had been handed that topic for her speech. Garcia, 18, is a member of Fullerton Union High School's Speech and Debate team (OC Register - learn more). |
| Teach with Twitter What is Twitter? Just the hottest social networking application. Considered a micro-blog, Twitter combines the narrow focus of texting with the power of social networking. One educator says that using Twitter in the classroom teaches students to write concisely, using only 140 characters, and also allows students to collaborate and share resources. However, even as more educators use Twitter, others worry about privacy, say the Web site actually harms learning and see no valuable use for the technology in academia (Washington Post - learn more). Follow ASCD on Twitter and check out the Tech & Learning Articles: Nine reasons to Twitter in School and 25 ways to teach with Twitter. |
| Stimulus funds assist University Research in Sacramento, Davis When David Sternbergh teaches science to first- and second-graders in Fairfield, he shows them how the forces of nature draw a ball down a ramp. This summer, however, his experience with science is a lot more complex. Sternbergh is spending the summer in a UC Davis laboratory where scientists are conducting stem cell research that ultimately could help people with multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy (Sacramento Bee - learn more). |
| The Digital Textbook Divide
As the financial deficit continues to rattle California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has set his sights on new target: printed textbooks. He wants to terminate them all and replace them with digital learning materials by the fall to save the state money (Converge Magazine - learn more). And learn how one state is using their 1-to-1 laptop program to ensure all students have a textbook and avoid the bulging backpacks. Read Tech & Learning's Look Ma No Textbooks!.
|
| Central Office Administrator of the Year - Dr. Eric Andrew We congratulate CASCD Leadership Council member Eric Andrew for being selected as ACSA's 2009 Central Office Administrator of the Year. In the world of the public's perception of education, most parents are aware of their child's teacher, principal and perhaps superintendent. But often missing in this equation are the key players in the district office. The public often doesn't see these educators, but they play a crucial role in the K-12 system, providing information and leadership to school sites to allow them to improve student achievement as well as to meet the myriad mandates required of education.
Glendora USD filters all its actions through its three primary goals of increasing student achievement, strategic resource allocation and promoting a college-going culture. Dr. Andrew has played a key role in all areas, particularly in the latter, serving as chairperson for the district Four Year College Going Committee. There he leads education stakeholders, including board members, parents, teachers, administrators and college representatives. The committee's main goal is to assure all Glendora USD students have the knowledge, skills and motivation to successfully obtain a college degree (ACSA article - learn more). |
| Time to Rev Up Fresno Unified principal Jack Jarvis describes a variety of rich material that is available to assist our students through the learning process, but exclaims his concern that many educators are still sending home "endless black-and-white vocabulary exercises with not a picture in sight." Check out the latest entry in TICAL's education blog: TBLOGICAL ... agree or disagree? Share your thoughts.
|
