The 2014 annual Secondary Needs Assessment results have been published. This survey is conducted each year by VASSP and the VDOE and this year fewer than 200 surveys were submitted by principals and assistant principals. The categories that were marked or written in as needing assistance are listed below: 21% — Special Education in Middle …
March 2014 archive
Mar 28
Assistant Principal Week March 31 – April 4
Just a reminder that NASSP celebrates the accomplishments and importance of assistant principals in middle and high schools in March/April. This is a time to put your AP’s in the spotlight and have your entire school community recognize the importance of these developing leaders in our nations’ middle and high schools. NASSP has some recommendations …
Mar 26
Flipped Instruction With a Different Twist
If some of your staff members have attempted flipped instruction for their classes but have not been successful or if you have a staffer who wants to try it using a different approach, then this blog may be just what you need. Flipping instruction, direct instruction at home by video and guided practice (homework) in the …
Mar 19
Social Activities for High Schoolers Becoming Passe?
In a recent edition of Business Insider, an article is following a new trend with teens: technology may be taking place of significant adolescent activities. The article, “My High School No Longer Holds Dances Because Students Would Rather Stay Home And Text Each Other,” provides a look at a unique phenomena for adolescents – technology over individual or …
Mar 17
Federal Legislation Proposed to Improve Principal/Teacher Evaluation and Professional Development
Amanda Karhouse, NASSP’s Director of Advocacy is providing school administrators information that is being introduced by Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) and Congressman Donald Payne (D-NJ) that focuses on the importance of teacher and principal quality by “providing intensive, job-embeded professional development that is useful and relevant to educators work.” http://nasspblogs.org/principalspolicy/2014/03/new-bill-aims-to-improve-teacher-and-principal-evaluations-and-professional-development/ NASSP supports the Great Teaching and Leading for …
Mar 12
VASSP Election Notice Memorandum
The following memorandum is being provided for VASSP members seeking a leadership position on the Board of Directors for VASSP. These positions are reviewed to be nominated by the VASSP Board of Nominators. Please read through the information and if you have any questions, please contact the VASSP office in Richmond at: 804.355.2777 (fax) 804.355.4262 www.vassp.org VIRGINIA …
Mar 12
Goodbye and Thanks Dr. Wright
At some point in time, posting this blog was inevitable and it would have to be posted, but this just seems to early to do so. Dr. Patricia I. Wright, State Superintendent of Instruction for the Commonwealth of Virginia, has been leading public education in Virginia since 2008 and now will leave us for retirement. During her tenure, Dr. Wright …
Mar 11
Virginia DOE Salary Survey
If you wonder how your school division teacher and administrative salaries compare with those across the Commonwealth, the Virginia Department of Education has published this information by school divisions. Published in January 2013, this report lists salary information from fiscal years 2011, 2012 and budget information for 2013. Year to year percentage changes in salary averages …
Mar 10
STEM Essay Contest for Junior/Senior Girls in the Commonwealth
The Virginia Council on Women along with the Science Museum of Virginia has announced the 3rd annual STEM Essay Contest for high school junior and senior girls. Last year, the council raised $22,000 to distribute as scholarhip awards. Governor McCauliffe has added his support for this program noting that “Encouraging all of our students to …
Mar 06
SAT: Changes to Return to Basics
The Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT, is under revision again. The last major revision was in 2005 when a writing section was added with multiple-choice questions and a timed essay. This revised version will become the new standard in 2016, just in time for the current ninth grade students’ college admission preparation. Among the new …