Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
2/15/16 3:54 PM
Weekly Message + State Superintendent June Atkinson
North Carolina Public Schools <NCPublicSchools@public.govdelivery.com>
Mon 2/15/2016 3:51 PM
To: Lynda
Fuller <Lynda.Fuller@dpi.nc.gov>;
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Feb. 15, 2016
If your school district is affected by today’s inclement weather, I
hope you are staying safe and that your students and faculty are
safe, too.
This morning, since many of NCDPI staff were iced out of the office,
we met by conference call to preview the March 2-3 State Board of
Education’s meeting agenda. There are many important items on
the upcoming meeting agenda, and I want to draw your attention
specifically to ES&P 2 - Policy Recommendations for Teacher
Licensure and Evaluation Process.
This item was on the Board’s discussion agenda in February, and
will be back on the Board agenda for potential action in March.
News accounts of the February meeting focused on the “removal of
student growth” from the teacher effectiveness model. The removal of Standard 6 does not eliminate
student growth from the teacher evaluation model. Student growth continues to be a required artifact
that principals will use in evaluating teacher performance.
Currently, state law citations for student growth requirements include:
a. The General Assembly's stated intent to use, in part, student growth as part of a future performance
pay plan. SL 2013-360, Section 9.5 "Pay for Excellence;"
b. Student growth measure as requirement for "clinical educator" (i.e., supervising teacher of student
teacher). SL 2015-241, Section 8.41(a) [new G.S. 115C-296.11]; and
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Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
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c. Student growth as 20% of A-F School Performance Grade formula. G.S. 115C-83.15.
According to state law, the State Board of Education can no longer give waivers to its policies. That is
the reason why school growth can no longer be used to give an individual teacher a student growth
measure.
In addition, I want to draw your attention to the other licensure changes that are outlined in the Board
item for March. The policy changes are intended to provide you with some relief from Highly Qualified
requirements so that you will have a broader pool of potential teachers to hire, especially in the
elementary grades.
If you or your staff members are interested in providing us with feedback on these changes, please note
that you can do so by going to www.ncpublicschools.org and clicking on Let’s Talk. In Let’s Talk, there
is a dialog topic called Education Policy Feedback. Please use this tool to send me your feedback. It
routes your comments directly to my office.
Panic Alarm Grants
NCDPI School Planning staff will be accepting requests for Panic Alarm Grants from new schools that
did not already have panic alarms and from schools requiring additional panic alarms. Requests must be
submitted by April 30. Visit School Planning's website for grant request instructions and system design
criteria or contact Jonathan Jones with NCDPI School Planning.
Multi-Tiered System of Support:
Strengthening Core Instruction for All
The work of MTSS is designing a multi-tiered system of support to
meet the needs of all students. In order to do this, a system must be
designed that works for school staff. The District MTSS Team will
guide School Leadership Teams to examine and/or select instruction and curriculum.
It is critical for these teams to make informed decisions while defining core instruction and curriculum
for academics and behavior. When we think about curriculum, we think about standards and materials.
The materials support students to meet those standards. When we think about behavioral standards,
we start with school-wide expectations.
Selecting practices that have the most impact on student learning and then ensuring these adopted
practices can happen for all students is part of building an MTSS framework. The professional
development being offered via integrated academic and behavioral systems provides resources for
teams engaged in designing an MTSS for all students.
For more information on these layers of support, see this graphic or visit the MTSS wiki space. If you
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Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
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have questions, please contact Amy Jablonski.
Global Readiness Webinar
Join NCDPI and World View staff on Tuesday, Feb. 23, from 4:305:30 p.m., for a webinar on the Five Levels of Global Readiness. This
webinar will provide context and examples of what it means to be
global-ready at the individual, classroom, school, district and state
levels. Global education best practices and resources will be shared, and the State Board of Education
Global Education Initiative along with other statewide global initiatives will be highlighted.
This webinar is appropriate for administrators and teachers of all disciplines and grade levels. You may
register online. Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email with participation
instructions.
Severe Weather Preparedness Week: March 6 – 12
With winter on its way out and peak severe weather season looming, Gov. Pat McCrory has proclaimed
March 6 – 12 as Severe Weather Preparedness Week to encourage schools, families and residents to
prepare now for unpredictable, severe weather including thunderstorms.
These storms can produce damaging winds, hail, tornadoes and even flash floods. Faculty, staff and
students need to know what to do in the event that a tornado touches down during school hours.
North Carolina will hold its annual tornado drill on Wednesday, March 9, at 9:30 a.m. Most NOAA
weather radios will NOT sound an audible alert to mark the beginning of the drill. As such, schools are
encouraged to self-initiate their tornado drills at 9:30 a.m. as if an alert had been broadcast. The drill will
conclude when participants complete their drill activities. No all-clear message will be issued. If this time
is not convenient for your school’s instructional program, you may reschedule the tornado drill on
another day close to March 9.
North Carolina Emergency Management encourages everyone to follow four simple steps to prepare for
severe weather: make a plan, practice the plan, have an emergency supplies kit and stay informed.
Teaching kids how to be ready for disasters can get the entire family ready. For details, visit
www.ReadyNC.org.
Hoke County Superintendent Made Final
Four
Congratulations to Hoke County Schools’ Superintendent Freddie Williamson who was one of four
finalists competing for 2016 AASA National Superintendent of the Year honors. An Ohio district
superintendent received the top honor at the national conference held last Thursday in Arizona.
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Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
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Superintendent Vacancy Announced:
Guilford County Schools
The Guilford County Board of Education is seeking a
superintendent to lead the school system in its continuing pursuit of excellence. Candidates must have
or be qualified to hold a North Carolina superintendent license. Central office and building-level
experience are preferred. A doctorate degree or progress toward a doctorate degree is preferred but
not required. The individual chosen will be required to live in the Guilford County Schools' District. The
application deadline is March 23.
An electronic version of the application is available by going to the N.C. School Board Association's
website and clicking on the appropriate link. Inquiries and requests for applications also can be directed
to Allison Schafer, Legal Counsel/Director of Policy, North Carolina School Boards Association, PO Box
97877, Raleigh NC 27624-7877, telephone 919/841-4040, fax 919/841-4020, email. All inquiries will be
kept confidential.
Upcoming Meetings
Driver Education Advisory Committee to Meet
The Driver Education Advisory Committee will meet tomorrow, Feb. 16, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., in the 7th
Floor Board Room, Education Building, Raleigh.
Agenda items include the Driver Education Multi-Year Survey report to the General Assembly,
appointment of members and leads for the five subcommittees (New Teacher Training, Education and
Training, Instructor Qualification, Parental Involvement and Coordination with Driver Licensing) and an
update on the Committee’s strategic plan.
The meeting will be audio streamed (click on Live Audio Stream link) for those who cannot attend.
NC Virtual Public School Advisory Council to Meet
The North Carolina Virtual Public School Advisory Council will hold its quarterly meeting on Tuesday,
Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., in the Spring Board Conference Room 205, Poulton Innovation Center,
NCSU Centennial Campus, 1021 Main Campus Drive, Raleigh.
Agenda items include the Council’s bylaws, visioning the future and the NCVPS strategic plan, and the
study on alternative funding options.
Questions regarding this meeting should be directed to NCVPS at 919.513.8550.
College for Every Student
College for Every Student (CFES), a non-profit organization committed to helping underserved students
get to and through college, has received funding to select four low-income schools for a Closing the
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Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
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Gap program award: a three-year school program to help underserved students become college and
career ready.
CFES currently supports 25,000 students in 200 rural and urban K-12 schools in 30 states and Ireland
by providing a framework that allows schools to customize the implementation of three core practices
(Mentoring, Leadership Through Service and Pathways) proven to help students develop essential skills
for college success and 21st century job readiness.
Information on the College for Every Student Closing the Gap program awards can be found online.
Interested schools should complete the application by March 1.
2016 NC Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and
Science Teaching Awards Nomination Deadline Approaching
April 1 is the deadline to nominate elementary teachers (grades K-6) for the 2016 North Carolina
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest
honor bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 mathematics and science
teaching.
Anyone – principals, teachers, parents, students, or members of the general public – may nominate a
teacher by completing the nomination form available on the PAEMST website. To submit a nomination,
you’ll need the teacher’s name, email address, and school contact information. If you know more than
one teacher deserving of this award, you may submit more than one nomination. Teachers also may
apply.
One mathematics teacher and one science teacher will be selected. Each will receive a $10,000 award
and a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the National Awards Recognition Program. Secondary school
teachers (grades 7-12) will be eligible to apply during a future cycle.
Latest Message Online
Feb. 11, 2016 Teacher’s Biweekly Message
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Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
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