Crystal's Corner
May 1, 2015
This Corner covers the past two weeks. You heard some of the info at the BOE meeting.
PROPOSED STUDENT GOAL #1: ACADEMIC, TOTAL CHILD/WELLNESS & 21ST CENTURY
PROPOSED STAFF/FAMILY GOAL #2: CULTURE OF LEARNING
Congratulations to Andrew Zuckerman...make that Dr. Andrew Zuckerman...as he has earned his doctorate!
April 20th found me in Meg Leventhal's 5th grade classroom for a book talk. It was a fun outing as I made it very suspenseful for the children...and the teacher! I involved Cindy Westhead as the Population Police. The book was Among the Hidden.
Yesterday morning was a session of the NJ School Development Council's Professional Learning Series. The session was entitled "The Impact of Culture on Education: It's Role in Student Success & Achievement." I always come away from these sessions having learned something but yesterday's was particularly dynamic. "Literacy" was an agenda topic and a particularly powerful part was entitled "Counselors, Counseling, Teaching" by Dr. Peter Donnelly and was about cultural bias. I was part of the agenda also and presented on "Leadership Matters." I took Jon Dauber, Cliff Williams, Barbara Beers, Damian Bariexca, Maureen Hayes, and Cindy Westhead with me. And as frequently happens, our team shined. Willa Spica was present and she commented that she was proud to say she was from Lawrence.
PROPOSED GOAL #3 COMMUNITY GOAL: ENGAGEMENT, OPPORTUNITIES & SERVICE
As part of the communication/action plan for the changes in leadership of LHS and LIS, the two principals held voluntary faculty meetings at their respective schools on April 23 to share the news with their staffs. After that meeting, the principals sent a communication to their parents, informing them of the change and relating next steps. We shared the news more broadly in yesterday's QuickNews. We've posted the position internally and plan to interview late next week. We want to have someone for the LIS principal position for the May 13th agenda.
PROPOSED GOAL #4 FISCAL GOAL: MAINTENANCE, CONSERVATION & INNOVATION
PROPOSED SUPERINTENDENT GOALS & PGP ACTIVITIES
COA met on April 20 to discuss staffing plans in consideration of upcoming retirements, transfers, and resignations. We developed the communication/action plan for LHS and LIS principal changes. Additionally, this week I met with support personnel as part of staffing and responsibility planning.
April 21 I held my monthly meeting with the assistant principals and this week was my monthly directors' meeting. The afternoon of the 21st, I worked with LMS on their schedule.
April 22 I met with Erin and a parent and led the second round of interviews to fill the BF principal's secretary position. The outcome: Wednesday night you approved my recommendation of Donna Delgado, currently working in Student Services, for the position.
The NJDOE is permitting districts to use their own evaluation tool for administrators providing the State approves it. A small group of principals, assistant principals and supervisors worked with me to refine a system I developed for evaluating administrators. I finished the evaluations and sent the system to the State last week for approval. The new LTPS-personalized rubrics will replace the current McREL Principal Evaluation Rubric. Today, I received notification from NJDOE that all three rubrics (principal, assistant principal and supervisor) were approved!
Prior to the April 23rd agenda setting, Kevin, Mike, Laura and I met with NJSBA rep Jesse Adams about the need for separate BOE and Superintendent goals and evaluations. Jesse will conduct a BOE training on the Superintendent evaluation tool, ethics and governance on May 13 from 5-6:15 p.m. in the Tech Center. Following that will be our executive session and regular BOE meeting. Beth will be in touch to confirm.
Last night was the second negotiations session with LTPSA. Our next meeting is set for June 15.
Please mark your calendar for the LHS graduation: Thursday, June 25 at 7PM at the Sun National Bank Center. It will be here in a flash!