AASSP Members:
Across the country many states, Alaska included, are redefining teacher and principal evaluation practices, often linking evaluation to student performance even when it distorts reality. Many proposed changes are often void of the important voices and perspectives of practicing principals. Further, research to date is very limited and varies widely, revealing many evaluation instruments are not linked to any clear standards, are technically unsound and ultimately not useful for improving principal performance. How principal evaluations are conducted may be as or more important than what principals are evaluated on.
Rethinking Principal Evaluation: A New Paradigm Informed by Research and Practice is a new report just released today at a joint NAESP/NASSP briefing on Capitol Hill by the NAESP/NASSP Principal Evaluation Committee working in partnership with Matt Clifford, senior scientist at the American Institutes for Research, and Steven Ross, professor of education at the Center for Research and Reform at Johns Hopkins University.
Below is a link to an executive summary and the full report.
NASSP/NAESP Principal Evaluation Report
This report shares key insights and brings the voice of principals squarely into the dialogue on what principal evaluation systems need to look like. NAESP and NASSP recommend states and districts consider the elements presented in this first of a kind document when adapting or building principal evaluation systems.
My hope is that all AASSP members will take time to familiarize themselves with this important study and be therefore better prepared as advocates for a framework that recognizes the complex role school leaders play in school improvement efforts. This report will be useful to work going on in your district related to principal evaluation.
Sincerely,
Andre' Layral
AASSP Executive Director
SaC is a Unique Online Professional Development Tool Kit that supports School Leaders Leadership Teams and Teachers implement the New Alaska Standards and achieve School Improvement Goals. To learn more click here
Celebrate NationalPrincipals Month! October marks National Principals Month, and NASSP is excited to celebrate principals for an entire month to recognize the workyou do as assistant principals and principals, and help raise awareness about your role. Please visit http://www.nassp.org/National-Principals-Monthto find ideas about how your school community can celebrate National Principals Month, and pleasenotify the Communications and Government Relations staff of NASSP about any school visitsfrom legislators/congressmen/Senators or articles in your local paper highlighting the work you do as principals! This monthis all about YOU!
AASSP is inviting AASSP members to apply for the position of State Coordinator. The State Coordinator role is to advocate on behalf of AASSP members and to serve as a liaison between AASSP and NASSP. Interested applicants must be have been a principal or assistant principal in Alaska for a minimum of three years and have been a member of AASSP for at least three years. This position on the AASSP Board of Directors is a three year appointment by the Board of Directors. The application deadline is Friday, October 7th. Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will be contacted and scheduled for an interview that will take place on Saturday, October 15th in Anchorage before the Fall Principals Conference. For more information contact Andre' Layral, AASSP Executive Director at aassp@alaskaprincipal.org or by calling 907-=458-8880.
Representatives from AAESP and AASSP will meet in Juneau on March 22-3rd with Alaska DEED Commissioner Michael Hanley, key education and finance committee members, local legislators and a representative from Governor Sean Parnell's office.
The Deadline to receive applications for 2011 Alaska MS and HS Principal of the Year is January 31, 2011. Click here for the 2012 MetLife/NASSP application, which must be completed by all applicants for the Alaska MS and HS POY award.
On behalf of the AASSP Board of Directors I would like to wish all our new and returning members a productive and positive school year. Thank you for being a valued member of the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals. The board and I are here to advocate for our profession and serve you, the membership in the field: Alaska’s educational leaders. Our strength lies in the collective experience, skills, and expertise of the educational leaders of our State. For as Rudyard Kipling said, “the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.” We are all in this together, striving collectively to do great things for kids.
AASSP is a professional association serving K-12, Middle Level, and High School principals and assistant principals, aspiring principals, principal-teachers, district office administrators, and other educational leaders in Alaska. As a member of AASSP, you are represented by a regional board member and an assistant principal At Large on our Board of Directors. I encourage you to become familiar with the director that serves your region, and use them as a point of contact. Our Executive Director, Andre Layral, is also an excellent source of information and serves our membership. Collectively, we are here to serve you, and we want to hear from you.
As an affiliate of NASSP, your AASSP Individual membership includes membership in NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals) and the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA ). The liability protection and legal assistance provided in your membership in NASSP is one reason to belong to our professional association. NASSP provides great benefits, offers numerous publications and resources to assist you in your important leadership role, and provides advocacy for principals on Capitol Hill. ACSA provides legislative advocacy for our members, as well as AAESP, AASA and ALASBO at the state level, and also provides support for our Fall Principals Conference.
This year the Board is excited to bring you a professional development resource, at no cost to members! Success at the Core is a web-based professional development toolkit designed to empower school leaders to advance their school improvement goals. Registration is free, fast and easy! The board and I encourage you to explore and take advantage of this new resource. Look forward to Success at the Core sectionals at the fall Principal’s Conference. Under the “conference and workshops” tab, select “Success at the Core” for more information.
The Alaska Principal’s Conference is the highlight of the year for many education leaders around the State. Each year, AASSP works in conjunction with AESSP to bring you the best keynote speakers and sectionals possible, on the most pertinent topics in education today. Other highlights include outstanding vendors, a visit from our State Commissioner of Education, and the Silent Auction at La Cabana benefiting the Larry Graham Aspiring Principal scholarship. This is one of the greatest benefits of being a member, and we strongly encourage you all to attend. See you there!
Sincerely,
Adam W. Mokelke
AASSP President 2011 - 2013
Principal, Burchell High School
Mat-Su Borough School District
