August 15th Edition

The Attitude of the Leader

by Baruti K. Kafele

For the 14 years that I served as an urban principal in New Jersey, I couldn’t wrap my mind around the notion that the achievement gap was my primary issue. Although it existed and it was rather wide, I did not see a change in instructional practices being the solution to closing this gap. I was convinced that the problem was deeper than achievement yet within our grasp to correct. It was my strong contention then, as it continues to be today, that the attitudes of students, staff, and administrators matter. As I say regularly, attitude is everything!

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Role of LEA Representative in IEP Meetings: Supporting CCR IEPs

by Daniel Parker, Assistant Director of Special Education, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

There are many people who touch the lives of students who receive special education services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) as they journey through public education. The Local Educational Agency (LEA) representative is an important and required team member of each student’s IEP Team. In many districts, the role of the (LEA) representative is fulfilled by building principals. 

As a member of the IEP team, this person works collaboratively with other IEP team members to develop a program based on each student’s unique needs that is reasonably calculated to enable the student to make progress appropriate in light of the individual student’s circumstances, and assists the team in documenting that program in the student’s IEP. 

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Building Administrator Checklist

by Joe Schroeder, Ph.D. Associate Executive Director, AWSA

As a new school year circles around, we once again share our Building Administrator Checklist.  This document provides a list of reminders, prompts, and potential ideas for a school leader to consider as he/she works through the school year.  With such a list at your fingertips, we hope that you can lead ever more proactively and deliberately, minimizing the last-minute scramble, and easing any anxiety about "what comes next?"  

It remains a tremendous honor to serve those who serve Wisconsin's students and communities so capably and devotedly.  May 2018-19 may be your most impactful and satisfying year yet!

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August 29th Edition

Your “Why” as a Critical Driver of Change

by Joe Schroeder, Ph.D. Associate Executive Director, AWSA

Principals are up to their ears in the what.  Strategies, tactics, initiatives, practice components, reports, and school/community events comprise just a short list of the many activities filling the daily life of an educational leader.  But the impact of the what that we do is rather limited unless coherently connected to our why, that clear purpose or rationale for what we do and how it relates to achieving a vision greater than ourselves. 

So, how clear is your why (both for you and for others), how tightly does it align to your actions, and how might you go about generating such an inner clarity that powerfully grounds, guides, and serves your school community?

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Early College Credit Program Updates

by Tahira Chaudary, DPI 

As you may remember, Wisconsin Act 59 (Act) introduced the new Early College Credit Program (ECCP), which replaced the Course Options and Youth Options programs. All changes were effective July 1, 2018, which means this fall is the first time students across the state are participating in the program. The ECCP allows Wisconsin public and private high school students to take one or more courses at an institution of higher education (IHE) for high school and/or college credit. Within the ECCP statute, IHE refers to an institution in the University of Wisconsin System (UW System), a tribally controlled college, or a private, nonprofit institution of higher education (WAICU) located in the state. 

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Wisconsin Office of School Safety Announces Training Opportunities

 The Wisconsin Office of School Safety has announced several training opportunities, including:
  • School Violence Threat Assessment Team training
  • Adolescent Mental Health training
  • The Intersection of FERPA, School Safety, and Liability

To find out more about these opportunities click here.

 2018-19 Associate Principal of the Year Award

The 2018-19 Associate Principal of the Year award is now accepting nominations! The Wisconsin Associate Principal of the Year program recognizes Associate Principals whose leadership has resulted in improved student learning, instructional collaboration, and a safe and positive school environment. Nominations are accepted from teachers, parents, principals, and others across Wisconsin. 

To nominate an associate principal please fill out the nomination form that can be found attached below or in the link above and have it emailed to Jena Sebald at [email protected] by October 1, 2018.