Principal

April 2008

 
Dear Michigan Educator:
 
The Michigan Departments of Education and Community Health along with other stakeholders are collaboratively reviewing an evidenced based environmental change initiative, The Life of an Athlete Program, which will allow us as a state to more effectively confront underage drinking and substance use.   
 
You have been identified as a critical stakeholder, and are invited to participate in the introductory meeting and presentation.   
 

Does your school have an outstanding leader who deserves recognition? Nominate your Principal, Assistant Principal, or Administrator for the 2008 MASSP Principal of the Year Award!

Mini Grants Available From Meemic®

The MEEMIC Foundation has a mini-grant program that can provide funding for creative enhancements to your current curriculum that positively impacts the future of your students. Grants of up to $2,500 are available.

Applications may be completed online at www.meemic.com. Click on “Especially for Educators” and follow the links to the MEEMIC Foundation.

By Jim Ballard
Executive Director

It’s been an interesting week for MASSP in Lansing. Two of our legislative initiatives have received public support from some very important players.
Most immediate are our efforts to reform some areas of the Michigan Merit Examination. This is being written two days before many of you administer the Michigan Merit Exam, so I think this might catch your attention.

Assessment to Rate Principal Leadership To Be Field-Tested
By Lynn Olson

Starting next month, 300 schools nationwide will take part in a field test of a new way to gauge principals’ effectiveness.

Known as VAL-ED, for the Vanderbilt Assessment of Leadership in Education, the tool has been developed by a team of leadership and testing experts at Vanderbilt University and the University of Pennsylvania to measure leadership behaviors that research has found are associated with student achievement.

I bring to your attention a back-page feature commentary "Toward the 'Highly Qualified' Principal", which appears in Ed Week, December 12, 2007.