Education Alabama NE WS& NO TE S · Alabama Education NE WS & NO TE S ISSUE 45/2 OCT 2019 2 The...
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A monthly publication providing the latest information for Alabama Educators from the Alabama State Department of Education. Alabama Education & NEWS NOTES ISSUE 45/2 OCTOBER 2019 www.alsde.edu T HANK YOU, ALABAMA, FOR TAKE 10…. minutes out of your busy schedules to tell us how you feel about public education. As we continue to chart a course towards excellent public education in Alabama, we do so with the concerns and the interests of the people of Alabama in mind. The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) asked everyone in the state who cares about public education to take 10 minutes out of their day and participate in the TAKE 10 FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION SURVEY from September 10, 2019 until October 10, 2019. The response was overwhelming! More than 20,000 people took the time to express their opinions about public education in the state. We are being intentional about reaching the public and really taking their thoughts and concerns into consideration. In addition to the sentiments we are gathering from the survey, the ALSDE is also convening a Strategic Plan Committee comprised of stakeholders who will help us build a strategic plan to guide us through the years to come. We have every expectation that the resulting product will be a strategic plan with ambitious goals as well as clearly defined, obtainable, and measurable objectives. We are putting into place a plan that will serve as the roadmap for an education system in Alabama that considers; Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day. That is why the perspectives of so many people are vital to the development of this strategic plan. We reached out to teachers, principals, students, superintendents, legislators, retirees, military families, faith communities, education advocates and agencies, chambers of commerce, and many others to see how people in the state of Alabama feel about a variety of issues facing public education today. From school safety and funding issues, to communication efforts and policy concerns, the TAKE 10 FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION survey was designed to allow officials at the ALSDE to have a glimpse into the opinions of a broad spectrum of Alabamians. Our expectation is to enter the year 2020 with a vision for Alabama that is robust and provides our students with what they need to have an incredibly bright future. For most people, especially parents, there is nothing more important than making sure our children are in a safe environment that is conducive to learning and growing academically and personally. My primary responsibility as State Superintendent is to bring that to fruition. We have so many young people who are smart, engaged, hard-working, and optimistic. The future is theirs for the taking. It is us, the educational leaders of Alabama, who have the onus of making sure we guide them towards excellence and away from the detractions of life that would prevent them from being all they have the potential to be. We are hopeful that the development of our new strategic plan will be the cornerstone from which much educational progress will be built in the future. Thank You Alabama for the Awesome Response to the Take 10 Public Education Survey! More than 20,000 people took the time to express their opinions about public education in the state!
Transcript of Education Alabama NE WS& NO TE S · Alabama Education NE WS & NO TE S ISSUE 45/2 OCT 2019 2 The...
A monthly publication providing the latest information for Alabama Educators from the Alabama State Department of Education.
AlabamaEducation &NEWS NOTES
I S S U E 4 5 / 2O C T O B E R 2 0 1 9
www.alsde.edu
THANK YOU, ALABAMA, FOR TAKE 10…. minutes out ofyour busy schedules to tell us how you feel about public
education. As we continue to chart a course towards excellentpublic education in Alabama, we do so with the concerns andthe interests of the people of Alabama in mind. The AlabamaState Department of Education (ALSDE) asked everyone in thestate who cares about public education to take 10 minutesout of their day and participate in the TAKE 10 FOR PUBLICEDUCATION SURVEY from September 10, 2019 untilOctober 10, 2019.
The response was overwhelming! More than 20,000people took the time to express their opinions about publiceducation in the state.
We are being intentional about reaching the public andreally taking their thoughts and concerns into consideration.In addition to the sentiments we are gathering from thesurvey, the ALSDE is also convening a Strategic PlanCommittee comprised of stakeholders who will help us builda strategic plan to guide us through the years to come.
We have every expectation that the resulting product willbe a strategic plan with ambitious goals as well as clearlydefined, obtainable, and measurable objectives. We areputting into place a plan that will serve as the roadmap for aneducation system in Alabama that considers; Every Child,Every Chance, Every Day.
That is why the perspectives of so many people are vitalto the development of this strategic plan. We reached out to
teachers, principals, students, superintendents, legislators,retirees, military families, faith communities, educationadvocates and agencies, chambers of commerce, and manyothers to see how people in the state of Alabama feel about avariety of issues facing public education today. From schoolsafety and funding issues, to communication efforts andpolicy concerns, the TAKE 10 FOR PUBLIC EDUCATIONsurvey was designed to allow officials at the ALSDE to have aglimpse into the opinions of a broad spectrum of Alabamians.
Our expectation is to enter the year 2020 with a visionfor Alabama that is robust and provides our students withwhat they need to have an incredibly bright future. For mostpeople, especially parents, there is nothing more importantthan making sure our children are in a safe environment thatis conducive to learning and growing academically andpersonally. My primary responsibility as State Superintendentis to bring that to fruition.
We have so many young people who are smart, engaged,hard-working, and optimistic. The future is theirs for thetaking. It is us, the educational leaders of Alabama, who havethe onus of making sure we guide them towards excellenceand away from the detractions of life that would prevent themfrom being all they have the potential to be. We are hopefulthat the development of our new strategic plan will be thecornerstone from which much educational progress will bebuilt in the future.
Thank You Alabamafor the AwesomeResponse to the Take 10 PublicEducation Survey!
More than 20,000 people took the time to express their opinions about public education in the state!
AlabamaEducation &NEWS NOTESwww.alsde.edu I S S U E 4 5 / 2
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The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) reports that only 16% ofhigh school seniors are proficient in math and interested in a STEM career.
The United States is falling behind internationally, ranking 29th in math and 22nd inscience among industrialized nations. In our competitive global economy, thissituation is unacceptable. In 2015, President Obama articulated a clear priority forSTEM education: “Within a decade, American students must move from the middleto the top of the pack in science and math."
Last year, I tasked our Engineering Club, the Technology Student Association(TSA), with creating a new community service outreach program. Our previous project involved the design,building, and installation of new kennel doors at our local humane shelter. While our efforts did make a bigdifference to a small population, I wanted my students to step out from behind their computers and to engageour entire community. We examined the educational statistics above and decided to host STEM Nights at eachof our local elementary and middle schools. Based on the size of our school system, this was no smallundertaking and required a large commitment on the part of the TSA students.
After emailing the school principals to gauge interest in TSA-sponsored STEM Nights for their schools, we received overwhelmingly positive responses from each school. I assigned our club members the task ofcreating and developing a budget and an invoice to send to the schools for supplies. The students had toresearch the ALSDE course of study requirements and develop nine STEM stations for each night to meet theobjectives for the different grade levels. Some station examples include:
• Code Your Name - Students make necklaces that spell their names in binary code.• Genetic Dice - Students create a monster by rolling the dice to create phenotypes.• Build-a-Heart - Students use clay to bioengineer a heart.• RingMaster - Students drive robots to collect rings and score them on a pillar for points.
Each month, I sent sign-ups to our club members for planning and working the STEM Nights. Students chose what station they want to work and whether they wanted to lead or to assist at the station.
I intentionally placed students within stations to work together to createauthentic learning at each station. The majority of my students hadmastered the content at their station of choice. Through these STEMNights, my goal for my own students was for them to learn professionalskills that are not easily taught in the classroom – empathy, respect,patience, and eye contact. Each STEM night was staffed by three districtengineering teachers, including myself, and 20-30 student helpers. At each STEM Night, I observed my students enjoying themselves leadingas much as the younger students participating. As “alumni” of theseelementary schools, they looked forward to going back and sharing theirlove for STEM to friends, neighbors, cousins, and siblings. The response tothese STEM Nights was outstanding, both among our TSA members and
the participating students, teachers, and administrators. We are enthusiastically planning and preparing fornine STEM Nights scheduled for the 2019-2020 school year.
STEM Nights - Using Career Technical Organizations to Change School Culture and Communityby Alabama 2019-2020 Alternate Teacher of the Year Jacque Middleton
At each STEM Night,I observed my
students enjoyingthemselves leading
as much as theyounger students
participating.
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In a breeding experiment gone horribly right, Alabama biologyteacher Raisa Eady is connecting high schoolers with their
celebrity crushes. Engaging young minds in studying science any way she can,
this teacher at Pinson Valley High uses the tools of geneticsresearch to show students their hypothetical Hollywoodprogeny. It's part of Eady's secret sauce of rapport, trust, andhigh expectations, which her students respond to in a big way.
It's not all fun and games, of course, but Eady inspiresconfidence in her students as she pushes them toward greaterunderstanding and educational growth.
As chair of the school district's science program, she isencouraging more students to think outside the box and strivefor more and greater academic and real-life opportunities. Eady is a relentlessly positive presence in the classroom andbeyond, mentoring new teachers or stimulating professionalgrowth in colleagues.
Yet it was Eady enjoying unanticipated success at asurprise school assembly where she was presented with aMilken Educator Award by Milken Educator Awards SeniorVice President Dr. Jane Foley and Alabama Superintendent ofEducation Dr. Eric Mackey.
An appreciative Eady was named a 2019-2020 recipient of the national recognition, which comes with an unrestricted$25,000 cash prize. She is the only Milken Educator Awardwinner from Alabama this year, and is among up to 40honorees for 2019-2020.
The first Milken Educator Awards were presented by theMilken Family Foundation in 1987. The Awards provide publicrecognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 toelementary and secondary school teachers, principals, andspecialists from around the country who are furtheringexcellence in education.
Pinson Valley High Science Teacher Raisa EadyReceives the $25,000 Milken Educator Award!
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Captain Charlie Plumb Visits AlabamaOn September 18, American War Hero Captain Charlie Plumb visited the Gordon Persons Building and addressedthe staff of the Alabama State Department of Education. He also spoke to a gathering of Alabama principals.Captain Plumb shared his inspirational story and the lessons he learned from it.
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Q Resolution in Recognition of Dennis Chadwick Butler, Central(Florence) High School, Lauderdale County School System, as a2019 Mathematics Presidential Award for Excellence Finalist
Q Resolution in Recognition of Jessye Gessner Gaines, Bob JonesHigh School, Madison City School System, as a 2019 MathematicsPresidential Award for Excellence Finalist
Q Resolution in Recognition of Stephanie Gilley Steward, SpringGarden High School, Cherokee County School System, as a 2019Mathematics Presidential Award for Excellence Finalist
Q Resolution in Recognition of Bryan Rosenstiel, Mountain BrookHigh School, Mountain Brook City School System, as a 2019Science Presidential Award for Excellence Finalist
Q Resolution in Recognition of Pamela Elaine Harman, Spain ParkHigh School, Hoover City School System, as a 2019 SciencePresidential Award for Excellence Finalist
Q Resolution in Recognition of Andrea Dennis, Scarborough ModelMiddle School, Mobile County School System, as 2019 MiddleSchool Principal of the Year
Q Resolution in Recognition of Dr. Chad Holden, Muscle Shoals HighSchool, Muscle Shoals City School System, as 2019 Alabama HighSchool Principal of the Year
Q Resolution in Recognition of Donna Burke, Robert F. BumpusMiddle School, Hoover City School System, as 2019 AlabamaAssistant Principal of the Year
Q Resolution in Recognition of Dr. Michael Wilson, Principal, GlenIris Elementary School, Birmingham City School System, Namedthe 2019 National Association of Elementary School PrincipalsNational Distinguished Principal from Alabama
Q Resolution in Recognition of Barry Wood, Assistant Principal atStraughn Elementary School, Covington County School System, asthe Alabama Assistant Principal of the Year for 2019-2020
Q Resolution Proclaiming October 2019 as “Principals Month”Q Resolution in Recognition of October as Dyslexia Awareness
MonthQ Resolution Proclaiming October as Statewide Parent Visitation
Month in AlabamaQ Resolution in Recognition of October 14-18, 2019, as “School
Lunch Week” in Alabama SchoolsQ Resolution Endorsing Alabama School Bus Safety Week
(October 21-25, 2019)Q Resolution Proclaiming October 23-31, 2019, as “Red Ribbon
Week” in Alabama Public SchoolsQ Approval of Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Request
Alabama State Board of Education
October Meeting Recap
Visit the Board Meeting flickr page for pics of all State Board Meetings.
After approval of the agenda and minutes from the previousmeeting, the following new business was discussed:
The Alabama State Board of Education and the Alabama State Department ofEducation do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, disability, sex, religion,national origin, or age in its programs, activities, or employment and provides equalaccess to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person isresponsible for handling inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Title IXCoordinator, Alabama State Department of Education, P.O. Box 302101, Montgomery,AL 36130-2101, telephone (334) 694-4717.
ALSDE COMMUNICATION STAFFDirector: Dr. Michael O. Sibley Administrative Assistant: Rita SmithPublic Information Officer: Ed CrenshawVideographer: Shane GillisMarketing Specialist: Charles Creel
AEN CONTACT INFORMATION334-694-4688 · 334-694-4990 (f)[email protected] · www.alsde.eduAlabama Education News & Notes · P.O. Box 302101Montgomery, AL 36130-2101
BOARD MEETING VIDEOSCheck out live video of every Alabama State Board of EducationMeeting and Work Session Here. Watch archived videos anytime.
ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATIONPresident – Governor Kay IveyDistrict 1 – Jackie Zeigler, President Pro TemDistrict 2 – Tracie WestDistrict 3 – Stephanie BellDistrict 4 – Yvette M. Richardson, Ed.D.District 5 – Ella B. BellDistrict 6 – Cynthia S. McCarty, Ph.D.District 7 – Jeff Newman, Vice PresidentDistrict 8 – Wayne Reynolds, Ed.D.State Superintendent of Education – Eric G. Mackey, Ed.D.
Q Announce Intent to Adopt New Alabama AdministrativeCode, Rule 290-4-1-.05, Pertaining to Legislative SchoolPerformance Recognition Program
Q Approval of Updated Alabama Regional Inservice CenterAccountability Standards
Q Selection of Alabama State Board of Education Delegate forAlabama Association of School Boards’ 2019 Conventionand Delegate Assembly
Q Selection of Alabama State Board of Education Member toserve on the Computer Science Education Task Force
